True Zero-Speed, High Accuracy, Ring Magnet Sensor IC
A1667
7
Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
955 Perimeter Road
Manchester, NH 03103-3353 U.S.A.
www.allegromicro.com
FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION
HALL TECHNOLOGY
The single-chip differential Hall-effect sensor IC contains two
Hall elements as shown in figure 1, which simultaneously sense
the magnetic profile of the ring magnet. The magnetic fields are
sensed at different points (spaced at a 2.2 mm pitch), generating
adifferentialinternalanalogvoltage,VPROC, that is processed for
precise switching of the digital output signal.
The Hall IC is self-calibrating and also possesses a temperature-
compensated amplifier and offset cancellation circuitry. Its
voltage regulator provides supply noise rejection throughout the
operating voltage range. Changes in temperature do not greatly
affect this device due to the stable amplifier design and the offset
rejection circuitry. The Hall transducers and signal processing
electronics are integrated on the same silicon substrate, using a
proprietaryBiCMOSprocess.
TARGET PROFILING DURING OPERATION
An operating device is capable of providing digital information
that is representative of the mechanical features of a rotating gear.
The waveform diagram in figure 3 presents the automatic transla-
tion of the mechanical profile, through the magnetic profile that
it induces, to the digital output signal of the A1667. No addi-
tional optimization is needed and minimal processing circuitry is
required. This ease of use reduces design time and incremental
assembly costs for most applications.
DETERMINING OUTPUT SIGNAL POLARITY
In figure 3, the top panel, labeled Mechanical Position, represents
the mechanical features of the target ring magnet and orienta-
tion to the device. The bottom panel, labeled Device Output
Signal, displays the square waveform corresponding to the digital
output signal that results from a rotating ring magnet configured
as shown in figure 2. That direction of rotation (of the target
side adjacent to the package face) is: perpendicular to the leads,
across the face of the device, from the pin 1 side to the pin 4
side. This results in the device output switching from low to high
output state as the leading edge of a north magnetic pole passes
the device face. In this configuration, the device output voltage
switches to its high polarity when a north pole is the target feature
nearest to the device. If the direction of rotation is reversed, then
the output polarity inverts.
Target
(Ring Magnet)
(Pin 1 Side)(Pin 4 Side)
Hall IC
Element Pitch
Hall Element 1
Hall Element 2
NN
S
S
N
N
N
N
N
N
S
S
N
N
S
S
S
S
S
S
Pin 1
Pin 1
Pin 4
Pin 4
Branded Face
of K Package
Branded Face
of L Package
Rotatin
Rotatin
g
g
T
T
arget
arget
B
RP(#1)
B
OP(#1)
B
RP(#2)
Off OnOn Off
Device Internal Switch State
Device Orientation to Target
Device Internal Differential Analog Signal, V
PROC
Device Output Signal, V
OUT
(Pin 1 Side)(Pin 4 Side) IC
Element Pitch
Hall Element 1
Hall Element 2
Sensor Branded Face
Target Magnetic Profile
+B
–B
+t
Mechanical Position (Target moves past device pin 1 to pin 4)
NS
S
Target
(Radial Ring Magnet)
This pole
sensed earlier
This pole
sensed later
(View of Sensor
Opposite Pins)
Figure 1. Relative motion of the target is detected by the dual Hall
elements mounted on the Hall IC.
Figure 2. This left-to-right (pin 1 to pin 4) direction of target rotation results
in a high output state when a north magnetic pole of the target is nearest
the face of the device (see figure 3). A right-to-left (pin 4 to pin 1) rotation
inverts the output signal polarity.
Figure 3. The magnetic profile reflects the geometry of the target, allowing
the A1667 to present an accurate digital output response.