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Signal Chain Basics #84: Why RS485 Does Not Need

Ground Wires
Signal Chain Basics, , 12/5/2013

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RS485 is the only differential interface allowing for robust data

transmission over miles -- long distances at reasonably high data rates of
up to 100kbps. Preferably bus nodes are connected by daisy-chain, or a
single cable run that connects one node to the next. Because each node
receives its power supply from a different point in the electrical installation, ground potential
differences (GPDs) between bus nodes are common.
Figure 1

What is low-side current sensing?

3 comments
A quick reminder, low-side current-sensing is where the
sense element, or shunt resistor, is placed in series with the
load between the load and ground
Intrinsic op amp noise in a nut shell
For those wanting a quick and simple method to minimize
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Common-mode voltage for industrial transceivers
1 Comment
Most differential field bus technologies, like CAN and RS485,
specify a parameter called common-mode voltage. Commonmode voltage refers to the range of bus input voltages, with
respect to the transceivers ground, within which the
transceiver maintains consistent input receiver thresholds.
SIGNAL CHAIN BASICS (Part 104): Understanding noise in
ADCs
1 Comment
As a data converter supplier, we are sometimes asked, which
is our lowest noise analog-to-digital converter (ADC)?

RS485 bus with ground potential differences between bus nodes

These GPDs increase the common-mode voltage on the bus and can cause data errors or
device damage, if not properly dealt with. RS485-compliant transceivers tolerate GPDs of up to
7V. Higher GPDs however require special transceivers with a higher input voltage range, or
galvanically isolated transceivers.
Some engineers use ground wires between bus nodes in order to tie the transceiver grounds
to a defined voltage potential. This method can have dangerous outcomes as it shortens
multiple ground potential differences together causing prohibitively large ground currents that
literally burn ground wires.

SIGNAL CHAIN BASICS (Part 103): Integer Boundary Spurs

The phase-locked loop (PLL) in Figure 1 works by starting
with a stable input frequency (fOSC). It is divided down by R to
get the phase detector frequency (fPD), then multiplied by N to
get the voltage-controller oscillator (VCO) frequency (fVCO).
Finally, it is divided down by D to get the output frequency
(fOUT). The output divider, D, is typically an integer, but it is
possible for the N divider to be fractional. Devices can exist
with multipliers on the input path, effectively making R
fractional.
MORE FROM SIGNAL CHAIN BASICS

On the basis of a single point-to-point interface, this article shows that differential transceivers
are designed to operate without ground wires.
The differential driver has a H-bridge output stage that drives current from terminal A to
terminal B and vice versa, depending on the logic states at data input, D (Figure 2).
Figure 2

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Because the line voltages, VA and VB, switch between two positive potentials, the driver can be
modeled as a signal source with a common-mode output offset, VOS, and a superimposed
differential voltage of VOD/2 (Figure 3).

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Driver model and line voltages

The differential receivers input stage consists of a resistor network that attenuates large input
signals and biases the comparator inputs with respect to receiver ground (Figure 4). By
referencing the inputs to receiver ground, the receiver can build the voltage difference
between VA and VB without a ground connection between driver and receiver ground.
Figure 4

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Differential receiver input stage

Voltage divider action between the input resistors (Rin) and the bias resistors (Rb) attenuates
the input signal (common-mode and differential voltage components likewise) by a factor of
ten. This prevents the comparator inputs from saturation (Figure 5).

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Voltage divider action between the bias resistors biases the comparator inputs with VCC/2
potential, thus enabling the receiver to work from a single-supply voltage.

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TKUG
12/11/2013 10:57:19 AM
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Re: XFMR coupled manchester data over 485
actually I use Manchester coding for getting hihg data rates across long
cable runs. typically the higher cable capacitance cause increased
loading and ISI (inter-symbol interference) can close eyes quickly. Using 100% 0%
a clock and XOR-ing it with data gives you manchester encoded data. on
the receive side you either need to use a clock recovery circuit (typically
with 6 to 8 times higher frequency) for decoding, or you simply use a
second differential link for getting the clock to the receiver.

