As current requirements have been increasing so have the challenges of accurately measuring high currents, typically >200 A and often up to 2,000 A.  Shunt resistors with isolated amplifiers are broadly used but present an issue with I²R losses and tend to be large and costly.  Existing magnetic based solutions like Hall Effect and AMR are less accurate and have high temperature drift. The CT45x products are based on XtremeSense TMR technology delivers the future with a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) contactless approach which can scale with the system requirements, high bandwidth and fast response time, common-model field rejection, combined with high accuracy measurements over temperature.

In addition, many applications now require very accurate current measurements in the milliamp range up to the 1,000 A range or more. Often this type of solution involves multiple current sensors to achieve the desired system performance with many design compromises and complexities. Using Crocus’ XtremeSense TMR current sensors allows for a no-compromise and simple solution using a single CT45x sensor which provides a large dynamic range and a high SNR.  For example, the CT45x is able to measure down to 500 mA resolution and up to 1,800 A while maintaining better than 0.7% accuracy.

The CT45x offers groundbreaking noise performance, as low as 0.55 mVRMS, to enable applications to sense small current levels and small changes or variations in current through a busbar.  This performance is almost 10 times better than existing Hall Effect solutions.  This results in a SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) as high as 77 dB for the CT45x measurement which allows the system to process higher resolution data with higher accuracy.

“With the introduction of the CT45x family of contactless current sense products, we now have a complete portfolio of products for our customers from small currents to larger currents.” States Zack Deiri, President and CEO of Crocus Technology.  “This product based on Crocus’ cutting-edge TMR technology is the most exciting for us as the benefits of our XtremeSense TMR are addressing the needs of higher current applications that can’t be met with existing solutions without compromises. Crocus is excited to be addressing new high current markets such as BMS, Inverters, DC/DC Converter and many others.”

Product features and performance:

• CT450 & CT452 (5 V version) & CT453 (3.3 V version)
• Isolated Contactless Current Sensor
• Capable of measuring currents from 5 mA to >2,000 A
• Total output error ±0.7% Full-Scale
• 300 ns response time, 1 MHz bandwidth
• Available in six different configured field ranges
• Protection capability with Over Field Detection (OFD)
• Integrated Common Mode Field Rejection (CMFR) with >90% immunity (CT452/3)
• Uniform magnetic field sensing (CT450)
• Targeting applications in EV Chargers, Battery Management Systems (BMS), DC/DC Converters, 48-V system, Bidirectional Charging and AC/DC Inverters.

Availability and Pricing

The CT450 is available in TSSOP-8 package.  The CT452/3 are available in TSSOP-16 package For more information, please visit the product webpage:

• CT450 https://crocus-technology.com/products/ct450/
• CT452 https://crocus-technology.com/products/ct452/
• CT453 https://crocus-technology.com/products/ct452_3/

For more information availability and pricing please visit email: sales.europe@macnica.com.

About Crocus Technology

Crocus Technology develops and manufactures state-of-the-art magnetic sensors based on its patented XtremeSense® TMR sensor technology.

Crocus’ disruptive magnetic sensor technology enables the highest sensitivity, the lowest power consumption and smallest size over a wide temperature range.

Crocus is headquartered in Milpitas, California. For more information, please visit https://www.crocus-technology.com.

About Macnica ATD Europe S.A.S.

Founded in 1990 as ATD Electronique, Macnica ATD Europe headquarter offers innovative components dedicated to imaging applications for the European market. Its product portfolio includes: image sensors (CCD, CMOS, InGaAs, Thermal etc.), optics, interface circuits, FPGA & IPs, imaging processors, cables and OLED microdisplays.

It also covers development tools and design services enabling fast and efficient realization of new high-performance camera systems for markets such as machine vision, medical, life sciences, surveillance, automotive and others. After the acquisition of the company by Macnica Inc. as of October 1, 2020 the company operates under the name Macnica ATD Europe.

About Macnica, Inc.

Macnica was established in 1972 as a semiconductor distribution company headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and has over 85 sales offices worldwide in eastern Asia, Europe and the USA. Total number of employees is over 3,000 and its consolidated revenue for fiscal 2020 was approximately US$ 5.5 B.

Macnica is famous for having an excellent engineering team of more than 900 application support engineers, IC designers and software developers with strong focus on providing technical support for its customers including custom design services. Macnica is continuing to extend its presence globally by having successful partners in strategic areas in the electronics market.