Monolithic power monitoring IC has reinforced isolation
Power sensing functions have been added to enhance the power monitoring IC offering from Allegro MicroSystems.
Allegro’s ACS724 and ACS711 Current Sensor ICs are commonly used in internet connected power outlets and other IOT devices. The ACS71020 improves on these ICs by including power sensing functions and by eliminating power and isolation components that would otherwise increase the cost and the size of customer systems.
The ACS71020 IC builds upon Allegro’s Hall-effect current sensor IC technology by adding line voltage sensing (to voltage levels above 500 VRMS) and a dedicated metrology engine that digitally calculates detected power levels. This, claims Allegro, enables the first power monitor IC that can be powered from the same voltage supply as the system microprocessor, without needing digital isolators or multiple power supplies.
The integrated, small form factor, power monitoring IC simplifies common power measurements by offering digital computation of parameters including active, reactive and apparent power. These power values can be read out through I²C or SPI. The IC also includes dedicated pins for voltage zero crossing (suitable for light-dimming applications) and fast over-current fault detection (for sensing short-circuits). The ACS71020 eliminates the need for opto-couplers, dual output isolated power supplies and a current sense-resistor in single phase power monitoring applications, adds Allegro.
The device is housed in a single SOIC-16 wide body package that provides a reinforced isolation rating up to 517V rms. This monolithic IC provides makes it simple to add power monitoring to any AC or DC powered device, concludes Allegro.
The ACS71020 current sensor IC is programmed at Allegro for optimised accuracy measurement to either ±15, ±30, or ±90A.
Allegro MicroSystems develops high-performance power and sensing semiconductors. Allegro’s products serve high-growth applications within the automotive market, with additional focus on industrial and consumer/computing solutions. Allegro is headquartered in Manchester, New Hampshire (USA) with design, applications, and sales support centres located worldwide.
