MCS1806 Hall Effect Sensor

MPS' MCS1806 is a linear Hall effect current sensor for AC or DC current sensing. The Hall array is differential, which cancels out stray magnetic fields.

A primary conductor with a low resistance allows the current to flow close to the IC, which contains high-accuracy Hall effect sensors. This current generates a magnetic field that is sensed at two different points by the integrated Hall effect transducers. The magnetic field difference between these two points is then converted into a voltage that is proportional to the applied current. A spinning current technique is used for a low stable offset.

The galvanic isolation between the pins of the primary conductive path and the sensor leads allows the MCS1806 to replace the optoisolators and other isolation devices. The sensor requires a minimal number of readily available standard external components. The small SOIC-8 footprint saves board area and makes the device well-suited for space-constrained applications.