Micronas presents high-sensitivity current transducer for use in automotive and industrial applications

The CUR 3115 enlarges Micronas' sensor range for applications demanding contactless current measurement

Freiburg, October 25, 2012 – Micronas (SIX Swiss Exchange: MASN), known and recognized in the automotive and industrial business as a reliable and global partner for intelligent, sensor-based solutions for automotive and industrial applications, presents its CUR 3115, the most recent member of the CUR 31xy current transducer family basing its measuring principle on the Hall effect.

The CUR 3115 with its enhanced sensitivity and its space-saving SMD package is especially predestined for all current measurements on circuit-board conductors. The enhanced sensitivity is accomplished by an advantageous positioning ("die down") of the sensor chip inside the package, which substantially reduces the space between the Hall element and the measured object (circuit-board conductor). Compared to its predecessor CUR 3105, the CUR 3115 as well offers a lower sensitivity drift over the whole temperature range, achieving under optimum conditions a measuring error of below one percent. Parameters for controlling the resolution and the temperature behaviour can be stored in an EEPROM with redundancy function.

Like its predecessor, the CUR 3115 is programmable with ultimate flexibility and equipped with an analog output.

With their new generation of engines, car makers today put the focus on the development of fuel-saving and clean petrol engines. Promising approaches include smaller cubic capacities and fewer cylinders, with the drawbacks being a loss of vehicle performance and reduced ride comfort, and especially weaker torques at lower engine speeds. To compensate these shortcomings, more efficient and power-supported charging systems such as the E-Booster by Continental are used today beside the common known turbo chargers. The above mentioned E-Booster makes already use of the advantages of the presented CUR 3115 and has been honoured in February 2011, with the "Yellow Angel" award in the "Innovation and Environment" category from the ADAC (German automobile association). The CUR 3115 also addresses applications such as battery monitoring, for instance in hybrid or electric cars, but also in start-stop systems in modern, fuel-efficient vehicles or in induction cookers.

Combined with a ferro-magnetic flux concentrator, the CUR 31xy family is also capable of detecting electric currents down to the milliampere range. Currents of 50A and higher can be measured without using a flux concentrator. The current transducers have a bandwidth of up to 1 kHz and a usable magnetic field range from ±30 to ±100 mT.

The CUR 31xy family is available in the small SOIC8 package capable of being soldered and welded. The CUR 31xy family works in the temperature range from TJ = −40 to 140°C. For increased safety it includes an additional built-in detection of overvoltages and a reverse voltage protection of the supply connection.

About sensor solutions from Micronas

Micronas today offers the world’s broadest range of Hall-effect sensors and pioneered Hall sensors in CMOS technology. The company was the first to market CMOS Hall sensors. This technology allows the integration of the Hall-effect sensing element with standard electronics devices such as amplifiers, logic circuits, and volatile or non-volatile memories.

Micronas’ expertise in Hall sensors combines perfectly with its CMOS and mixed-signal design resources to create accurate, intelligent sensors for a broad range of applications. The ever-increasing demand for energy-efficient and highly reliable machines means that demand for these smart sensors will continue to grow.