LabJack LJTick-InAmp – Instumentation Amplifier for U3 T7 U6 UE9 T4 Series

The LJTick-InAmp (aka LJTIA2) is a signal-conditioning module that provides two instrumentation amplifiers ideal for low-level signals such as bridge circuits (strain gauges) and thermocouples. The LJTIA 2 has 5 gain settings per channel and two selectable output voltage offsets (Voffset). The 4-pin design plugs into the standard AIN/AIN/GND/VS screw-terminal block found on the LabJacks such as the U3, U6, UE9, T4, & T7.

The pictures below show the LJTIA 2 by itself on the left and plugged into the U3 on the right.

The block of 4 screw-terminals at the left edge of the LJTIA 2 (Figure 1 above) provides a positive and negative input for each differential channel. Towards the LabJack side of the LJTIA 2 is a pair of screw-terminals that provide a ground connection (GND) and a +2.50 volt reference (VREF). The reference is capable of sourcing enough current (see the Specifications section below) to function as the excitation voltage for most common bridge circuits.

Subsections

The following subsections have additional information relative to the LJTick-InAmp.

Dip Switches

In between the blocks of screw-terminals is a 10-position DIP switch used to specify gain and offset.

Table 1. DIP Switch Descriptions

Extending from the back of the LJTick-InAmp 2 are four pins. The first two pins provide +5 volt power and ground from the LabJack. The other two pins are the instrumentation amplifier outputs and connect to analog inputs on the LabJack. The four pins plug directly into the 5.0 mm spaced screw-terminals on the LabJack U3, UE9, or other future devices as shown in Figure 4.

Each channel on the LJTIA 2 has an AD623 instrumentation amplifier (in-amp) from Analog Devices. The allowable signal range (Vin) is determined by a combination of Gain, Voffset, Vcm, and Vout. See the Signal Range Tables in Appendix A.

Voffset: This is an offset voltage added to the in-amp output. If DIP switch #5 is on, the offset is +0.4 volts, and if DIP switch #6 is on, the offset is +1.25 volts. The same offset applies to both channels of the LJTick-InAmp 2. One offset must always be selected (0 volts is not an option), but both offsets should never be enabled at the same time. The +0.4 volt offset is generally used with signals that are mostly unipolar, while the +1.25 volt offset is generally used with bipolar signals.

Vcm: This is the common mode voltage of the differential inputs. For an in-amp, that is defined as the average of the common mode voltage of each input. For instance, if the negative input is grounded, and single-ended signal is connected to the positive input, Vcm is equal to Vin/2. Another common situation is when using a wheatstone bridge where VREF=2.5 is providing the excitation. In this case, each input is at about 1.25 volts compared to ground, and thus Vcm is about 1.25 volts.

Vin: This is the voltage difference between IN+ and IN-. In the following Signal Range Tables, the “Low” column is the minimum Vin where Vout is 10 mV or higher, the “High 2.5V” column is the maximum Vin where Vout is 2.5 volts or less, and the “High 4.5V” column is the maximum Vin where Vout is 4.5 volts or less.

Vout: Vout = (Vin * Gain) + Voffset.  This is the single-ended (referred to ground) voltage output from the in-amp. Because of the power supply to the in-amp, the full output swing is about 0.01 volts to 4.5 volts. The “Low” and “High” columns in the Signal Range Tables give the output at the respective Vin.

Specifications

(1) The max accuracy specs are the tested device limits and are expected to be met whether device is warmed up or not.  Typical specs are what is normally seen with a warmed-up device at room temperature. Gain and offset are very stable at a stable temperature, so a user-calibration can achieve accuracy much better than the specs listed here.
(2) The input signal limits are the simple limit of the voltage on each input terminal versus ground.  The output signal limit is the simple typical limit of the voltage that can be produced on the output pins and depends on load so see the AD623 datasheet for more information.  The actual limits in most situations are more complex, as described in Appendix A of this datasheet.
(3) The current in/out of the input terminals is nanoamps from -0.3 to +5.3 volts.  Beyond that range it increases up to 10mA at -10 or +15 volts.
(4) This is the limit of the voltage on any input terminal versus ground.  See Appendix A for actual limits in different situations.
(5) Higher currents will not cause damage, but the reference voltage will start to sag. The reference output can handle a continuous short-circuit to ground and has a short-circuit current of about 45 mA typically.

Dimensions