Unlocking the automotive-grade four-terminal alloy resistor: the perfect combination of high precision and reliability

author: Milliohm Electronic

2025-07-15

The following describes the characteristics, advantages and application areas of this new product, allowing you to appreciate the charm of this advanced four-terminal packaged resistor

1.Working Principle

When current passes through a traditional two-terminal resistor, the lead resistance and contact resistance will inevitably interfere with the measurement result, resulting in limited measurement accuracy of the resistance value.

This automotive-grade four-terminal sealed alloy resistor HoCG3637 cleverly solves this problem. It adopts a four-pin design based on the Kelvin principle structure, as shown in the right figure, where two pins are used to introduce current and the other two pins are specifically used to measure voltage. It effectively eliminates the influence of wire impedance and temperature changes on measurement accuracy

2.Significant Advantages

High-precision measurement: Since the influence of lead resistance and contact resistance is eliminated, this four-terminal packaged resistor can provide extremely accurate resistance value measurement.

The accuracy of this sealed alloy resistor can reach 0.1%~5% in the range of 0.2mΩ~10mΩ, and the consistency is good. Its accuracy advantage is particularly prominent in application scenarios with extremely high precision requirements, such as precision instruments, BMS systems, high-end test equipment, etc

High stability: The HoCG3637 sealed alloy resistor can maintain excellent stability in various complex environments. Whether it is temperature changes or mechanical vibrations, it is difficult to have a significant impact on its resistance value

In high temperature environments, alloy materials can maintain stable physical and chemical properties and will not cause resistance value drift due to temperature increases; in industrial equipment with frequent mechanical vibrations, the solid structure of the four-terminal package can effectively resist vibrations and ensure its mechanical reliability

Ultra-low temperature coefficient (TCR): The temperature coefficient is an important indicator to measure the degree to which the resistance value changes with temperature. HoCG3637 usually has an extremely low temperature coefficient of up to ±10ppm/℃.

This means that when the temperature changes over a large range, The change in its resistance value is extremely small

Low electrical noise: In circuits with extremely high requirements for electrical signal quality, electrical noise is an issue that cannot be ignored.

The HoCG3637 four-terminal package resistor effectively controls the parasitic inductance below 3nH through optimized design and manufacturing process, which can effectively reduce electromagnetic interference or avoid the generation of noise. The effect is particularly obvious in terms of high-frequency signals of power supply

High power: The rated power of the HoCG3637 four-terminal package resistor reaches 5W, the rated current can reach 158A, and the maximum load current can reach 353A, which meets common high-current scenarios

3.Application fields of four-terminal alloy resistor HoCG3637

Automotive electronics: HoCG3637 complies with the automotive AEC-Q200 test. Four-terminal packaged alloy resistors are widely used in automotive electronic systems.

In advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), they are used to accurately measure current and voltage, provide accurate data for the system, and ensure the precise execution of functions such as adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking;

In power steering systems, brake and engine control systems, their high precision and high stability can ensure the stable operation of these key systems;

In the battery management system (BMS) of electric vehicles, they are used to accurately monitor the charge and discharge current of the battery. By accurately measuring the current, the BMS can grasp the status of the battery in real time and prevent overcharging, over-discharging, etc.

Industrial automation: Four-terminal packaged resistors play an important role in industrial automation control systems.

In programmable logic controllers (PLCs), they are used for precise signal conditioning and measurement to ensure that the control system can accurately receive and process signals from various sensors and achieve precise control of industrial production processes;

In motor drive systems, they can be used to monitor motor current. Through real-time monitoring of current, abnormal motor operation, such as overload and short circuit, can be detected in time, so that corresponding protection measures can be taken to avoid motor damage and improve production efficiency.

Medical equipment: Medical equipment is related to people's life and health, and the requirements for accuracy and reliability are almost harsh.

In medical monitoring equipment such as electrocardiographs and electroencephalograms, four-terminal packaged resistors are used to accurately measure bioelectric signals to ensure that the weak bioelectric changes of the human body can be captured.

In medical equipment working in complex electromagnetic environments in hospitals, the low electrical noise and anti-interference characteristics of four-terminal packaged resistors enable them to work stably, ensuring the normal operation of medical equipment and the accuracy of measurement results.

Communication equipment: Four-terminal sealed alloy resistors play an important role in communication equipment.

In 5G base stations, it is used for signal processing and power distribution circuits. Its high precision and high stability can ensure accurate transmission and efficient processing of base station signals.

In mobile terminal devices such as smartphones and tablets, it is used for power management and signal detection circuits to ensure that the device can operate stably in different working conditions, extend battery life, and improve user experience

4.Conclusion

The four-terminal packaged alloy resistor HoCG3637 has shown great advantages in the field of electronic circuits with its unique design and excellent performance.

Whether in automotive electronics and medical equipment that require extremely high precision and stability, or in the rapidly developing fields of industrial automation and communication equipment, four-terminal packaged resistors play an indispensable role.

If you are designing electronic circuits, you may consider choosing the four-terminal sealed alloy resistor HoCG3637, which will bring higher precision and more stable performance to your circuit, helping more reliable and high-end products stand out in the market