Melexis Reinvents the Programmable Linear Hall Sensor

June 9, 2011 - Tessenderlo, Belgium. Melexis, the pioneer in programmable linear Hall sensors today launches its third product generation. This new family breaks with the conventional "single-in-line-package" (SIP) approach. SIP packages require more careful design consideration to avoid mounting, space, EMI, reliability and cost penalties at the system level in many applications. The new Melexis programmable linear Hall ICs are surface-mount devices (SMD) supporting the trend for improved manufacturability of sensor assemblies and modules. The SMD approach has already been proven for several years with the dual-die full-redundant programmable linear Hall product MLX90277 which is used successfully in more than 20 million accelerator pedals.

Now the SMD approach gets also applied for a single-die device. This device family can be implemented for numerous position sensing applications. Specifically for short stroke linear motion, when combined with an appropriate magnetic circuit and adequate magnet thermal compensation.

Vincent Hiligsmann, Product Line Manager in charge of the Hall Sensors at Melexis comments: "Our market surveys and initial feedback are clear: there are many industrial and automotive applications which were waiting for a state-of-the-art, high-accuracy and cost-effective programmable linear Hall sensor in surface-mount package but without any allowable premium for a Melexis Triaxis solution. The third generation of Melexis programmable linear Hall sensor ICs addresses those needs and brings the wished answer."

Addressing the trend Melexis today launches a series of three programmable linear Hall sensors. The MLX90288 featuring ratiometric analog output and the MLX90291 featuring 125 Hz PWM output, both parts in an SOIC-8 SMD package with identical pinout. Finally the MLX90292 is released to the market targeting high reliability applications, available in a dual die redundant TSSOP-16 package. This third sensor, the MLX90292, reports a digital telegram using the fast and safe 2-wire PSI-5 protocol, which includes a temperature output next to the magnetic flux density. It features also 2 kHz PWM mode.

All three devices are readily available in sample and production quantities together with the appropriate PTC-04 programming tools.

In the coming months, the family will be extended by three more programmable products: the MLX91207 featuring analog output with best in class bandwidth for current sensing applications in an optimized SOIC-8 package, the MLX90290 in a TSOT-3L package (analog output) and the MLX90293 with the emerging SENT output protocol.

The extended product family of Melexis, including both the Triaxis Position Sensor family and the newly released SMD Linear Hall Sensors, will enable the company to support a broad range of applications in automotive markets and beyond.