Signal Chain Basics

Signal Chain Basics #128: Optimizing solenoid control

with precision current measurement
Dan Harmon, Current Sensing Marketing Manager, Texas Instruments, Login
9/9/2017
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Beyond simple on/off use cases, youll find linear solenoids in many
applications requiring precise linear motion and the regulation of pressure,
fluid or air. Automotive applications include automatic transmission
controls, electronic fuel injectors, or electronic stability control actuators.
Non-automotive examples include critical medical applications requiring precise airflow control
or industrial applications that redirect and control fluid.

Solenoid operation and control

In linear applications, the current flowing through the coil is directly proportional to the magnetic
field generated; see Figure 1. This magnetic field is responsible for exerting the appropriate
force on the rod or armature and causing it to move to the desired position. By knowing the
current thats flowing, you can know the position of the armature in the solenoid.

Figure 1
 Typical solenoid configuration showing current flow versus armature positioning.

A typical circuit for solenoid activation is to use a high-side driver like the one shown in Figure 2.
A pulse-width modulated (PWM) control signal turns the high-side switch on and off, controlling
the current flow through the coil, which in turn controls the magnitude of the generated magnetic
field. The control of the PWM frequency and duty cycle determines the resulting average current
in the solenoid, which in turn controls the force applied to the actuator. The current is measured
between the high-side switch and the solenoid. The higher the duty cycle, the higher the
average current flow to the solenoid and the further the armature moves outward. Conversely,
a lower duty cycle drives less average current, which results in the armature moving in the
opposite direction.

Figure 2
 Typical high-side driver with high-side current-sense solenoid control and feedback circuit.

Optimizing current measurement

Measuring the high-side current in this configuration presents these challenges when selecting a
current-sense amplifier:

The PWM control of the switch generates V/ t noise. Accurate measurements of the
current flowing to the solenoid require noise rejection at the inputs of the current-sense
amplifier.

The common-mode voltage at the inputs will essentially be VBATTERY, which in some
newer vehicles could be 48V.

The common-mode voltage could be negative (below ground) due to the inductive nature
of the solenoid and the kickback created when the switch turns off and current flows in the
opposite direction through the diode.

A high slew-rate output is required to fully swing to the rail in the case of very high or very
low PWM duty cycles.

The solenoid has a large change in characteristic impedance caused by temperature

changes. The current measurement must minimize any additional temperature-related
error.

A device such as the Texas Instruments INA240 is designed for linear solenoid applications and
specifically eliminates the V/ t noise with its enhanced PWM rejection circuitry. With a
common-mode range from -4V to +80V, the device supports both high-voltage applications as
well as the negative voltage generated by inductive kickback. The 2V/s slew rate enables a 5V
rail-to-rail swing in 2.5s. This will support a 90%/10% duty cycle of a 40KHz PWM signal.

The devices worst-case room-temperature offset of 25V and temperature drift of 250nV/oC,
combined with the initial 0.2% gain error and 2.5ppm/oC gain error drift, enable precise
measurement across both a wide dynamic range of current and the full temperature range, as
you can see in Figure 3.

Figure 3

Error curve for the Texas Instruments INA240 over the typical solenoid current range at both 25oC and
+125oC when using an 50m shunt resistor.
Automatic transmission example

Lets look at a specific application: changing gears in an automatic transmission. An

electronically controlled automatic transmission still uses hydraulic control to change gears.
Multiple linear solenoids control the hydraulic system by changing the amount of pressure
applied to the actuators attached to the clutches. Smooth operation requires precise and
repeatable control of the solenoid movement, which in turn enables precise amounts of hydraulic
fluid for accurate and repeatable gearshifts.

Summary

The ability to precisely monitor the current flowing through a solenoid control circuit enables
repeatable and accurate solenoid positioning. A stable overtemperature performance can save
the cost of performing multitemperature calibrations during the manufacturing process. A
current-sense amplifier with precise DC performance as well as excellent common-mode
rejection is critical to optimizing your solenoid control circuitry.

References

1. Prakash, Arjun. High-Side Drive, High-Side Solenoid Monitor with PWM Rejection, TI
TechNotes (SBOA166A), October 2016.

2. Texas Instruments. Getting Started with Current Sense Amplifiers video training series.

3. Texas Instruments INA240 data sheet.

About the author

Dan Harmon is the automotive marketing manager for the Current and Magnetic Sensing
product line at Texas Instruments. In his 31-year career at TI, he has supported a wide variety of
technologies and products including interface products, imaging analog front ends (AFEs) and
charge-coupled device (CCD) sensors. He has also served as TIs USB Implementers Forum
representative and TIs USB 3.0 Promoters Group chairman.

Dan earned a bachelors degree in electrical engineering from the University of Dayton and a
masters degree in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington.

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