Zetex current monitor tolerates high voltage transients

Designed for automotive load measurement and control, the new high accuracy current monitor from Zetex Semiconductors eliminates any ground plane disruption when sensing a load current. The device takes a sense voltage across a low value shunt resistor and converts it into a 1 percent accurate proportional output voltage, scaled by a user-defined output resistor.

The lack of a separate ground connection means the ZXCT1008 can be 'floated' and input voltages accommodated well above the device's normal 2.5V to 20V limit. Simply adding a Zener in series with the ground reference resistor offsets the input voltage range, the company added.

Meanwhile, putting a Zener across the IC's voltage input and current output terminals also protects it against overvoltage and reverse polarity events. In both instances, the Zener conducts to maintain safe operating conditions for the current monitor.

Rated for operation between the -40°C to 125°C temperature range, the high-side current monitoring device's maximum sense voltage is 500mV and its operating bandwidth of 2MHz is sufficient to ensure load current measurements are provided in real time. The product's low typical quiescent current of 4?A ensures drain on battery power is kept to an absolute minimum.

According to Zetex, the application simplicity of the three-terminal ZXCT1008 enables it to tolerate high voltage transients, overvoltage and reverse polarity events.

Offered in an SOT23 package, the device is priced through distributors at 55 cents in quantities of 1,000.