Microchip's metering analog front end (AFE) from Microchip Technology enables highly accurate measurements

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Microchip Technology Inc., a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, has announced its next-generation Analog Front End (AFE) for metering applications.

The MCP3901 AFE features high-accuracy, dual 16-/24-bit Delta-Sigma Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) with up to 91 dB Signal to Noise and Distortion (SINAD); internal Programmable Gain Amplifiers (PGAs) and voltage reference; phase-delay compensation; and a modulator output block, enabling more precise measurements than competitive solutions. With its unique feature set, high-speed sample rates up to 64 kilosamples per second (ksps) and SPI interface, the MCP3901 AFE is ideal for a variety of single- and multi-phase metering, industrial and medical applications.

Integrated PGAs and a low-drift voltage reference enhance the MCP3901 AFE's ability to measure signals at very small levels, and reduce the number of external components needed. This enables smaller overall designs at lower costs.

The phase-delay compensation block enables the MCP3901 AFE to compensate for differences in phase for three-phase energy-metering applications, while the SPI interface provides a simple connection to a microcontroller (MCU) and offers engineers more flexibility with their design. Additionally, through the SPI interface, designers can adjust the ADC oversampling ratio to control the resolution and sample rate as dictated by the needs of the application.

"The need for accurate metering applications is on the rise in various regions around the world, and Microchip is pleased to expand its mixed-signal metering product family with the MCP3901 AFE, which simplifies the development of metering, power monitoring and instrumentation applications," said Bryan Liddiard, marketing vice president of Microchip's Analog and Interface Products Division. "This AFE enables engineers to develop high-precision applications, combined with the flexibility to adjust the resolution and speed to meet the needs of their designs."

Example applications for the MCP3901 AFE include utility meters (e.g. single and multi-phase electricity meters); industrial (e.g. power monitoring and instrumentation); and medical applications (e.g. blood glucose meters, pulse oximeters).