Provides ultra-high precision at speeds while using at least 70% less power, making it suitable for wide range of industrial needs
To help engineers achieve uncalibrated ultra-high precision at high speeds, here’s presenting the TMAG5170, a 3D Hall-effect position sensor by Texas Instruments. It is expected to meet a wide range of industrial needs – from ultra-high performance to general purpose.
The TMAG5170 can achieve speeds up to 20 kSPS for faster and more accurate real-time control in factory automation and motor-drive applications for low-latency throughput of high-speed mechanical motion. It also provides integrated functions and diagnostics for maximum design flexibility and system safety, while using at least 70% less power than comparable devices.Â
The TMAG5170 provides a low 2.6% full-scale total error at room temperature. It also features a best-in-class drift of 3% total error, which is 30% lower than the next closest comparable device – along with at least 35% lower error than comparable devices in the presence of a cross-axis field. Together, these features enable the new sensor to deliver higher accuracy than any other 3D Hall-effect position sensor, eliminating the need for end-of-line calibration and off-chip error compensation, and simplifying system design and manufacturing.Â
Maximise design flexibility and system safety
The TMAG5170 eliminates the need for off-chip computation, and enables flexible sensor and magnet orientations by integrating features such as an angle calculation engine, measurement averaging, and gain and offset compensation. These features simplify design and maximise system flexibility, enabling faster control loops, reduced system latency and simpler software development – regardless of sensor placement. The sensor’s integrated computation functions also reduce the system’s processor load by as much as 25%, enabling engineers to use general-purpose microcontrollers (MCUs) such as TI’s low-power MSP430 MCUs to minimise overall system cost.
Additionally, the TMAG5170 increases safety with a unique set of smart diagnostic capabilities – such as checks for communication, continuity and internal signal path – as well as configurable diagnostics for the external power supply, magnetic field and system temperature, allowing a safety scheme at both the chip and system level for long-term reliability and lower design costs.
70% increase in power efficiency
The TMAG5170’s multiple operation modes reduce power consumption by at least 70% compared to other linear 3D Hall-effect position sensors while maintaining system performance, thus enabling power optimisation across a 1-SPS to 20-kSPS sampling range for battery-powered devices or light-duty modes where system efficiency is paramount.
“Smart factories have an increasing number of highly automated systems that must operate in a more integrated manufacturing flow while simultaneously collecting data to control processes,” said Noman Akhtar, senior research analyst, Omdia. “3D position-sensing technology that delivers higher accuracy, speed and power efficiency are essential for automated equipment to quickly deliver precise real-time control for increased system efficiency and performance while reducing downtime.”
The TMAG5170 is available now from TI.com in an eight-pin, 4.9mm x 3mm very thin shrink small-outline package (VSSOP).
