Monolithic Power Systems — MCS1806 Current Sensor

Monolithic Power Systems supplies the MCS1806, a linear Hall-effect current sensor for measuring either alternating or direct currents to an accuracy of ±2.5%.

The MCS1806 features a differential Hall sensor array, which eliminates the risk of interference by canceling out any stray magnetic fields. A low-resistance primary conductor allows current to flow close to the IC’s accurate Hall-effect sensors. This current generates a magnetic field which is sensed at two different points by the integrated Hall-effect transducers. The magnetic field difference between these two points is converted to a voltage which is proportional to the applied current. A spinning current technique is used for a low stable offset.

Galvanic isolation between the pins of the primary conductive path and the sensor leads allows the MCS1806 to replace opto-isolators or other isolation devices.

The MCS1806 requires a minimal number of readily available external components. The device, in an SOIC-8 package which has a footprint of 4 mm x 5 mm, is well-suited to space-constrained applications.