Conventional linear Hall sensors, Hall switches and angle sensors are only able to recognize magnetic field components that are perpendicular to the surface of the chip; Giant Magneto-Resistive (GMR) angle sensors measure only the planar-oriented field components. However, the TLE493D-W1B6 sensor is capable of simultaneously determining the x, y, and z coordinates of the magnetic field (Figure 1). Recognition of the magnetic field components of all three axes provides a holistic, three dimensional image of the magnetic field in which the sensor lies. Any movement of the magnet leads to a change in at least one of the magnetic field components, which is recognized by the 3D sensor.
all three field directions of a magnetic field (x, y, and z)
The three dimensional sensor system is made possible by the integration of both vertical and horizontal Hall plates into a single sensor chip. The vertical Hall plates detect the planar-oriented x and y field components, while the horizontal Hall plate detects the vertically oriented field component (z direction).
Several innovative, patented concepts were applied in the development of the sensor. Users can define a magnetic field corridor for each magnetic field direction such that if the measured magnetic field lies outside of the corridor, the sensor sends an alert signal to the connected microcontroller. A further development goal was the reduction of power consumption. Thanks to innovative design technologies, such as the energy-saving oscillator, the sensor’s power consumption was reduced to only a few nanoamperes – 7 nA when in “power down” mode, for instance. The result is a silicon component that fits into a small package despite its large functional scope. The TSOP-6 case with six pins is only 2.9 x 1.6 mm in size – making it smaller than any other 3D magnetic sensor on the market.
Because of its low power consumption and its integrated magnetic field alert,