Current Sense Amplifiers

Current sensing topology determines your design constraints. High-side sensing (between supply rail and load) avoids ground path disruption but requires amplifiers with wide common-mode input range (typically 0 to 80V or higher for automotive). Low-side sensing is simpler but disrupts the ground path.

Key specs: fixed gain options, input common-mode voltage range, input offset voltage (V_OS), bandwidth (–3 dB), supply voltage range, quiescent current, and output type (voltage or PWM). The INA28x family supports automotive-grade operation up to 80V common-mode, the INA190 optimizes for sub-1A sensing with high gain options.