With a small RS422 IC, such as a dual driver and dual receiver IC, one
can accomplish this task quite easily. On the receiver side you simply
use another XOR to decode the encoded data with the received clock to
get to the original data. - Thomas

Planet Analog @PlanetAnalog 5 Nov

What is low-side current sensing?
ubm.io/1PqHlYh

Guido Burger @guido_burger 4 Nov

Planet Analog - Divya Thukkaram BNO055: A Sensor for the Makers
Community
planetanalog.com/author.asp?doc
via @PlanetAnalog
Retweeted by Thomas Block
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Re: XFMR coupled manchester data over 485
@William, thanks for the comment about the Alternate Mark Inversion
line coding. BR, Victor
Victor Lorenzo
12/10/2013 1:52:03 AM
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Guido Burger @guido_burger 4 Nov

Planet Analog - Divya Thukkaram -

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BillWM
12/9/2013 5:35:46 PM
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Re: XFMR coupled manchester data over 485

There are other line codings, as well as drive types -- T1/E1 uses
Alternate Mark Inversion to drive the transformer for example rather than
Manchester (tri-level signal) done with 485 this is either 1, Z, or 0 for
drive with 1, and 0 representing a Logic High and Z representing logic 0

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Victor Lorenzo
12/9/2013 4:26:24 PM
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Re: XFMR coupled manchester data over 485

@Thomas, thanks for pointing us to the SN65HVD82 datasheet, as you
say, it contains usefull information about transients and their
suppression.

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Re: XFMR coupled manchester data over 485
1) sorry for my delayed response. I'm currently travelling through Asia. 2)
I do not have an application note for transformer isolation with
Manchester encoding. 3) transformer isolation is usually appllied on the 50% 50%
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TKUG
12/9/2013 3:40:14 PM
User Rank TEACHER

bus side while isolation through opto-couplers is installed on the

control or logic side of the transceiver, i.e. between transceiver and
UART or MCU. Optos can be used at low data rates up to 100 kbps, as
they are dirt cheap (4 to 5 cents). At higher data rates, such as highspeed MODBUS or Profibus applications, RS-485 transceivers with
integrated digital (capacitive or magnetic) isolation are used.
Isolation prevents high common-mode voltages from corrupting your
data traffic, i.e. by preventing the flow of ground loop currents. Isolation
does NOT protect your bus node against fast transients from ESD or
EFT or Surge. TI has worked with Bourns on transient protection circuits
for RS-485 bus nodes. Please refer to the application section in the in
the SN65HVD82 data sheet on www.ti.com. I provide a lot of information
on the individual transient energies and their suppression. Figure 23 in
the data sheet has a detailed application circuit that should simplify your
protection design for an isolated bus node. Regards, Thomas
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Victor Lorenzo
12/9/2013 10:02:49 AM
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Re: XFMR coupled manchester data over 485

@William, Please, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. At both ends of
the twisted pair we put termination resistors, and we tend to make both
wires of the twisted pair of almost the same length. In principle, the
voltage developed across both wires due to bias currents should be
almost identical but opposite in polarity.

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The wires resistance contributes to reducing the effective dynamic

range, but if you manage to use effectively isolated input/output stages
(floating, like in the LTC1535 isolated RS485 transceived, for citing one)
the effect of sending long strings of 0's or 1's should be minimum
provided that you're connecting directly to the bus. If isolation is
accomplished using transformers the DC ballance does show up as
the transformer blocks the DC level, in which case we need data
encodings like Manchester.
Have you used another encoding besides Manchester with isolation
transformers?
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BillWM
12/9/2013 7:45:55 AM
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Re: XFMR coupled manchester data over 485
The real issue without the Manchester/Transformer arrangement is the
DC ballance issue where a long string on 1's or 0's causes a shift in the
voltage level on the reciever inputs when long wires with resistance are 50% 50%
used -- this can cause data to be interpreted as the wrong value or level
when no transformer / manchester code is used.

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Re: XFMR coupled manchester data over 485
@DaeJ, "Opto isolator (chip) has a limited voltage range, but cost is
inexpensive"
Victor Lorenzo
12/9/2013 7:40:23 AM
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It all depends on many factors, there's a number of pulse transformers

with a fairly small footprint and relatively high bandwith (although this is
probably not the most appropiate term) available for less than 3$, and
'good' optocouplers with high isolation voltaje and rated at 5V/us or
more for industrial applications tend to be in the range from 2$ and up.
I think at the end its all up-to the application we're working on. The good
news here is we have plenty of options to chose from.
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Re: XFMR coupled manchester data over 485

@William: "Do you know of any good app notes for XFMR coupled
manchester data over RS485"
Victor Lorenzo
12/9/2013 7:29:51 AM
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I'm just curious about that. Would you please comment a little bit about
it, specially about the need for the XFMR?
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Victor Lorenzo
12/9/2013 7:20:53 AM
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Good Post!
@Thomas, thanks for the post, it covers several key aspects about
RS485 and mentions several core concepts when interconnecting data
networks with this type of interface.

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The only part I miss here is the inputs protection, which is imperative to
be addressed by the designer.
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