A broadband current sensor based on the X-Hall architecture

A broadband current sensor, which is fully integrated and galvanically-isolated, is presented in this paper. The current sensor relies only on a Hall-effect probe to realize the magnetic sensing core so as to minimize the cost and the occupied space. Bandwidth limitations of state-of-the-art Hall-effect probes are overcame by combining the novel X-Hall architecture with a wide bandwidth differential-difference current-feedback amplifier. A prototype implemented in 0.16 μm BCD technology demonstrates a bandwidth wider than 20 MHz. Offset, sensitivity and power consumption are comparable to the state of the art. This is the first Hall-only current sensor achieving a bandwidth higher than 3 MHz.