This is an example of an ExternalLookup configuration that uses SPDataSource and AutoCompleteRenderMode.
{
"DataSourceType": "SP",
"DataSourceConfiguration": {
"SourceList": "{SiteUrl}/DepartmentCodebook"
},
"IndexValue": {
"Expression": "{ID}"
},
"TextValue": {
"Expression": "{Title}"
},
"DisplayValue": {
"Expression": "{Title} ({ID})"
},
"SearchElements": ["Title"],
"RenderMode": "AutoComplete",
"EmitEmptyItem": true
}