Millivoltrange

Millivoltrange is a specification used in electrical measurement and control equipment to describe the span of voltages expressed in millivolts that a channel can measure or a device can output. It is commonly cited for inputs, outputs, or both, and is often accompanied by notes on accuracy, resolution, and calibration.

In instrumentation, devices may provide a specified input millivoltrange (for example 0-50 mV, 0-1000 mV, or ±100 mV). The chosen range affects resolution and accuracy; a smaller range with the same ADC resolution yields finer effective resolution but increases the risk of saturation if the signal exceeds the range. Bipolar ranges (for example ±50 mV) are used for signals centered around zero.

Common examples include digital multimeters and data loggers, which offer specified mV ranges; oscilloscopes with probes that translate input signals into a larger voltage range; and instrumentation amplifiers that scale a small sensor voltage to a larger, digitizable level. Users often select millivoltrange based on signal amplitude, noise, and required resolution.

When designing or using a circuit, selecting an appropriate millivoltrange involves considering the signal amplitude, noise floor, input impedance, and protection requirements. Auto-ranging features can change the effective millivoltrange on the fly, while fixed ranges require manual selection and careful planning to prevent clipping or loss of resolution.

Calibration and verification are important for maintaining accuracy. The millivoltrange should be calibrated against a known reference, and any offset or gain error documented to ensure consistent measurements.

See also: millivolts, resolution, dynamic range, ADC, DAC.