New Industry Products

ALLEGRO® Announces New Family of User-Programmable, Hall-Effect Linear Sensors in Small Packages

February 19, 2007 by Jeff Shepard

Allegro® introduced its first family of programmable, Hall-effect, linear sensors available in miniature package options: TO-92 (3-lead, single in-line package) or SOT-23W (3-lead, surface mount). According to the company, the one-time programmable, read-only memory (OTP-ROM) contained in these analog sensors allows users to optimize the device in a finished sensor assembly. This optimization is intended to reduce inaccuracies caused by manufacturing tolerances and simplifies the assembly process. The patented dynamic offset cancellation provides extremely low offset and minimal temperature drift.

Through a series of voltage pulses on the output of either three-lead, miniature package, the user is able to finely adjust the sensitivity of these devices around one of four predetermined nominal values (2.5 mV/G, 3.1 mV/G, 5.0 mV/G and 7.0 mV/G). Even greater flexibility is available by means of adjusting the quiescent output voltage (output without the presence of a magnetic field), and the temperature coefficient, as well as setting the output polarity for each device. The temperature coefficient of this family is designed to compensate for temperature coefficients of typical samarium cobalt (SmCo) magnets.

Targeting primarily the automotive and industrial markets, Allegro’s A138xELHLT-T is priced at $1.01 in quantities of 1,000 and the A138xLLHLT-T is priced at $1.07 in quantities of 1,000. All devices in the series have a 12 – 14 week typical lead-time to market.