Infineon Technologies AG has launched Hall Sensors aimed at automotive and industrial applications demanding the highest precision, the lowest energy consumption and the smallest space requirements. The new TLE496x sensors are available in the world’s smallest package (SOT23) for Hall Sensors. They are based on a new 0,35µm process technology developed by Infineon. Based on this new technology Infineon can now offer Hall Sensors with various magnetic switching thresholds in an ultra small package. These not only provide an extremely low current consumption of less than 1.6mA, they can also withstand a high operating voltage up to 32V. Additional features provided by the TLE496x product family are enhanced turn-on, reset, and turn-off characteristics compared with the previous generation as well as extensive protective functions for improved system quality, reliability, and control.

Typical applications for the TLE496x family are position measurements, brushless motor commutation, and index counting. The unipolar and bipolar switches or latches of the TLE496x family are used e.g. in window lifts, sunroofs, boot locks, windscreen wipers, safety belts, camshafts, gearshift levers, and a wide range of industrial BLDC motors.

The Hall Sensors of the TLE496x family make these systems even more compact and economical. They eliminate the need for any external resistors. Depending on the application – they also do not require a pre-resistor or a TVS protection diode, thereby further cutting system costs and PCB space. The SOT23 package of only 2.9 x 1.3 x 1.0 mm³ is about 30 percent smaller than the smallest products available today.

With a typical current consumption of only 1.6mA, the new Hall Sensors operate at about 50 percent of the current levels drawn by comparable products. Thanks to their high ESD robustness (8kV human body model or HBM) and the precise and stable magnetic switching points, they are ideal for high precision applications requiring robust solutions. These also include applications with long cable paths between the electronic control unit and the sensor, e.g. window lifts, seat belt buckles, boot lids, etc. TLE496x products feature integrated error compensation that counteracts the effects of mechanical and thermal stress. The outputs are protected against over currents and over temperatures.

High precision Hall Sensors for a wide range of applications

The Hall Sensor TLE496x family is currently made up of three series: TLE4961, TLE4964, and TLE4968. All derivatives operate at the extended temperature range from -40 °C to 170 °C. With their switching thresholds of +/-1mT (bipolar switches), +/-2mT to +/-15mT (latches) and 2.5/3.5mT to 22.5/28mT (unipolar switches) they cover a very wide switching threshold range for latches as well as for unipolar switches.

The TLE4961-x series consists of latches. These are ideal for measuring the position of BLDC motors and pole wheels, for index counting, and for speed measurements. They are used, for instance, in window lifts and sunroofs of vehicles.

The products in the TLE4964-x series are unipolar switches. They are ideal for applications in gearshift levers, car seats, and HVAC.

Finally, the TLE4968-x series exhibits very low magnetic thresholds (high sensitivity of ±1mT) and bipolar switching behavior. The bipolar switches are therefore ideal for precise measurements of rotor positions in BLDC motors and for speed and position measurements in camshafts and transmissions.

Availability of the TLE496x family

All three series TLE4961-x, TLE4964-x, and TLE4968-x and various derivative devices are already in the high volume production stage. Besides the extremely small SOT23 package the TLE496x product family is also offered in the SC59 (SMD) package and the leaded SSO-3 package.