Sensor AFE

Configurable Sensor AFE Products Simplify Design, Speed Time-to-Market

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – January 24, 2011 – National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE:NSM) today introduced two configurable sensor analog front-end (AFE) integrated circuits (ICs) with unique technology that work together with new tools to fast-track signal path designs for a variety of sensors from major global manufacturers.

The configurable sensor AFE ICs and WEBENCH^® Sensor AFE Designer enable the design engineer to select a sensor, design and configure the solution and download configuration data to the sensor AFE.  A typical sensing application that today may require up to 15 boards and 25 components is reduced to just one of National’s ICs.  Weeks or months to create a sensor system design is reduced to just minutes using National’s new products and tools.  Read More

• Design and configure solutions online or on the bench
  
• Easy calibration and diagnostic testing
  
• Simplifies manufacturing
  
• Fast time-to-market
  

Design Tools

The WEBENCH® Sensor AFE Designer includes technical specifications for hundreds of temperature, pressure and chemical sensors including products from Omega Engineering, Honeywell Sensing & Control, Tempco Electric Heater, All Sensors, and more.

• Online Design: WEBENCH Sensor AFE Designer
  
• Offline Design: Evaluation Boards and Downloadable Sensor AFE Software
  

WEBENCH Sensor AFE tools simplify design, enabling the engineer to select a sensor, design and configure the solution, and download configuration to the Sensor AFE IC.

LMP90100 – Multi-Channel 24-bit Sensor AFE

The LMP90100 Sensor AFE features the industry's only low-power, fully configurable 24-bit ΣΔ ADC with true continuous background calibration, eliminating gain and offset drift over time and temperature and making it ideal for critical performance and low power applications.

• Multi-channel Sensor AFE with a 24-bit Sigma Delta ADC core
  
• Flexible, programmable mux (4 differential, 7 single-ended, or a combination)
  
• Continuous background sensor diagnostics reduces downtime and improves system efficiency
  
• Quick design and evaluation
  
• Ideal for high-precision, multi-sensor temperature, pressure, load, and force applications
  
• Industrial, process control, medical, and test & measurement applications
  

LMP91000 – Micro-Power Chemical & Gas Sensor AFE

The LMP9100 low-power gas and chemical Sensor AFE provides adjustable bias (sensor drive), sensitivity, and wide dynamic range in an integrated solution for multiple sensing applications. For example, a toxic gas sensing application that today may require several boards and up to 25 components is reduced to just one LMP91000 gas sensor AFE.

• Single analog design for multiple gases and gas concentrations
  
• Programmable cell bias and TIA gain
  
• Integrated temperature sensor for external temp monitoring / correction
  
• Quick design and evaluation
  
• Ideal for micro-power gas and chemical sensing applications