ROHM aims for higher current sensing density with UCR10C shunt resistor series

ROHM has recently unveiled the UCR10C Series, a current sensing component in the 2012-size format tailored to meet the escalating power and reliability needs in automotive and industrial systems. This innovative series features a sintered metal structure that enhances the rated power while maintaining a compact footprint, making it a promising solution for various applications.

For professionals in the field of EV powertrains, industrial drives, and high-current DC systems, the higher power handling capabilities within a standard package size offered by the UCR10C Series can streamline layout design and potentially reduce board area requirements. Additionally, the improved temperature stability of these components can facilitate more precise current monitoring in challenging operating environments.

According to ROHM, the UCR10C Series boasts impressive rated powers of 1.0W and 1.25W in the 2012-size configuration, covering a range of resistance values from 10mΩ to 100mΩ. The company asserts that this series sets a new benchmark for rated power in its size category, as confirmed by a study conducted on January 22, 2026.

These devices feature a copper-based resistive element on an alumina substrate created through a sintering process. Through the optimization of the heat dissipation structure, ROHM has effectively doubled the rated power compared to equivalent-sized thick film and metal plate types. This advancement could enable designers to replace bulkier terminal types or larger shunt resistors, supporting miniaturization efforts and potentially reducing the overall component count.

These characteristics hold particular significance in applications such as automotive battery management systems, onboard chargers, and inverter stages, where constraints on board space and thermal management are common challenges faced by designers.

Focus on temperature stability and reliability

In addition to its impressive power handling capabilities, the UCR10C Series places a strong emphasis on temperature stability and reliability. With a low temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) ranging from 0 to +60 ppm/°C, these components can help minimize measurement drift caused by temperature fluctuations, which is crucial for accurate current sensing in traction inverters and industrial motor control applications.

ROHM highlights that the series demonstrates durability comparable to metal plate types during temperature cycle testing conducted over 1000 cycles ranging from -55°C to +155°C. This level of robustness is particularly essential in automotive environments that are prone to rapid thermal changes.

Furthermore, the UCR10C Series is fully lead-free, including areas that are often exempted under RoHS regulations. Additionally, ROHM is actively developing a higher power variant in the 3216-size format, known as the UCR18C Series, which is designed to support 2W operation, further expanding the capabilities of their current sensing component lineup.