Diodes Incorporated Goes After Smart Vehicles with Its AH4930Q 3D Linear Hall Effect Sensor
With a 12-bit ADC and on-board temperature compensation sensor, Diodes Incorporated's latest sensor delivers high accuracy.
Diodes Incorporated has announced the release of an automotive-focused 3D linear Hall effect sensor with 12-bit resolution and integrated temperature sensor for automatic on-chip compensation — and says it can communicate with a host over I2C at rates as high as 1Mbps.
"The AH4930Q [sensor] detects the magnetic field in the X, Y, and Z directions, allowing for reliable and high-precision contactless rotary motion and proximity detection," the company explains of the device. "Applications include rotary and push selectors on infotainment systems, stalk gear shifters, door handles and locks, and powered seat adjusters."
Those suggested applications indicate Diodes Incorporated's target market for the part, the automotive sector, with the promise of AEC-Q100 Grade 1 qualification and manufacturing in facilities certified to IATF 16949 — but that doesn't mean that's the only thing the parts are good for. With a 9nA power-down mode, 13µA ultra-low-power mode with 10Hz sampling rate, and 3.8mA fast-sampling mode at 3.3kHz, there are plenty of areas where the sensor could be of use outside next-generation smart vehicles.
The sensor includes, the company says, an on-board 12-bit temperature sensor for on-chip compensation, a 12-bit analog to digital converter (ADC) for high resolution measurements, and the ability to measure down to 1 Gauss (0.1mT) per bit — and an I2C connection that can operate at up to 1Mbps.
More information on the sensor is available on the Diodes Incorporated website, with pricing set at 50¢ per unit in 1,000-unit tray quantities. For those who don't need the automotive-grade qualifications, the company also offers a standard-compliance variant — without the "Q" suffix.
