Melexis unveils advanced magnetic position sensor chip

Melexis announced the launch of its new absolutely magnetic position sensor chip MLX90376 with robust stray field anti-jamming capability (SFI) for automotive applications with 360° rotation. The device is a first-of-its-kind stacked dual-chip PCB-free product that uses industry-advanced sensing technology to support ASIL Class D system integration and is ideal for steering and valve applications. It offers both stability and excellent performance, making it ideal for vehicle electrification applications.

MLX90376 uses Melexis proprietary technology and belongs to the Triaxis Premium line. The chip features a number of features suitable for demanding steering wheel Angle, throttle and thermal management valve applications. These features include:

● Optional non-PCB stacked dual-chip version;
● ASIL Class C Independent Security Unit (SEooC) supports system integration in accordance with the ASIL D standard (ISO 26262);
● SFI up to 5mT (4000A/m) for 360° rotation applications (ISO 11452-8).

The position sensor chip comes in an SMP-4 PCB-free or patch (SMD) package. SMP-4 packaging is conducive to mechanical integration and speed up development and design. The stacked dual chip is a bright spot relative to the off-axle tolerance and is critical for applications such as electric power steering (EPS). The SMD version comes in the form of SOIC-8 (for single chip) and TSSOP-16 (for dual chip) packages.

MLX90376 meets the ASIL standard and is an ASIL Class C SEooC developed in accordance with ISO 26262 standard. Dual-chip MLX90376 enables system redundancy in safety-critical applications, enabling the chip to support ASIL D compliant system integration. With an SFI of up to 5mT (4000A/m), it is suitable for 360° rotation applications (ISO 11452-8) and helps eliminate electromagnetic noise sources commonly found in electric vehicles.

Additional features of MLX90376

MLX90376 offers output options suitable for a variety of applications: emulation, PWM, SENT, or specific SPC codes. The SPC protocol is compatible with SENT and can send bidirectional commands through the bus interface. This modernized protocol makes the on-board networking infrastructure simpler (with fewer connections to save costs and weight) and ensures that the system architecture meets the security concepts specified in the ASIL D standard. It is usually suitable for applications involving multiple critical valves.

The device supports operating temperatures up to 160 ° C and can perform position detection in high-temperature environments such as the engine compartment. To ensure a single successful EMC test, MLX90376 requires only one test cycle, helping to reduce design time and cost. Its performance matches that of the mature MLX9037x premium series.

"Melexis continues to push the boundaries of location detection. "This new absolute rotating position sensing chip is a truly significant innovation with multiple features." Dieter Verstreken, global marketing manager for location sensor chips at Melexis. "Its dual-chip PCB-free version is suitable for demanding applications and has broad application prospects."