Fully-Integrated Current Sensors for High Current Density Applications

Allegro MicroSystems announced significant ease-of-use enhancements to its popular high current fully-integrated ACS772/3 current sensor “CB” package family. These automotive grade high voltage isolation current sensors already provide economical and precise solutions for both ac and dc current sensing up to 400A.

Allegro’s new surface-mount leadform option for the CB package with enhanced working isolation voltage is the answer to many design challenges by providing a flexible solution for space constrained applications.

“This is a classic, ‘You asked – we listened.’  innovation with purpose moment for us,” explained Shaun Milano, Business Unit Director for Current Sensors. “Our customers want flexibility, and we’re excited to provide these innovative, robust solutions in this new surface-mount option to complement our highly popular through-hole version. High current PCB designs improve power density and efficiency and this surface-mount option allows customers to realize these advantages with a simpler manufacturing process.”

The ACS772/3 family of current sensor ICs has an enhanced feature set that helps engineers simplify their bill of materials and improve efficiency in the toughest of applications:

• Small form footprint over competing solutions
• 2.5µS response time that enables overcurrent fault detection - suited for safety-critical applications
• Enhanced working isolation voltages up to 1300kV+ for basic dc voltage, and 650V+ for reinforced isolation dc voltage - No need for opto-isolators or other costly isolation techniques.
• Accuracy of +/-2.1% over the lifetime of the IC

These features make the ACS772/3 family suited for a range of applications from industrial robotics to electric vehicles.

“Many of our customers, especially in green energy applications, are looking for higher working voltages which can provide efficiency improvements and cost reductions in their systems,” said Milano. “In solar applications for instance, raising the system voltage allows for longer strings, which eliminates significant wiring and connector combiner boxes.  It also allows for longer panel strings with higher rated output inverters, which reduces losses and improves efficiency.  These improvements are a win-win for our customers.”