Intuitive online tool makes current measurement designs easy
Melexis' new Current Sensor Simulator simplifies the design and implementation of current sensing solutions using the company's proprietary IMC-Hall® technology. This tool enables customers to make the right decisions on device and shield selection.
Melexis has introduced its Current Sensor Simulator, an easy-to-use web application for quickly selecting sensors from the company's IMC-Hall portfolio. This interactive tool greatly speeds up the design process, allowing engineers with little experience in magnetic sensors to benefit from such technology. By filling in the parameters in the web interface, users can describe their specific design requirements. Based on these, the tool recommends the appropriate part number, as well as the corresponding ferromagnetic hub (shield). The tool also provides a total error budget, so performance can be instantly estimated over the entire current and temperature sensing range.
IMC-Hall® current sensor ICs offer accurate, non-contact current measurement, widely used in automotive and industrial applications. It brings the advantage of surface mounting and easy mechanical integration over core-based technology. It does not have the drawbacks of coreless and screenless technologies. These technologies are by nature sensitive to mechanical tolerances and require the IC to be rigidly positioned in close proximity to the bus.
The Melexis Current Sensor Simulator automatically matches sensors and shields, based on the requirements provided. Educates users on the advantages and disadvantages associated with the different IMC-Hall devices and shields. In addition, it allows visualizing the non-linearities of the shielding and determining the levels at which saturation will occur. This means that users can see the impact that saturation will have and choose the optimal shielding.
“Using the new web-based current sensor simulation tool, we are able to translate the requirements set by our customers into optimized sensing solutions,” says Bruno Boury, Melexis current sensor product line manager. “This allows engineers of all experience levels to take full advantage of IMC-Hall's magnetic sensing technology. They get a fast path to a solution that is perfectly suited for their application, based on the required current range and busbar width. As a result, we see potential for these sensors to become even more popular."
