Winner of a LEAP Award (Leadership in Engineering Achievement Program) in the category of test & measurement is Riedon Inc. with its SSA Smart Shunt.
The LEAP Awards honor innovative product technology in 12 categories. As determined by 14 industry judges hailing from institutions such as Steris Corp., the University of Missouri, and 3Degrees LLC, the votes are in.
The SSA Smart Shunt is a current-sensing module combining the attributes of conventional passive shunt resistors with those normally associated with considerably more expensive and bulky closed-loop Hall Effect current sensors. Each Smart Shunt features a built-in precision amplifier and has reinforced electrical isolation (up to 1,500 Vdc).
SSA Smart Shunt units exhibit ±0.1% sensing accuracy and ±0.1% linearity over their current range, with far less susceptibility to temperature drift than competing sensors. The need for routine calibration can therefore be negated. They also have a response time of less than 1.5 μsec. With an amplified analog output and integrated protection, these current sensors can sit on either the high or low side of a circuit, thereby enabling easy integration. Their temperature range spans between -40 to 125°C.
SSA Smart Shunt modules will work in high-power (100 to 1,000 A) implementations involving harsh conditions – such as elevated temperature levels, heavy vibrations and electromagnetic interference (EMI). Key examples include electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) traction inverters, ac/dc converters, uninterruptible power supplies, renewable energy generation sites and smart grid infrastructure.
The judges commented: “A major product footprint shrink, more stable over temperature, major increase in measurement accuracy lives up to the claim of ‘game changer.’ Easy installation and integration of the measurement system is a winning combination.”
Since its formation in 1960, Riedon has supplied wirewound, thick and thin film, and foil resistive products to industries as diverse as aerospace, military and instrumentation. Riedon employs more than 130 team members worldwide and has manufacturing, technical support and sales facilities in the USA, Europe, Asia and Mexico.