In-plane Hall-effect switch from TI can replace incumbent position sensors that are more expensive and difficult to manufacture
What’s new
Texas Instruments (TI) today introduced the industry’s most sensitive in-plane Hall-effect switch for position sensing, offering engineers a cost-effective, user-friendly alternative to magnetoresistive sensors. TI’s TMAG5134 Hall-effect switch features an integrated a magnetic concentrator, enabling it to detect magnetic fields as weak as 1mT in applications such as door and window sensors, personal electronics, home appliances, and more. This level of sensitivity allows for the use of smaller magnets, further reducing system-level costs. Additionally, the TMAG5134’s in-plane sensing capability enables it to detect magnetic fields parallel or horizontal to a printed circuit board, giving engineers greater design flexibility.
Why it matters
Engineers seeking high sensitivity levels in low-power, compact position-sensing designs today rely on reed switches or tunnel magnetoresistive (TMR), anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) or giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensors. However, these technologies often come with high costs and manufacturing complexities because they require specialized materials and fabrication techniques. In contrast, Hall-effect technology eliminates the need for specialized manufacturing and enables engineers to significantly reduce design costs and speed time to market.
Historically, designers have not considered Hall-effect switches as viable replacements for TMR, AMR, GMR or reed switches because of their limited sensitivity. The introduction of TI’s TMAG5134 represents a fundamental shift for the position sensing market; engineers can now achieve greater sensitivity than traditional Hall-effect sensors without the additional cost and complexity of magnetoresistive sensors.
“The electronics we interact with in our daily lives, from our laptops to our smart home systems, use sensors to help make decisions based on the world around them,” said Jason Cole, vice president and general manager, Sensing Products at TI. “For decades, TI’s sensing portfolio has enabled engineers to achieve greater accuracy, power efficiency and reliability in their designs. The TMAG5134 Hall-effect switch builds on these years of innovation, delivering a simplified, cost-effective solution that creates new possibilities for design engineers across industries.”
For more information, read the technical article, “The Hall effect: How an in-plane switch increases sensitivity and lowers design cost.”
More details
The TMAG5134 Hall-effect switch helps extend battery life in sensing applications by consuming just 0.6µA on average. Its integrated magnetic concentrator technology amplifies the sensor signal, eliminating the need to bias the device with as much current.
TI’s magnetic sensing portfolio offers engineers a variety of switches, latches, and single- and multiaxis linear and angle sensors to fit their design needs. With devices such as the TMAG5134 Hall-effect switch and comprehensive development resources, the portfolio aims to make designing with high-performance sensing technology simpler and more accessible.
Availability
Manufactured internally at TI’s 300mm fabs, the TMAG5134 is available on TI.com in production quantities. Engineers can accelerate development with TI’s comprehensive support resources, including an evaluation module and the free Texas Instruments Magnetic Sense Simulator (TIMSS) tool. With this tool, designers can quickly simulate magnetic field behavior and sensor outputs based on specific sensor-magnet configurations in their designs.
