Melexis introduces a compact low-voltage 3D magnetometer for consumer applications

     Melexis announced the MLX90392, a three-axis magnetic field sensor chip for white goods, consumer electronics and smart instrumentation applications that shares a 1.8V power rail operation with other components, such as logic devices.

     The MLX90392 is inexpensive and does not require a dedicated LDO or regulator, simplifying the design while reducing bill of material costs and saving PCB space. The sensor chip is available in a UTDFN-8 ultra-thin leadless 8-pin package measuring just 2 mm x 2.5 mm x 0.4 mm, making it easy for designers to cope with space-constrained applications. In addition, the 1.5µA power saving mode helps save energy and maximizes uptime in battery-powered applications.

     The MLX90392 integrates a temperature sensor and uses the I2C communication protocol to provide 16-bit position measurements (expressed in X, Y, Z coordinates) and temperature values on the I2C bus operating at frequencies up to 1 MHz. Available in two models with ±50 mT and ±5 mT full scale, the sensor chip utilizes Melexis' patented Triaxis® Hall technology for low noise and ultra-high precision.

     The ±50 mT range is best suited for position measurement in HMI applications, door closing detection in white goods and access control systems, smart meter tamper-proof, and contactless joysticks that save power compared to traditional potentiometer position sensing solutions. For position detection requiring a small magnetic field range and precise position measurements where noise is a key design parameter, the ±5 mT model offers sensitivity up to 0.15 µT/LSB and typical RMS noise as low as 0.3 µT. Both models support single and continuous measurement modes for great design flexibility. Self-check status, data readiness, and magnetic sensor overflow indication provide a full range of diagnostics.