New Hall-effect sensors from Allegro MicroSystems

At Sensor and Test 2005, Allegro MicroSystems Europe will be showing a number of major new developments in Hall-effect sensor technology for automotive and industrial applications

At Sensor and Test 2005, Allegro MicroSystems Europe will be showing a number of major new developments in Hall-effect sensor technology for automotive and industrial applications.

This exhibition takes place in Nuremberg, Germany from 10-12 May 2005.

The first significant new product is the ACS704 Series of surface-mount current sensors: the first range of Hall-effect current sensors in the small-outline SOIC8 surface-mount package to have the current path integrated into the package for greater sensitivity and accuracy.

The new devices, which are available in both 15 A and 5 A versions, measure bi-directional AC or DC currents by using a Hall-effect magnetic field sensor to measure the field generated by the current flow.

Because there is no electrical connection between the current path and sensing circuit, a high degree of isolation (800 V minimum) is achieved without the use of additional components.

With a package height of only 1.7 mm, the ACS704 provides a monolithic solution that is much smaller than other integrated current path Hall-effect sensors with comparable sensitivity, and with greater accuracy, sensitivity, and creepage and clearance distances than 'trace-straddling' sensors.

Also new are the A1373 and A1374 high-precision linear Hall effect sensors, which are sensitive, temperature-stable, linear devices with externally programmable features.

These devices are ideal for use in automotive and industrial linear position-sensing applications that require increased reliability and accuracy over conventional contacting-potentiometer solutions.

Typical applications include the sensing of throttle position, pedal position and suspension height.

Parameters such as gain, quiescent offset voltage for unipolar or bipolar operation, temperature coefficient, clamps, and polarity can all be programmed.

The device can be set up in a magnetic circuit and programmed with a train of serial pulses via the output pin.

Once the right combination of values has been selected, the codes can be locked for one-time programming.

Also featured are a range of gear-tooth sensor modules which integrate a Hall-effect magnetic sensor with a magnet and signal-processing circuitry to provide an optimised solution for speed and direction sensing in automotive applications such as cam/crank and ABS systems.

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