Pcb-free 3D magnetic sensor for vehicle safety and ADAS applications

     The latest addition to the Allegro MicroSystems family, a global leader in motion control and energy saving systems sensing technology and power semiconductor solutions, features the industry's smaller 4 x 4 mm PCB-free package, ideal for applications such as automotive safety and Advanced Driver assistance systems (ADAS), These applications require high flexibility and reliability in harsh conditions such as powertrain and chassis. A31316 is also suitable for industrial applications requiring linear or rotary sensing.

     Powertrain and chassis applications, passenger restraints and paddle shifters are all affected by environmental vibrations and contaminants that can degrade system performance. Position sensors used in powertrain and chassis applications often require corresponding other components such as PCBS and capacitors, and when position sensors need to be deployed in unclean, high-vibration environments, the assembly of components in the system can be affected by debris and vibration, which can affect post-assembly performance. The same is true for many industrial linear and rotational sensing applications, where the great challenge for designers is how to achieve robust designs in unclean, high-vibration Spaces.

     Without a PCB or other external component, the A31316 3D Hall Sensor integrates semiconductor wafers with capacitors in a single package to meet robust high performance and compact position sensing requirements in these harsh environments. To achieve a vibration resistant design, the A31316 pins can be welded or soldered directly to the connector leads and can be formed in one piece or poked for a stronger seal. These integrated technologies greatly reduce the impact of pollutants and vibration on performance and can bring high design flexibility to applications that need to address mechanical vibration and pollution issues.

     The A31316 is designed for rotary and long range linear applications with high Angle sensing accuracy throughout the Grade 0 temperature range (-- 40 to 150℃). Its flexible calibration meter (33 fixed points or 22 free setting points) option reduces the time and complexity of end-line calibration and minimizes errors due to mechanical misalignment. The A31316 integrates advanced on-chip diagnostics to ensure reliable, safe operation.

     "Vehicles are becoming increasingly complex, and the number of sensors required for modern safety and ADAS applications is rapidly increasing," said Scott Milne, Director of Allegro's Location Sensor business. Systems designers need solutions that are both flexible and robust, and the A31316 fulfills those needs. The A31316 is an excellent choice for safety-critical applications such as in-car restraint fixing and shifting systems, parking lock and inhibitor switches, and very challenging applications such as transmissions and braking systems. "The A31316 is protected from the effects of high temperature and humidity on system performance in these applications, and we are excited to leverage this technology to enable the next generation of vehicle safety systems."

     The 3DMAG family of rotating and linear magnetic position sensors for automotive and industrial applications combines industry-proven planar and vertical Hall effect technology to measure magnetic field components along three axes (X, Y, Z) for true 3D sensing capabilities while having a wider magnetic dynamic range without saturation. The latest addition to the 3DMAG family of magnetic sensors, the A31316 is Allegro's first multi-directional sensing magnetic position sensor available in a PCb-free SIP package, providing designers with configurable signal paths and flexible linearization for line end calibration and optimized sensing accuracy.

     The IC compensates for nonlinear fields and misalignment errors between static sensors and magnets, and its highly configurable performance allows designers to easily optimize accuracy and calibration time. This helps minimize processing in the electronic control unit (ECU) and maximizes line end yield for non-ideal magnets and mechanical assembly tolerances. Multistage output using the merging technique (binning) can integrate the functionality of multiple magnetic switching ics into a single chip A31316.

     The A31316 incorporates a Manchester interface for programming EEPROM via output pins, eliminating the need for a separate programming interface. It reliably stores factory and customer-programmed calibration Settings and comes with dedicated registers for customer use. EEPROM programming does not require a high voltage power supply, and the A31316 can be programmed directly using a 5V power supply voltage, enabling integration with microcontrollers or other low voltage devices.

     The IC includes the industry fast SENT protocol, has a tick time of 0.5 to 10 µs, and includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) interface with a carrier frequency of 125Hz to 16kHz for simple digital interface with microcontrollers. The A31316 sensor follows functional safety guidelines such as Independent Safety Unit (SEooC), supports ASIL B system-level integration in compliance with ISO 26262, and complies with AEC-Q100 Grade 0 automotive standards.