Electronic – current controlled current source

currentsource

Objective

I am trying to build a gain-of-1 current controlled current source (current mirror) that is less sensitive to resistor value variation. The designs i have been making are highly resister dependent, as I am using shunt resisters.

Specifications

  • On the input and output sides, I have 24vdc source
  • The input side control current is well behaved.
  • Input and output safe-operating-range must include 4mA-20mA
  • The load is 500 ohms

Current Approach

This is the circuit I have been playing with. The circuit is very dependent on the 50 ohm resisters.

I have looked at a current mirror, but the matched mosfets I can get only have a VDS of 10V, when given a 24vdc supply, bad things can happen.

enter image description here

Best Answer

Traditionally you would want to use an instrumentation amp of some kind.

Here's a circuit that uses a ZXCT1009 instead. Accuracy is up to the 4.7 / 47 ohm resistor matching and the ZXCT's transconductance accuracy, about 1%.

enter image description here

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