The UL/IEC 62368-1 certified sensors achieve reinforced isolation, simplifying designs and enhancing safety in high voltage environments without additional barriers.
To ensure the safety and isolation of high voltage class 3 energy sources like 800V EV battery packs and chargers, two isolation barriers were traditionally required to mitigate risk. Previously, the MLX91220 and MLX91221 were only certified as essential isolation devices, requiring engineers to add components such as isolation amplifiers to their designs.
With the new UL/IEC 62368-1 certification (material group I), Melexis Hall-effect sensors meet reinforced isolation standards, eliminating the need for additional barriers. The updated voltage ratings include 1415 V for basic isolation and 707 V for reinforced isolation in the SOIC16 package, 715 V for basic isolation, and 307 V for reinforced isolation in the SOIC8 package.
This certification allows engineers using the MLX91220 or MLX91221 to streamline their designs by removing extra isolation components. It also enables systems previously classified with only basic isolation to be re-qualified as reinforced isolated systems without altering the Bill of Materials (BoM).
This enhancement, through additional technical qualification, adds value to these sensors, simplifying design processes and reducing engineering costs and efforts. The solution retains its accuracy, flexibility, and plug-and-play attributes while improving safety across various applications, including automotive chargers, DC/DC converters, high-voltage chargers, renewable energy inverters, white goods, and robotics.
These sensors are recognized for reliability in automotive and industrial applications and are now further distinguished by this safety certification. The MLX91220 and MLX91221 are available in SOIC8 packages with 4 mm creepage and larger SOIC16 packages with 8 mm creepage. Both versions offer a bandwidth of 300 kHz, a response time of 2 us, and a current measurement range of 0-50 A RMS.
“With the new MLX91220 and MLX91221 qualification, we are providing engineers with the simplest route to reinforced isolation,” said Bruno Boury, Product Line Director at Melexis. “We have effectively upgraded 50 product variants at no cost to the customer, helping them achieve critical safety requirements with just a single component – easing production costs and packaging constraints.”
For more information, click here.
