Rollout of proprietary technology realizes significant benefits

Microelectronics engineering company, Melexis, has announced the rollout of its Integrated Magnetic Concentrator (IMC) technology to multiple devices within its Latch & Switch product range, delivering tangible benefits to designers, especially in demanding automotive applications.

As many traditional Hall-effect sensors are only sensitive to magnetic flux perpendicular to the IC, it can be necessary to develop complex (and therefore large and expensive) custom magnetic structures to achieve the desired measurement. Melexis’ Latch & Switch sensors use the innovative magnetic Triaxis technology that allows the measurement of the lateral magnetic flux component.

As a result of the inclusion of IMC technology, simple wheel speed sensing on motorcycles can now be performed using a single two-wire switch sensor with integrated capacitor (MLX92242 or MLX92241) and a traditional magnet. This approach uses the lateral field rather than the previous method of using the perpendicular field, thus vastly simplifying the designer’s task.

As brushless DC (BLDC) motors become an increasingly popular choice for many applications including blowers, cooling fans and pumps, more sophisticated control is required. By integrating an IMC into products, such as the MLX92211, surface mount sensing is available, thereby simplifying the production process and reducing the space required.

In the automotive world, DC motors are proliferating into applications such as windows and seat positioning. The ability to sense direction had required a complex four-pole magnet but by including IMC technology into the MLX92211, the MLX92221 and the newly released MLX92256 four-wire sensors, a more accurate solution can be achieved with any magnet. The simplicity extends to setting up as only crude alignment is required to facilitate a pitch-independent sensor.

With devices such as the MLX92231, the MLX92291, the MLX92211, the MLX92232 and the MLX92292, which are commonly used in automotive applications such as transmission selectors (gear shifts) and HMI interfaces, the inclusion of an IMC allows the magnet to be placed beside the sensor, thereby saving space and enabling new applications where previously there was not enough room for a magnetic sensing solution.

Dieter Verstreken, Product Line Manager, Latch & Switch at Melexis said: “IMC technology is fundamental to Melexis’ magnetic sensing and allows our products to sense in ways that are simply not possible with alternative solutions. By extending the availability of IMC further through our product range we are making designers’ lives easier as well as delivering a whole new world of sensing possibilities.”

The IMC option will be available in a variety of products from October 2018 and will be showcased at electronica (Munich, 13th to 16th November Hall b4, booth 542).