12-07-2022 | Melexis | Design & Manufacture
The new Current Sensor Simulator from Melexis eases the design and implementation of current-sensing solutions employing the company’s proprietary IMC-Hall technology. This tool allows customers to make the right decisions about device and shield selection.
It offers its Current Sensor Simulator - an easy-to-use web application for swiftly choosing sensors from the company’s IMC-Hall portfolio. This interactive tool significantly speeds the design process, allowing engineers with limited magnetic sensing experience to gain from this technology. By filling in parameters on the web interface, they can describe their specific design needs. Based on these, it will recommend the appropriate part number, as well as the relevant ferromagnetic concentrator (shield). The tool also offers a total error budget, so performance can be instantly estimated over the complete temperature and current sensing range.
These current sensor ICs provide accurate, contact-free current measurement widely employed in automotive and industrial applications. It offers the advantage of surface mount assembly and simple mechanical integration versus core-based technology. It does not have the inconveniences of coreless and shieldless technologies. These technologies are sensitive to mechanical tolerances and require the IC to be rigidly positioned close to the busbar.
This simulator pairs sensors and shields automatically, based on the needs provided. It educates users about the trade-offs associated with different IMC-Hall devices and shields. Furthermore, there is the capacity to visualise shield non-linearities and determine the levels at which saturation will occur. This indicates that users can see what impact saturation can have and select the optimal shield.
“By utilising the new web-based Current Sensor Simulator tool, we are able to translate requirements set by our customers into optimised sensing solutions,” states Bruno Boury, Product Line Manager Current Sensors at Melexis. “This enables engineers of all levels of experience to fully leverage IMC-Hall magnetic sensing technology. They get a quick route to a solution that is perfectly matched to their application, based on the current range needed and the busbar width. As a result, we see potential for these sensors to achieve even greater popularity.”
