Highly Integrated EOL Programmable Hall Sensor Supports Direct Connection into Automotive/Industrial Designs without Need for PCB or Discrete Components

September 16, 2014 - Tessenderlo, Belgium - Melexis Technologies NV has followed up the success of its initial MLX92242 Hall effect switch/latch IC, which offers end-of-line (EOL) programmability and support for 2-wire operation, with a further product introduction. The company now announces a new version of this device which enables easier implementation and saves valuable space.

Strengthening its innovative ‘No PCB’ design concept, Melexis’ MLX92242 has a built-in capacitor - so that the device can be implemented directly into the design without inclusion of supplementary board level components which would increase the overall dimensions and necessitate additional soldering. It achieves all this while still delivering identical performance and functionality to the original MLX92242, as well keeping the standard industry TO-92/UA package form factor, enabling drop-in replacement solutions.

As with the standard MLX92242, a Hall sensing element, a voltage regulator (covering 2.7V to 24V), a current sink-configured output driver and a series of sophisticated IC protection mechanisms (over-voltage, reverse voltage, thermal shutdown, etc.) are all included, plus an EEPROM memory via which EOL programming can be executed. The EEPROM allows suitable magnetic thresholds to be set for the particular application scenario, then subsequently locked. Alternatively pre-programming can be carried out by Melexis to customers’ specifications. A magnetic switching range spanning from 1mT to 64mT and a magnetic latching range of -64mT to 64mT is achievable. Also its temperature compensation capacity can counter the effects of magnetic drift.

Key uses for this device (as well as the standard MLX92242) are within the seat track position and seatbelt buckle latch detection systems needed to acquire vehicle occupancy data for maximizing the effectiveness of air bag deployment, as well other applications like electric power steering systems, door release latches and window lifter actuators. There are also broad spectrums of industrial applications for which it can be utilized.

The MLX92242 is housed in a single compact industry standard 3-pin TO-92-Flat package. The pin ordering has been changed so as to facilitate simpler connection. The VDD and GND pins are spaced 2.54mm apart so that they match with legacy fitting configurations while also simplifying assembly directly to leadframes and insert molded connectors. This means that lead forming, which could potentially compromise the device’s operation is not necessary

As MLX92242 devices permit 2-wire operation, as opposed to a conventional 3-wire arrangement, while still delivering full diagnostic capabilities, they reduce the quantity of wiring required for implementation. This optimizes them for space-constrained designs. They are highly robust devices, operating across a temperature range extending across -40°C to 150°C and exhibiting strong resilience to electro-static discharge (ESD) strikes, with more than 8kV human body mode ESD compliance.

“Thanks to employment of our proprietary process technology, the die we have fabricated for the MLX92242 devices is significantly smaller than what is possible in other devices on the market,” explains Peter Riendeau, Marketing Communications Manager at Melexis. “This means we can integrate an additional capacitor into the design without any need to increase the package size, whereas alternative solutions are simply forced to do just that. As a result the MLX92242 has a definite advantage over the competition.”