ROHM targets higher current sensing density with UCR10C shunt resistor series
ROHM has introduced a 2012-size current sensing component designed to address rising power and reliability demands in automotive and industrial systems. The UCR10C Series uses a sintered metal structure to increase rated power while maintaining a compact footprint.
For eeNews Europe readers working on EV powertrains, industrial drives, or high-current DC systems, higher power handling in a standard package size can simplify layout and potentially reduce board area. Improved temperature stability may also support more accurate current monitoring in harsh environments.
Higher rated power in a 2012 shunt resistor
According to ROHM, the UCR10C Series delivers rated powers of 1.0W and 1.25W in a 2012-size format, covering resistance values from 10mΩ to 100mΩ. The company claims this represents the highest rated power in this size class, based on its January 22, 2026 study.
The devices form a copper-based resistive element on an alumina substrate using a sintering process. By optimising the heat dissipation structure, ROHM says it has effectively doubled the rated power compared to equivalent-sized thick film and metal plate types. In practice, this could allow designers to replace wider terminal types or larger shunt resistors, supporting miniaturisation and potentially reducing component count.
Such characteristics are particularly relevant in automotive battery management systems, onboard chargers, and inverter stages, where board space and thermal margins are often constrained.
Focus on temperature stability and reliability
Beyond power handling, the UCR10C Series specifies a low temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of 0 to +60 ppm/°C. Lower TCR can help minimise measurement drift caused by temperature variation, which is critical for precise current sensing in traction inverters and industrial motor control.
ROHM also states that the series achieves durability comparable to metal plate types in temperature cycle testing from -55°C to +155°C over 1000 cycles. This level of robustness is typically required in automotive environments subject to rapid thermal fluctuations.
The devices are fully lead-free, including areas often exempted under RoHS. ROHM is also developing a higher power 3216-size variant, the UCR18C Series, targeting 2W operation.
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