TI enables more efficient motor design with faster, more accurate current-sense amplifier

Texas Instruments (TI) (NASDAQ:TXN) today introduced a new current-sense amplifier for in-line motor phase current measurement that improves overall motor efficiency, compared to existing current-sense amplifiers. The INA240 offers enhanced pulse-width modulation (PWM) rejection for systems running at up to 80 V to support a variety of applications such as motor control, solenoid control and power delivery systems. For more information about the new current-sense amplifier or to order samples, see www.ti.com/INA240-pr.

Key features and benefits

• Enhanced PWM rejection for improved motor efficiency: The presence of high-speed in-line PWM motor control systems requires high AC and DC accuracy. The INA240’s enhanced PWM rejection improves transient suppression and gives designers the ability to reduce their blanking time, optimize the motor-control algorithm and ultimately improve motor efficiency.
• Flexible for a variety of motor applications: The INA240 operates at PWM rates in excess of 100 kHz, with switching-edge rates as high as 10 V/ns while enabling system voltages as high as 80 V. In addition, to address the needs for a wide range of systems, this device supports the negative voltages (-4 V) induced by the inductive kickback of the motor.
• Industry-leading performance and accuracy: The INA240 has the industry’s best combination of low offset voltage (5 µV), offset drift (50 nV/°C), gain error and drift performance (0.05 percent and 0.5 ppm/°C, respectively). The device also provides an excellent AC common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR) of 93 dB at 50 kHz. The INA240 delivers performance over a wide range of operating conditions.
• Enhanced performance for any motor-control solution: The INA240’s precision is showcased in a 48-V 10-A In-Line Three-Phase High-Frequency Gallium Nitride (GaN) Inverter for Brushless Motors Reference Design. This BoosterPack™ plug-in module reference design is paired with a C2000™ LaunchPad™ kit, demonstrating how designers can use the INA240 and LMG5200 GaN half-bridge power stage to reduce switching losses over an extended temperature range up to 125°C, facilitate the use of higher PWM frequencies and reduce heat sinking requirements.

To see the new current-sense amplifier in a live Smart Factory Industry 4.0 demonstration and learn about other ways TI is engineering industrial innovation, visit Booth 219 in Hall A4 at electronica, Nov. 8-11, 2016. The INA240 will also be on display at the SPS IPC Drives exhibition in Booth 6-441 starting Nov. 22.

Tools and support to jump-start design
Short, use-case technical notes called TI TechNotes offer engineers implementation techniques related to low-drift in-line motor current phase measurement and current monitoring for overcurrent protection.

Support is available in the TI E2E™ Community Current Sensing forum, where engineers can search for solutions, get help, share knowledge, and solve problems with fellow engineers and TI experts. As with TI’s entire current-sensing portfolio, designers have access to a full suite of support resources, including a complete library of TI Designs reference designs, evaluation modules (EVMs), online training series and SPICE models.

Package, availability and pricing
The 8-pin INA240 is available now in a 3-mm-by-4.4-mm thin-shrink small outline package (TSSOP) from the TI store and authorized distributors. Pricing is US$0.99 in 1,000-unit quantities. An evaluation module (EVM) is available now in the TI store for US$25.

The INA240 is the latest addition to TI’s growing portfolio of innovative current-sense amplifiers that offers a leading combination of power, efficiency and accuracy. Explore TI’s entire current-sense amplifier portfolio.

Learn more about TI’s current-sense amplifiers portfolio

• Download the INA240 data sheet.
• Read the Motor Driver & Control blog post, “Five benefits of enhanced PWM rejection for in-line motor control.”