Automotive Converters: An Essential Element of Safety and Efficiency in Modern Vehicles

Electromobility and the development of hybrid (HEV) and electric (EV) vehicles present new challenges for engineers, especially in the area of energy management. A key role in these systems is played by automotive converters, which are used for precise current measurement. Without accurate control of energy flow in high-voltage batteries, inverters, and electric motors, it would be impossible to achieve optimal performance, and most importantly, to guarantee safety. Reputable manufacturers, such as LEM, supply current converters that meet the rigorous standards of the automotive industry.

Why is a Precise Current Converter Key in Automotive?

In electric and hybrid vehicles, the battery management system (BMS) requires continuous, highly accurate current measurement to monitor the state of charge (SoC) and state of health (SoH) of the batteries. Automotive converters are indispensable here. They provide galvanic isolation between the measured high-voltage circuit and the control electronics, protecting low-voltage systems and operators. Their precision directly impacts the vehicle's range, charging speed, and the longevity of expensive battery packs. The current converter used in these applications must be resistant to extreme operating conditions, vibrations, and a wide temperature range.

Current Measurement Technologies in Automotive Converters

Among automotive converters, technology based on the Hall effect dominates, both in open-loop and closed-loop versions. The Closed Loop current converter, particularly valued for its accuracy and linearity, uses a compensation current to zero the magnetic flux generated by the measured current. The result is an output signal characterized by very low temperature drift and a wide bandwidth, which is crucial for fast inverter systems. Dedicated automotive converters from LEM are optimized for integration with automotive communication buses and meet the requirements of standards such as AEC-Q100, confirming their reliability.

Main Applications of LEM Automotive Converters

The application area of automotive converters is wide and covers critical points in the architecture of electric and hybrid vehicles. They are used in systems for:

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• Battery Management System (BMS): Precise measurement of charging and discharging current.    
• Inverters and DC/DC Converters: Control of motor phase currents and power flow management.    
• On-Board Chargers (OBC): Monitoring and control of the charging process from the AC/DC grid.    
• Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS): In certain advanced power supply and control systems.

Every current converter used in these locations is designed not only to optimize operation but, above all, to guarantee a quick response in emergency situations, which directly translates into user safety.