INA194AIDBVT - 500kHz Current Shunt Monitor, -16V to 80V, SOT-23-5 | TI
MPN: INA194AIDBVT ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.85 | $1.85 |
| 10 | $1.62 | $16.20 |
| 100 | $1.28 | $128.00 |
| 500 | $1.05 | $525.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.92 | $920.00 |
| 3,000 | $0.78 | $2,340.00 |
INA194AIDBVT Overview
A current shunt monitor (also called a current-sense amplifier) is a type of analog signal-conditioning IC that measures the small voltage drop across a low-ohm shunt resistor placed in series with the load, then amplifies that drop into a ground-referenced output voltage proportional to load current. Within the broader taxonomy, this part belongs to the current-sense amplifier -> analog amplifier -> signal chain IC -> power management IC family, and is widely used for energy metering, motor control, and battery monitoring where the load rail cannot be broken for low-side sensing.
Key differentiating specifications include: 3.0% maximum gain error over temperature, 2000 µV maximum input offset voltage, and a low-side reference input that allows bidirectional current sensing by level-shifting the output. The SOT-23-5 footprint is among the smallest packages for this function, making the INA194AIDBVT attractive where PCB area is constrained, while the wide -16 V to +80 V common-mode range covers 12 V, 24 V, and 48 V industrial and telecom rails.
The INA193-INA195 family members share the same -16 V to +80 V common-mode range and 500 kHz bandwidth as the INA194AIDBVT, and offer three fixed gains of 20 V/V, 50 V/V, and 100 V/V; the INA194AIDBVT specifically provides the 50 V/V gain. The INA196-INA198 family provides identical electrical performance but alternative pin configurations, allowing board designers to optimize pinout for layout without changing the BOM.
Typical applications for the INA194AIDBVT include telecom equipment power monitoring, notebook computer battery charge management, automotive engine management, UPS systems, and precision current measurement in test and instrumentation. The 500 kHz bandwidth simplifies use in current-mode control loops driving DC/DC converters and motor drives.
When designing with this part, ensure the selected shunt resistor keeps the differential input voltage (VSENSE) within ±200 mV at maximum load current to avoid saturating the input stage. Use Kelvin connections to the shunt to avoid PCB trace resistance errors, and place a 0.1 µF decoupling capacitor close to the supply pin.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for INA194AIDBVT — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
INA193AIDBVT
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INA195AIDBVT
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INA194AIDBVR
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INA194AIDBVT Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Function | Current Shunt Monitor (Voltage Output) |
| Sensing Configuration | High-Side / Low-Side |
| Gain | 50 V/V (fixed) |
| Common-Mode Input Voltage Range | -16 V to +80 V |
| Supply Voltage Range | 2.7 V to 18 V |
| Quiescent Current (max) | 900 µA |
| Bandwidth | Up to 500 kHz |
| Input Offset Voltage (max) | ±2000 µV |
| Input Offset Drift (typ) | 2.5 µV/°C |
| Gain Error (max over temp) | 3.0% |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 °C to +125 °C |
| Number of Channels | 1 |
| Output Type | Voltage (analog, ground-referenced) |
| Package | SOT-23-5 (DBV) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Pin Count | 5 |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
INA194AIDBVT Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | IN+ — Positive differential input (Kelvin to shunt) |
| Pin 2 | V+ — Supply voltage (2.7 V to 18 V) |
| Pin 3 | IN- — Negative differential input (Kelvin to shunt) |
| Pin 4 | GND — Ground |
| Pin 5 | OUT — Ground-referenced voltage output |
Typical Applications
INA194AIDBVT is suitable for 6 applications: Telecom Power Supply Current Monitoring, Notebook Computer Battery Charge Management, Automotive Engine Management, Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Monitoring, Power Supply Overcurrent Protection, Test and Measurement Instrumentation.
Telecom Power Supply Current Monitoring
The INA194AIDBVT is widely deployed in -48 V telecom rectifier current-sense applications where the negative rail cannot be broken for low-side sensing. Its -16 V to +80 V common-mode range easily covers the -48 V nominal rail plus the +ve transients seen during hot-swap events, while the 500 kHz bandwidth accurately tracks load transients during plug-in. The 50 V/V fixed gain produces a 0-5 V signal at full scale, which feeds a downstream ADC for system-level power monitoring. Designers typically use a 10 mΩ shunt and Kelvin-sense traces directly to the IN+ and IN- pins to avoid PCB-trace-induced errors. Compared to discrete op-amp solutions, the INA194AIDBVT reduces BOM count and PCB area while providing matched thin-film resistors for guaranteed gain accuracy of 3% over -40 °C to +125 °C.
Recommended
Notebook Computer Battery Charge Management
In multi-cell Li-ion battery-pack applications, the INA194AIDBVT provides accurate charge/discharge current measurement on the high-side of the battery rail. The wide -16 V to +80 V common-mode range supports battery packs up to 4S-12S configurations, while the 2.7 V to 18 V supply range allows the device to be powered from the system 3.3 V or 5 V rail. The 50 V/V gain produces a ground-referenced output that connects directly to the battery-management MCU ADC without level shifting. The 900 µA quiescent current is small enough not to meaningfully impact standby battery life, and the 500 kHz bandwidth captures transient spikes during charge termination. Using the INA194AIDBVT in a battery-pack eliminates the need for a separate ground-referenced shunt amplifier and simplifies PCB layout.
