Monolithic Power Systems Inc. MCQ1823GQTE-520BRNAEC-Z

Overview

MCQ1823GQTE-520BRNAEC-Z from Monolithic Power Systems is an automotive-grade, bidirectional linear Hall-effect current sensor IC with integrated over-current detection (OCD), operating from a 5V supply and rated for ±20A primary current range. It features 100 mV/A sensitivity, 120kHz bandwidth, 0.6mΩ internal conductor resistance, and AEC-Q100 Grade 1 qualification for use in motor control and powertrain subsystems.

For engineers reviewing the MCQ1823GQTE-520BRNAEC-Z datasheet, MCQ1823GQTE-520BRNAEC-Z pinout, MCQ1823GQTE-520BRNAEC-Z application, or MCQ1823GQTE-520BRNAEC-Z equivalent, key selection considerations include its ratiometric output mode, ±2.5% total output error over temperature, 1µs OCD response time, and TQFN-12 (3mm×3mm) ultra-small package with reinforced isolation (100 VPK basic).

Technical Context

The MCQ1823 employs a differential Hall array to reject homogeneous and gradient stray magnetic fields, enabling accurate current sensing in electrically noisy automotive environments. Its spinning current technique minimizes offset drift, while factory trimming ensures ±2.5% total output error across –40°C to +125°C junction temperature.

Primary current flows through low-resistance (0.6mΩ), fused IP+ and IP– terminals, generating a magnetic field sensed by two integrated Hall transducers. The resulting differential voltage is converted to a proportional analog output (VOUT), with fast open-drain /OCD assertion (<1.5µs) when current exceeds user-configurable thresholds (50–240% of IPMAX via external pull-up).

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

TQFN-12 (3mm × 3mm, 0.5mm pitch) package with wettable flanks for automated optical inspection; thermally enhanced exposed pad tied to GND for improved power dissipation.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar linear Hall-effect current sensing applications.

Compared with ACS724LLCTR-20AB-T and TLE4971-2000-4-SP, the MCQ1823GQTE-520BRNAEC-Z delivers identical sensitivity and bandwidth in a 40% smaller footprint, with on-chip OCD configurability eliminating external components-optimizing BOM count and PCB area for cost-sensitive automotive ECUs.

Availability

MCQ1823GQTE-520BRNAEC-Z is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for motor control, automotive battery management, and switch-mode power supply designs requiring stable component supply, AEC-Q100 compliance, and ultra-compact current sensing.

Supply support for MCQ1823GQTE-520BRNAEC-Z includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Monolithic Power Systems (MPS) is a fabless semiconductor company specializing in high-performance power management ICs, with design centers in the US, China, and Taiwan.

The MCQ1823 product line targets automotive and industrial current sensing applications where miniaturization, magnetic immunity, and fast fault response are critical-designed specifically for next-generation electric vehicle power electronics and ADAS subsystems.

FAQ

What is the recommended bypass capacitor for VCC?

A 0.1µF to 1µF ceramic capacitor must be placed between VCC and GND, as close as possible to pins 12 and 5. This stabilizes the internal regulator and suppresses high-frequency noise from the primary current path, preventing output ripple and ensuring OCD timing integrity.

Can the /OCD pin be used without an external pull-up resistor?

No. The /OCD pin is an open-drain output and requires an external pull-up resistor (10kΩ to 500kΩ) connected to VCC to define the high-state voltage and set the OCD threshold. Omitting the pull-up results in undefined logic levels and disables over-current detection.

Is the MCQ1823GQTE-520BRNAEC-Z compatible with unidirectional current measurement?

No. The "B" in the part number denotes bidirectional polarity. For unidirectional sensing, MPS offers variants like MCQ1823GQTE-520URNAEC (U = unidirectional), which shifts zero-current output to 0.1×VCC instead of VCC/2 and scales full-scale to +20A only.

How is magnetic field immunity achieved in this device?

Magnetic immunity is achieved via a patented differential Hall array that measures the magnetic field gradient between two spatially separated Hall plates. This topology cancels uniform and linear-gradient stray fields-verified to reject interference up to 100 Oe-without requiring external magnetic shielding.

Does the 0.6mΩ conductor resistance cause significant self-heating at 20A?

At 20A RMS, power dissipation is 0.24W (I²R = 400 × 0.0006). With the TQFN-12's exposed thermal pad soldered to a 2-layer 1oz copper plane, junction-to-ambient thermal resistance is ~60°C/W, resulting in ~14°C temperature rise-well within the –40°C to +125°C operating range.

What is the meaning of "-Z" suffix in the part number?

The "-Z" suffix indicates tape-and-reel packaging per EIA-481 standard, with 3,000 units per reel. It does not affect electrical performance or specifications-only packaging format for automated SMT assembly.

Is the isolation rating certified to any safety standard?

The MCQ1823GQTE-520BRNAEC-Z meets basic insulation per IEC62368-1 with VIOWM = 100 VPK/DC. It is not certified to UL 1577 or VDE 0884-11; for reinforced isolation, external barrier design or optocoupler-based solutions are required.