Ultraprecise Current Sense Amplifi er Dramatically Enhances Effi ciency and Dynamic Range:Accurate current measurement is indispensable in many electronic systems. The current is usually measured by amplifying the voltage it generates across a small value resistance. For systems that require a large dynamic measurement range, the sense resistance must be increased or the precision of the amplifi er must be improved. Increasing the value of the sense resistor has the detrimental effect of increasing power dissipation. The better option is to improve the precision of the sense amplifi er. Amplifi er precision depends a great deal on the input offset voltage of the amplifi er. Historically, current sense amplifi ers on the market offered input offset voltage performance on the order of hundreds or even thousands of μV. With such parts, achieving a practical dynamic range of 8 to 10 bits can cost more than a Watt of power dissipation at full operating current. The LTC®6102 ultraprecise current sense amplifi er reduces input error to a miniscule 10μV. This dramatic performance enhancement translates directly into a greater measurement dynamic range—16 bits is possible even while lowering power dissipation in the sense resistor—thus greatly expanding the gamut of current sensing design options.