Allegro's new ultra-compact TSSOP8 package offers accurate current measurements for applications > 200 A without a magnetic concentrator core or shield
Allegro MicroSystems has announced the release of the world's first stand-alone coreless current Hall sensor, the ACS37612. This new device measures currents from 200 A to >1000 A flowing through a PCB or bus bar with a typical accuracy of 1%, and without requiring a magnetic hub core or shield. Differential Hall elements used to measure the magnetic field provide high immunity to stray magnetic fields without the need for a laminated shield required by competitive solutions, reducing design size and bill of materials (BOM). The ACS37612 is ideal for demanding EV applications such as:
- High Voltage Traction Inverter Phase Current Measurement
- 48V starting generators
- Battery disconnect “We created the ACS37612 in direct response to trends in the xEV market,” explains Georges El Bacha, Product Line Manager at Allegro. “It is the first solution to provide a truly coreless method to accurately measure hundreds of amps in a very small form factor, solving a key challenge for automotive engineers.”
Create a more energy efficient and economical electric vehicle
During acceleration, hundreds of amps flow through the inverter of an electric vehicle's traction motor. Accurate measurement of such high currents is vital for safe performance. Engineers have traditionally resorted to a low hysteresis laminated core for such measurements, using three to six cores, depending on the number of phases in the motor. Eliminating the cores with the ACS37612 allows manufacturers to reduce the space and weight of the inverters, thus increasing the efficiency of the electric vehicle. This non-invasive non-contact current sensor is designed to improve thermal efficiency relative to bypass solutions and is therefore ideal for reducing system power consumption in 48V electronic motor platforms. “The beauty of the ACS37612 is that it improves efficiency while lowering total system cost, which is beneficial to all manufacturers and consumers,” says El Bacha.
Simplifying automotive solutions
The ability of the ACS37612 to be used in busbar or PCB designs provides engineers with mechanical flexibility and simplifies solution at the system level. The system coupling factor is determined by the sensitivity level of the ACS37612 as well as the shape and location of the busbar, making it easy to increase the current sensing range at any stage of the design. The sensor is available in a very small TSSOP8 (LU-8) package that has a total PCB footprint of 3mm x 6,4mm. Together with the coreless design, the ACS37612 allows for a very small and lightweight current sensing solution. Allegro offers nearly 20 years of experience creating reliable Hall current sensors that meet the changing needs of automotive customers. For data sheets and more details on Allegro's innovative family of current sensors, including the ACS37612, visit www.allegromicro.com com. Contact your local sales office for more information and to request samples today.
