Feature, Usage, and Trend of Current Sensing Resistors & Shunt Resistors

■What are “Current Sensing Resistor” and “Shunt Resistor”? What are the definitions of them?

These are popular names of resistors that are used for current (voltage) control,
overcurrent limitation, and residual quantity detection of battery.

Current sensing resistor is connected in series to the circuit and it converts
current-voltage in accordance with Ohm’s law.

On the other hand, “Shunt” originally means “divert aside” and “divide flow”.
Shunt resistor means a resistor that is connected in parallel with the circuit
(load) in order to expand and convert the measurement range of current value.

In this way, each resistor has its own meaning and usage, but recently these
words are used without distinction as terms that describe the same function
and product. Also, there is no clear definition or difference in specification
and structure between them.

■How current sensing works?

(1)Voltage is generated at both ends of a resistor when electric current flows.
(Ohm’s low: Voltage V＝I×R)
(2)Voltage V is input in IC and various controls such as feedback control and threshold
monitoring are performed.

■Examples of circuits

■Application

・Home electric appliances, AV systems in general
・In-vehicle（hybrid car, electric car）
・PC, mobile phone, mobile terminal
・Electric tools
・Home power generation system, electrical storage device

■Structure

The following are typical examples of chip type.
　　　　　　　

　　Metal Plate Type　　　　　　　　　　　Thick Film/Thin Film Type
(Suitable for ultra low resistance （Suitable for low middle resistance of 1mΩ～1Ω）
of 0.2mΩ ～ several megaΩ）　　　

■Trend of Current Sensing Resistors & Shunt Resistors Development

Current sensing/Shunt resistors are essential for optimum circuit control but these resistors themselves consume power. The electric power is P＝I²×R（W). In order to prevent increase of power consumption owing to low drive voltage and large current of semiconductor, developments for reduction of resistance value and increase of power (current) of resistors have been moving ahead.

We introduce the lineup of products
in the next section.

We have advanced products
in the industry.

For the lineup of current sensing/
shunt resistors, click here.

■Resistance Value, Permissible Current Range, and Feature by Product Category

The following are resistance values, permissible current range, and features of chip resistors and with-lead /cement resistors.

Chip Resistors

Series Name	Photo	Features
HCS		Structure: Metal plate type 　Ultra low resistance（0.2mΩ～）and high power up to 10W
CSS/CSSH		Structure: Metal plate type 　Ultra low resistance （0.25mΩ～）and ultra precision of 0.5%, 15ppm at the minimum
CSRF		Structure: Metal foil type 　1005(mm) size of 0.25W and 1608(mm) size of 0.5W are the smallest in the industry.
CSR/CSRN		Structure: Thick film type 　 4 terminal products are usable for high accuracy sensing.
CLR		Structure: Thick film type 　Long-seller and high quality. High degree of size compatibility with general chip resistors.

Please click each of above Series Name to see the product details.
Click here to see top of page.

With-lead/Cement Resistors

Series Name	Photo	Features
CBR		Structure: Metal plate/Cement 　Standard lineup of resistance tolerance of 1% usable for high accuracy sensing
RWF/RWFN		Structure: Axial lead type wire wound 　Standard winding and Non-inductive winding usable for increasing reproducibility of detected waveforms

Please click each of above Series Name to see the product details.
Click here to see top of page.

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