MIKROE VCP Monitor 4 Click is a compact add-on board that represents a high-precision power monitoring system. This board features the INA239, ultra-precise digital power monitor with a 16-bit delta-sigma ADC specifically designed for current-sensing applications from Texas Instruments. The INA239 reports current, bus voltage, temperature, and power while performing the needed calculations in the background. The integrated temperature sensor is ±1°C accurate for die temperature measurement and is also helpful in monitoring the ambient system temperature. This Click board™ is suitable for applications such as industrial measurements, DC-DC converters, power inverters, telecom equipment, servers, and many more.

VCP Monitor 4 Click is supported by a mikroSDK compliant library, which includes functions that simplify software development.

VCP Monitor 4 Click as its foundation uses the INA239, a digital current sense amplifier with a 4-wire serial digital interface from Texas Instruments. It measures shunt and bus voltage and internal temperature while calculating the power necessary for accurate decision-making in precisely controlled systems. The input stage of the INA239 is designed such that the input common-mode voltage can be higher than the device supply voltage. It operates from mikroBUS™ power rails but can measure voltage and current as high as 85V, making it well suited for high-side and low-side current measurements.

Its integrated 16-bit ADC allows for selectable conversion times from 50μs to 4.12ms and sample averaging from 1x to 1024x, which further helps reduce the noise of the measured data. It also features low offset and gain-drift and low input bias current, which reduces the current consumed in both Active and Shutdown operational states. Another benefit of low bias current is that it allows the use of larger current-sense resistors (in this case, onboard R4 shunt 25MΩ resistor), thus providing accurate, current measurements in the micro-amp range. Besides, it can also measure the temperature through the integrated temperature sensor in a range from -40ºC up to +125ºC.

Its integrated 16-bit ADC allows for selectable conversion times from 50μs to 4.12ms and sample averaging from 1x to 1024x, which further helps reduce the noise of the measured data. It also features low offset and gain-drift and low input bias current, which reduces the current consumed in both Active and Shutdown operational states. Another benefit of low bias current is that it allows the use of larger current-sense resistors (in this case, onboard R4 shunt 25MΩ resistor), thus providing accurate, current measurements in the micro-amp range. Besides, it can also measure the temperature through the integrated temperature sensor in a range from -40ºC up to +125ºC.

This Click board™ can operate with both 3.3V and 5V logic voltage levels selected via the VCC SEL jumper. This way, it is allowed for both 3.3V and 5V capable MCUs to use the SPI communication lines properly. However, the Click board™ comes equipped with a library containing easy-to-use functions and an example code that can be used, as a reference, for further development.

• Interface: SPI
• Compatibility: mikroBUS™
• Dimensions: 42.9 x 25.4mm
• Input Voltage: 3.3V or 5V
• Common-mode Input Range: Min. 0V, Max. 85V
• ADC Resolution: 16 bits
• Operating Temperature Range: Min. -40°C, Typ. +25°C, Max. +125°C

• Schematic
• INA239 Datasheet
• mikroSDK
• GitHub