Novosense Releases Higher-Performance Op Amps for Automotive

Designing for automotive applications is difficult for two reasons. First, the automotive environment is harsh, with high temperatures, electromagnetic interference (EMI), and vibrations threatening signal integrity and device lifetime. Second, the failure of automotive systems can often mean life or death for a passenger.

To make automotive systems safer and more reliable, Novosense has released a family of operational amplifiers (op amps). This article will review important op amp specifications and explore the details of Novosense’s products. 

 

Novosense’s op amps are for automotive applications. Image used courtesy of Novosense

 

Offset, Drift, and Power Supply Rejection Ratio for Operational Amplifiers

In the design of high-performance operational amplifiers, some of the most important specifications are offset voltage, temperature drift, and power supply rejection ratio (PSRR). These are particularly in the automotive industry, where op amps lie at the heart of many applications, from sensor signal conditioning to advanced driver-assistance systems, where the accuracy of signal processing can directly influence vehicle performance and safety.

 

The PSRR versus frequency curve of the NSOPA905x. Image used courtesy of Novosense

 

Drift is the change in offset voltage over temperature, indicating how much the op-amp's offset can vary with changes in ambient conditions. Temperature variations are constant in the automotive environment and affect electronic component performance. Low-drift operational amplifiers are designed to maintain precision across a broad temperature range, ensuring vehicles operate reliably from freezing to extreme heat. This stability is crucial for maintaining sensor reading and control signal integrity, regardless of external conditions.

Finally, PSRR measures an operational amplifier's ability to suppress changes in its supply voltage, ensuring stable operation despite fluctuations in the power source. High PSRR operational amplifiers can effectively reject power supply variations, ensuring the amplifier's output remains stable and accurate, irrespective of the electrical disturbances present.

 

Novosense’s NSOPA Series

Novosense recently unveiled its NSOPA series of general-purpose operational amplifiers.

According to the company, the NSOPA series stands out for its versatility and robustness, catering to automotive electronics and renewable energy sectors.  The NSOPA9xxx series complies with the AEC-Q100 Grade 1 standard, demonstrating its ability to perform reliably in harsh environments (e.g., operating temperatures ranging from -40°C to 125°C). Notably, the series also boasts low offset and drift, as well as high PSRR. For example, the NSOPA905x offering provides an offset voltage of 200μV and a drift of 0.5μV/°C. With a power supply voltage above 4 V, the typical value of DC PSRR is above 130 dB, and the AC PSRR can reach 85 dB at 1 KHz.

 

The NOSPA9xx series in different packages. Image used courtesy of Novosense

 

Moreover, the NSOPA series integrates built-in EMI/RFI filters, enhancing performance stability and interference suppression in challenging conditions. The devices offer rail-to-rail input and output, high common-mode rejection, wide bandwidth, high slew rate, and low noise, making them highly effective in handling large input signal transitions without the drawbacks of traditional operational amplifier designs. 

The initial launch includes the NSOPA9xxx product series, designed for 40 V high-voltage applications, promising a 5.5 V low-voltage series to follow. These amplifiers are available in various models, offering bandwidth options of 1 MHz, 5 MHz, and 10 MHz and configurations of 1, 2, or 4 channels in both industrial and automotive grades.

 

Tackling Automotive Needs and More

Novosense's launch of the NSOPA series represents a promising offering for automotive designers. This series addresses the critical need for reliable signal conditioning in voltage, current, temperature, and other signals across a wide range of applications. Novosense envisions its product finding use in applications including automotive on-board chargers, DC-DC converters, power distribution units, traction inverters, battery management systems, thermal management, body control modules, industrial automation, photovoltaic inverters, motor drivers, digital power supplies, and charging stations.