In a move aimed at enhancing voltage sensing capabilities in electric vehicles (EVs), Diodes Incorporated (Nasdaq: DIOD), a leading global manufacturer of semiconductor products, has unveiled a new series of high-precision current shunt monitors. The ZXCT21xQ family of monitors enables accurate measurement of small sense voltages across a wide common-mode voltage range, catering to various automotive applications in EVs.
These state-of-the-art current shunt monitors are designed to meet the stringent demands of automotive environments, offering reliable and precise current sensing capabilities for critical components such as brushless DC (BLDC) motor controllers, e-compressors, high-power DC-DC converters, on-board chargers (OBC), battery management systems (BMS), ADAS power supplies, and wireless phone chargers.
One of the key features of the ZXCT21xQ family is its low offset voltage, measuring just ±30μV, and low gain error, ranging between ±0.5% and ±0.8%. These characteristics, combined with the zero-drift core that exhibits a typical ±100nV/°C, allow for accurate current sensing across the shunt with minimal voltage drops, as low as 10mV at full-scale. This innovative design facilitates the use of small-value sense resistors for precise monitoring of large-magnitude currents, while simultaneously reducing power loss during the measurement process. Additionally, the devices boast low quiescent current consumption, peaking at a maximum of 100μA, contributing to overall power efficiency.
The ZXCT21xQ family also offers a wide common-mode sense voltage range of 0-26V (rail-to-rail), independent of the supply voltage. This feature enables both high-side and low-side precision current measurement, providing flexibility in various automotive applications. Moreover, the monitors feature a REF pin that allows for bi-directional current flow measurement.
To ensure their reliability in the automotive industry, all devices in the ZXCT21xQ series are AEC-Q100 Grade 1 qualified and manufactured in IATF 16949 certified facilities. They also support Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) documentation. These current shunt monitors operate effectively over a wide temperature range, from -40°C to +125°C, making them suitable for the demanding conditions encountered in EVs. The devices are housed in the industry-standard SOT363 package, ensuring compatibility with existing automotive designs.
The ZXCT21xQ series offers customers six voltage gain options, including 50V/V, 75V/V, 100V/V, 200V/V, 500V/V, and 1000V/V. Each gain option corresponds to a unique order number, with three accuracy variants available. The pricing for these monitors ranges from $0.321 to $0.451 per unit in quantities of 1,000.
With the introduction of the ZXCT21xQ family, Diodes Incorporated aims to provide automotive manufacturers with high-precision current shunt monitors that enable accurate voltage sensing in electric vehicles. By leveraging their advanced features and automotive-grade qualifications, these monitors are poised to contribute to the ongoing development of efficient and reliable EV systems.
