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Automotive battery transducers

LEM designed the HAB xx-S family of current transducers for automotive battery-monitoring applications in both conventional and hybrid cars. The transducers employ an openloop, Hall-effect sensor based on a new ASIC that improves resolution and halves offset and gain errors compared to previous devices, and measure dc, ac, or pulsed currents in ranges from ±40 up to ±100A. LEM’s production process individually calibrates each sensor, and sets its full-scale range and zero-output levels. Output is a 0.5 to 4.5V analogue level, or a PWM digital signal, and operation is from 5V. Output resolution of the HAB 60-S transducer is 0.03A with a linearity of 0.2%. Electric offset error is typically 0.075A across the temperature range from -10 to +65°C, and 0.15A across the full range from -40 to -125°C. A water-tight housing and a sealed connector provide full environmental protection in engine compartment applications. A version with an integrated temperature sensor is under development. LEM says that the technology offers advantages over low-value resistive shunt techniques at voltages higher than 12V, including applications in hybrid vehicles.

LEM, www.lem.com