Accurate current measurement for safer, more efficient system designs

From high-side and low-side sensing to unidirectional, bidirectional, and zero-drift solutions, ST’s current-sense amplifiers help designers achieve accurate current measurement for system monitoring, control, and protection. Discover solutions designed to help prevent overheating, detect faults, and protect against overcurrent and short-circuit conditions.

Webinar overview:

Current sensing is essential for monitoring, controlling, and protecting electrical systems. It is widely used in applications including battery management systems, motor control, power supplies, automotive systems, and industrial equipment. Accurate current measurement provides real-time insight into system conditions, helping improve safety, efficiency, reliability, and overall system performance.

One of the most common approaches is shunt-based current sensing, which uses Ohm’s law to measure current. A small, precision shunt resistor is placed in the current path, generating a voltage proportional to the current flowing through the circuit. A current-sense amplifier then amplifies this voltage, which can be digitized by an ADC for further processing and control.

When selecting a current-sensing solution, designers must consider several key parameters, including input common-mode voltage, current range, measurement direction, accuracy, and sensing location. Current can be measured on the high side (supply side) or low side (ground side), with each approach offering different trade-offs in terms of system architecture, cost, safety, and fault detection.

In this webinar, ST experts will explore shunt-based current sensing and the key considerations for selecting the right current-sense amplifier for your application. You’ll see practical use cases and examples across applications such as automotive systems, industrial motor drives, consumer electronics, and power distribution.

Attendees will learn:

• The fundamentals of shunt-based current sensing
  
• Common current-sensing applications and use cases
• Key parameters to consider when selecting a current-sense amplifier
• Differences between high-side and low-side current sensing
• Unidirectional, bidirectional, and zero-drift sensing options
• Practical examples of current-sensing solutions for system monitoring and protection