Thermally Enhanced, Fully Integrated, Hall-Effect-Based
High-Precision Linear Current Sensor IC with 100 µΩ Current Conductor
ACS770xCB
21
Allegro MicroSystems
955 Perimeter Road
Manchester, NH 03103-3353 U.S.A.
www.allegromicro.com
Definitions of Accuracy Characteristics
CHARACTERISTIC DEFINITIONS
SENSITIVITY (Sens)
The change in device output in response to a 1 A change through
the primary conductor. The sensitivity is the product of the mag-
netic circuit sensitivity (G / A) and the linear IC amplifier gain
(mV/G). The linear IC amplifier gain is programmed at the factory
to optimize the sensitivity (mV/A) for the half-scale current of the
device.
NOISE (VNOISE)
The noise floor is derived from the thermal and shot noise
observed in Hall elements. Dividing the noise (mV) by the sensi-
tivity (mV/A) provides the smallest current that the device is able
to resolve.
NONLINEARITY (ELIN)
The ACS770 is designed to provide a linear output in response
to a ramping current. Consider two current levels: I1 and I2. Ide-
ally, the sensitivity of a device is the same for both currents, for
a given supply voltage and temperature. Nonlinearity is present
when there is a difference between the sensitivities measured at
I1 and I2. Nonlinearity is calculated separately for the positive
(ELINpos ) and negative (ELINneg ) applied currents as follows:
ELINpos = 100 (%) × {1 – (SensIPOS2 / SensIPOS1
) }
ELINneg = 100 (%) × {1 – (SensINEG2 / SensINEG1
)}
where:
SensIx = (VIOUT(Ix) – VIOUT(Q))/ Ix
and IPOSx and INEGx are positive and negative currents.
Then:
ELIN = max( ELINpos , ELINneg )
RATIOMETRY
The device features a ratiometric output. This means that the
quiescent voltage output, VIOUTQ, and the magnetic sensitivity,
Sens, are proportional to the supply voltage, VCC.The ratiometric
change (%) in the quiescent voltage output is defined as:
V
CC
5 V
V
IOUTQ(VCC)
V
IOUTQ(5V)
∆V
IOUTQ(∆V)
=× 100 (%)
and the ratiometric change (%) in sensitivity is defined as:
V
5 V
=× 100 (%)
∆Sens(∆V)
Sens(VCC)Sens(5V)
QUIESCENT OUTPUT VOLTAGE (VIOUT(Q))
The output of the device when the primary current is zero. For
bidirectional current flow, it nominally remains at VCC ⁄ 2. Thus,
VCC = 5 V translates into VIOUT(QBI) = 2.5 V. For unidirectional
devices, when VCC = 5 V, VIOUT(QUNI) = 0.5 V. Variation in
VIOUT(Q) can be attributed to the resolution of the Allegro linear
IC quiescent voltage trim, magnetic hysteresis, and thermal drift.
ELECTRICAL OFFSET VOLTAGE (VOE)
The deviation of the device output from its ideal quiescent value
of VCC ⁄ 2 for bidirectional sensor ICs and 0.5 V for unidirectional
sensor ICs, due to nonmagnetic causes.
MAGNETIC OFFSET ERROR (IERROM)
The magnetic offset is due to the residual magnetism (remnant
field) of the core material. The magnetic offset error is highest
when the magnetic circuit has been saturated, usually when the
device has been subjected to a full-scale or high-current overload
condition. The magnetic offset is largely dependent on the mate-
rial used as a flux concentrator.
TOTAL OUTPUT ERROR (ETOT)
The maximum deviation of the actual output from its ideal value,
also referred to as accuracy, illustrated graphically in the output
voltage versus current chart on the following page.
ETOT is divided into four areas:
• 0 A at 25°C. Accuracy at the zero current flow at 25°C,
without the effects of temperature.
• 0 A over Δ temperature. Accuracy at the zero current flow
including temperature effects.
• Full-scale current at 25°C. Accuracy at the full-scale current at
25°C, without the effects of temperature.
• Full-scale current over Δ temperature. Accuracy at the full-
scale current flow including temperature effects.
=× 100 (%)
ETOT(IP)
VIOUT(IP) – VIOUT_IDEAL(IP)
SensIDEAL × IP
where
VIOUT_IDEAL(IP) = VIOUT(Q) + (SensIDEAL × IP )