Infineon Introduces New Sensors

Infineon has released the TLE4966V vertical double Hall sensor for detecting the direction of rotation and speed, marking another step in Infineon's innovation in sensor products. The TLE4966V is the world’s first dual-Hall sensor that changes the direction of the internal Hall probe from horizontal to vertical, allowing it to sense the magnetic field in the plane. This 90-degree change in direction allows it to be flexibly applied to space-constrained designs.

With its design flexibility and current consumption of only 4 to 7 mA, the TLE4966V is ideally suited for energy-sensitive in-vehicle electronic systems such as trunk lifters, window regulators, sunroofs and power seat adjustments. For non-automotive applications, this sensor is also an excellent solution for escalators and electric shutters.

Ralf Bornefeld, Infineon’s vice president and general manager of the sensing and control business unit, stated: “With the newly introduced TLE4966V, we can consolidate the company’s leading position in the field of dual Hall sensors. The sensor is our window lifter and others. The perfect extension of the TLE4966 family, which establishes the industry's benchmark position in exponential computing applications. The use of vertical Hall probes allows customers to implement new system designs while highlighting the shift in thinking from product to system."

Infineon introduces the TLE4966 switch family of dual Hall sensors that detect the direction and speed of rotation to detect the direction and speed of rotation of the magnetic wheel. The vertical Hall probe in the TLE4966V can sense planar magnetic fields instead of vertical magnetic fields. Changing the sensing direction by 90 degrees allows system engineers to implement new, previously unachievable mechanical designs. This is particularly useful for space-limited applications such as power window lifters and trunk door lifters.

Fundamentals of Rotation Direction and Speed ​​Sensing Two Hall probes are required to detect the direction and speed of rotation of the magnetic pole rotor. Due to the distance between the two Hall discs, the signals they detect at any given moment will be slightly different. This difference is called the phase difference. When the direction of rotation changes, the phase difference causes the polarity to change. TLE4966V can detect this change and provide the corresponding signal. Using the second sensor output signal can directly calculate the rotation speed of the magnetic pole rotor. This signal is triggered by every change in the polarity of the magnetic field.

The TLE4966V simplifies PCB design, shortens experimentation and manufacturing time. The two vertical Hall probes integrated on the same silicon chip in the TLE4966V react identically to temperature and stress, and their sensitivity does not deviate throughout the life cycle. Furthermore, TLE4966V has two output signals: one related to the direction of rotation of the magnet and the other related to the speed of rotation of the magnetic pole rotor. This means that a TLE4966V sensor module can provide all the relevant information that was previously required by two sensors. Reducing a single packaged sensor module not only simplifies the PCB design, but also reduces the sensor cost by an average of 30%, and shortens the experiment and manufacturing time by up to 50%.

The TLE4966V performs on-chip signal processing, which brings three major advantages to the system designer: rapid response of the sensor signal can be applied to high-speed applications; there is no need for microcontroller programming; there are no programming errors and the system quality is higher. The TLE4966V sensor can operate with a non-regulated Power Supply and is compatible with power supplies with voltages from 3.5 to 32 volts in a 6-pin thin small package (TSOP-6).

Availability Currently, only TLE4966V samples are available, and production is scheduled to begin in July 2014.