Texas Instruments INA238AIDGSR

Overview

INA238AIDGSR from Texas Instruments is a 16-bit delta-sigma digital power monitor IC designed for high-precision current, voltage, temperature, and power measurement in high-voltage systems. It supports ±163.84mV/±40.96mV shunt differential input, –0.3V to +85V common-mode range, and operates from 2.7V–5.5V supply with 640µA typical quiescent current. It delivers 0.7% full-scale power accuracy across –40°C to +125°C and integrates an I²C interface with 16 pin-selectable addresses for use in telecom power supplies and PoE injectors.

For engineers reviewing the INA238AIDGSR datasheet, INA238AIDGSR pinout, INA238AIDGSR application, or INA238AIDGSR equivalent, key selection criteria include its ultra-low ±5µV shunt offset voltage, ±0.1% gain error, 140dB common-mode rejection, 75μs alert response, and programmable ADC conversion time (50µs–4.12ms) with up to 1024× averaging for noise-sensitive industrial monitoring.

Technical Context

The INA238AIDGSR implements a single high-precision 16-bit delta-sigma ADC multiplexed across shunt voltage (IN+/IN–), bus voltage (VBUS), and internal die temperature inputs. Its low-drift architecture achieves ±0.02µV/°C offset drift and ±25ppm/°C gain drift, enabling stable operation without multi-point calibration across –40°C to +125°C.

It features a dedicated background calculation engine that computes real-time current and power values using user-loaded shunt calibration coefficients, while supporting independent configuration of conversion time and averaging per channel. The integrated 1MHz oscillator (±1% tolerance over temperature) ensures consistent digital filter notch frequency scaling and timing-critical alert generation.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

DGS package: 10-pin VSSOP (3.00mm × 4.90mm), thermally enhanced for continuous operation at 125°C ambient.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar digital power monitor applications.

Compared with INA229AIDGST and INA233AIDGST, the INA238AIDGSR uniquely balances 16-bit precision, 0.7% power accuracy, integrated temperature sensing, and 10-pin VSSOP packaging - making it optimal for space-constrained, thermally aware industrial power monitoring where mid-tier accuracy suffices.

Availability

INA238AIDGSR is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for telecom rectifiers, PoE power sourcing equipment, industrial battery packs, and enterprise server PSUs requiring stable component supply and long-term production continuity.

Supply support for INA238AIDGSR includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Texas Instruments is a global semiconductor leader specializing in analog and embedded processing technologies, with decades of expertise in precision signal chain and power management ICs.

The INA238AIDGSR belongs to TI's high-accuracy digital power monitor product line, engineered specifically for industrial, telecom, and enterprise infrastructure applications demanding robust high-voltage sensing, low-drift metrology, and I²C-based telemetry integration.

FAQ

What is the maximum common-mode voltage supported by the INA238AIDGSR?

The INA238AIDGSR supports a common-mode input range of –0.3V to +85V at the IN+ and IN– pins. This allows direct high-side or low-side current sensing on 48V, 60V, and 80V industrial and telecom power rails without external level-shifting circuitry. The device remains functional even when VBUS is present while VS is unpowered, eliminating sequencing constraints in complex power architectures.

How does the INA238AIDGSR achieve 0.7% full-scale power accuracy across temperature?

The INA238AIDGSR achieves ±0.7% full-scale power accuracy from –40°C to +125°C through ultra-low offset voltage (±5µV max), minimal offset drift (±0.02µV/°C), and tight gain error control (±0.1% max with ±25ppm/°C drift). Its delta-sigma ADC architecture and precision internal oscillator ensure consistent conversion timing and filtering behavior across temperature, eliminating the need for multi-point calibration in production.

Can the INA238AIDGSR measure current in both directions?

Yes, the INA238AIDGSR supports bidirectional current measurement via its 16-bit delta-sigma ADC with signed output format. When configured for ±163.84mV shunt range, it resolves current direction and magnitude with 5µV LSB resolution - enabling accurate charge/discharge monitoring in battery management and regenerative braking systems without hardware polarity reversal.

What is the purpose of the A0 and A1 pins on the INA238AIDGSR?

The A0 and A1 pins on the INA238AIDGSR are I²C address configuration inputs that allow selection of one of 16 unique 7-bit I²C addresses by connecting each pin to GND, SCL, SDA, or VS. This enables up to 16 INA238AIDGSR devices to share a single I²C bus in dense power monitoring systems - such as multi-rail server PSUs or modular telecom rectifiers - without address collision or external multiplexing.

Does the INA238AIDGSR require external components for basic operation?

No, the INA238AIDGSR operates autonomously with only a shunt resistor, decoupling capacitor on VS, and optional pull-up resistors on SDA/SCL. It integrates a precision 1MHz oscillator, temperature sensor, and digital calculation engine - eliminating external crystal, op-amps, ADCs, or microcontrollers needed for current/voltage/power computation. This reduces bill-of-materials count and PCB area in space-constrained applications like PoE injectors.