Monitor measures short circuit current

25th June 2007

ES Admin

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A wide common mode input voltage range, from ground to within 2V of the supply voltage, ensures that the ZXCT1050 current monitor from Zetex Semiconductors will continue to provide accurate current measurement even if the load is short circuited. Its current output topology and very low offset voltage increases its versatility and allows it to be optimised for low in-line voltage drop. Able to operate on both high and low sides of the load, the monitor will support dynamic output current limitation circuits in a broad range of applications, from power supply bricks to motor control circuits.

The ZXCT1050 translates the voltage across an external sense resistor into an accurate proportional output current. Since the monitor’s voltage gain is programmable – accurately set using two external resistors – designers can select the sense resistor value to achieve the best compromise between accuracy and power dissipation.

At 50µA, the current monitor’s quiescent current is also 10 times less than that of larger packaged alternatives, providing an improvement in overall power efficiency. The monitor is offered in the compact SOT23-5 format and will operate over an extended industrial temperature range from –40ºC to 125ºC.

The ZXCT1050 current monitor is priced at 0.633 USD in 1k quantities.