3 Advantages with the 12-bit ADC and PGA

The 12-bit ADC is, in many ways, well suited for current measurement. Its 12-bit resolution gives a good starting point for achieving high resolution for the current measurements. Furthermore, the PGA enables the amplification of the voltage measured over the shunt resistor without the need for external components. The PGA can amplify the voltage up to 16x.

The ADC implements differential measurement to be sure that only the resistor’s voltage drop needs to be measured, whether the shunt resistor is connected on the high or the low side. To perform high-side or low-side measurements, the ADC needs to be able to measure voltages above V_DD and below V_SS, of which this ADC is capable. The differential result will be zero with no current flowing and increase proportionally with the current.