Recommended
Automotive Engine Management
In 12 V / 24 V automotive systems, the INA194AIDBVT monitors injector and solenoid currents directly on the high-side rail, providing feedback to the ECU for closed-loop control. While the standard INA194AIDBVT is rated to +125 °C, automotive designs should use the AEC-Q100-qualified INA194AQDBVRQ1, which uses the same silicon in the same SOT-23-5 package. The 500 kHz bandwidth accurately tracks PWM-driven solenoid currents at frequencies up to 20 kHz with minimal phase lag. The -16 V common-mode capability handles reverse-battery and load-dump transients without damage to the device. Compared to discrete current-sense solutions, the INA194AIDBVT saves PCB area and provides a guaranteed gain error of 3% over the automotive temperature range.
Recommended
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Monitoring
UPS systems require continuous monitoring of battery charge/discharge currents, inverter input currents, and load currents. The INA194AIDBVT's wide -16 V to +80 V common-mode range covers 24 V and 48 V battery systems, while the 500 kHz bandwidth tracks inverter switching transients accurately. Its 900 µA quiescent current is negligible compared to the multi-amp currents flowing in a UPS, making it suitable for always-on monitoring even in standby mode. Designers typically pair the INA194AIDBVT with a precision ADC and shunt resistor sized so the maximum differential input stays within ±200 mV at full load. The ground-referenced output simplifies interface to a microcontroller or DSP, eliminating level-shifting circuitry.
Recommended
Power Supply Overcurrent Protection
The INA194AIDBVT is frequently used in DC/DC converter and point-of-load (POL) regulator overcurrent protection circuits where fast, accurate current sensing is required. The 500 kHz bandwidth ensures the protection circuit responds within microseconds to a fault condition, while the 3% maximum gain error over temperature avoids nuisance tripping. The 50 V/V gain produces a 0-5 V output for a ±100 mV differential input, well-matched to typical 10 mΩ shunts carrying 10 A. The wide -16 V to +80 V common-mode range allows the part to monitor 3.3 V, 5 V, 12 V, 24 V, and 48 V rails with the same design. Compared to sense resistor + comparator solutions, the INA194AIDBVT provides a smooth analog output for both protection and telemetry.
Recommended
Test and Measurement Instrumentation
Bench-top power supplies, electronic loads, and precision multimeters use the INA194AIDBVT for high-accuracy current sensing on the high-side of the load. The 3% maximum gain error and 2 µV/°C typical offset drift provide sufficient accuracy for production test, while the 500 kHz bandwidth captures dynamic load transients during power-supply characterization. The wide -16 V to +80 V common-mode range covers most lab power supply rails (5 V to 60 V), and the SOT-23-5 package allows dense PCB layouts in multi-channel instruments. Compared to Hall-effect current sensors, the INA194AIDBVT-based shunt solution offers superior DC accuracy and bandwidth at a much lower cost.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for INA194AIDBVT — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | INA193AIDBVT | INA195AIDBVT | INA194AIDBVR | INA194AQDBVRQ1 | INA193AIDBVR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | SOT-23-5 (DBV) | SOT-23-5 (DBV) - same | SOT-23-5 (DBV) - same | SOT-23-5 (DBV) - same | SOT-23-5 (DBV) - same | SOT-23-5 (DBV) - same |
| Brand | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments |
| Gain | 50 V/V | 20 V/V | 100 V/V | 50 V/V | 50 V/V | 20 V/V |
| Common-Mode Range | -16 V to +80 V | -16 V to +80 V | -16 V to +80 V | -16 V to +80 V | -16 V to +80 V | -16 V to +80 V |
| Bandwidth | 500 kHz | 500 kHz | 500 kHz | 500 kHz | 500 kHz | 500 kHz |
| Automotive Qualified (AEC-Q100) | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Reel Quantity | 250 | 250 | 250 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 |
| Approx. Unit Price (1k qty) | $0.92 | $0.92 | $0.92 | $0.92 | $1.45 | $0.92 |
Key Differentiators
- Wide -16V to +80V common-mode range (vs INA194AIDBVR)
- AEC-Q100 automotive grade option (vs INA194AIDBVT (standard grade))
- Family-wide pin compatibility across gain options (vs INA193AIDBVT / INA195AIDBVT)
Design Notes
Always use a true 4-wire Kelvin connection from the shunt resistor to the IN+ and IN- pins of the INA194AIDBVT. The input offset is only ±2 mV max, so even a few milliohms of PCB trace resistance on the sense path can introduce significant full-scale error. Route the sense traces as a differential pair directly to the shunt pads and avoid running them near switching node traces. Place a 0.1 µF decoupling capacitor within 5 mm of the V+ pin, with a 10 µF bulk capacitor nearby for low-frequency noise suppression.
Estimated: Power dissipation in the INA194AIDBVT itself is dominated by quiescent current (900 µA max × supply voltage). At V+ = 5 V, quiescent dissipation is only ~4.5 mW - thermal management of the device is not a concern, but the shunt resistor dissipation must be calculated separately. For a 10 mΩ shunt at 10 A continuous current, shunt loss is I²R = 1 W. Choose a shunt resistor with adequate power rating (typically 2× calculated dissipation for margin) and proper thermal management on the PCB copper pour.
The INA194AIDBVT's 500 kHz bandwidth and 50 V/V gain produce a useful signal bandwidth sufficient for most current-mode control loops. However, the input stage introduces a small amount of common-mode modulation of the input bias current. To minimize errors from this source, ensure both IN+ and IN- traces have similar impedances and avoid large source impedances on either input. If long input traces are unavoidable, add a 10 nF capacitor between IN+ and IN- close to the IC to filter common-mode noise, but be aware this also limits the maximum useful bandwidth.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per TI product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - choose INA194AQDBVRQ1 for automotive. Lead-free and halogen-free per TI packaging information.