TDK Corporation, a leading Japanese electronics company is expanding its Micronas magnetic sensor portfolio with the CUR 423x, sensors developed for current measurements in automotive and industrial applications. The new sensors, marketed under the trademark curSENS, are the first Micronas branded products based on the TDK TMR technology. 

 

This technology has already been proven in the existing TDK automotive sensor products and is now paving the way for innovative coreless current-sensing applications. The new sensors highlight the synergies created in TDK’s magnetic sensor business, following the acquisition of Micronas in 2016.

 

The CUR 423x sensors are the first family members, suited for DC and AC measurements in high-power applications and is able to measure currents above 1200 A. The galvanically isolated power and sensing circuits are of particular benefit in high-voltage battery monitoring systems of hybrid and electric vehicles (xEV). A very good signal-to-noise ratio and a total error below one per cent (full scale) over temperature allow for precise current measurements in applications with a signal bandwidth of up to five kHz. Samples will be available from the fourth quarter of 2019.

 

All the necessary components for a closed-loop circuit, such as compensation coil, Rshunt, and TMR Sensor Bridge, are integrated into a small one mm thin industry standard TSSOP16 SMD package. By avoiding the need for a large magnetic-field concentrator core, space and costs can be saved. Digital offset and gain temperature compensation, low-pass filter, and clamping can easily be programmed by using TDK-Micronas’ programming tool chain.

 

Two variants are available that offer magnetic-flux density ranges of either ±7 mT or ±40 mT. A fine adjustment of the field ranges allows for adaptation to different application current ranges. Current sensing modules equipped with CUR 423x can be programmed via the output pin during the manufacturing process. Customer-selectable 

 

output interfaces, like SENT acc. to SAEJ2716 Rev.4, SPI or full ratiometric analog, allow for flexible adaptation to application requirements.

The CUR 423x is developed according to ISO26262. ASIL-B ready Functional Safety level is achieved due to various integrated diagnostic functions. The CUR 423x is qualified according to AEC-Q100 and is designed for automotive applications with temperatures ranging from –40 °C to +170 °C (TJ).

 

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