Sensors

The AH3712 is a latching Hall-effect magnetic sensor, protected for automotive electrical conditions, in a choice of SC59, SOT23 or SIP-3 packaging. The single output is switched ‘on’ with a magnetic pole above a certain flux density, and then switched ‘off’ when exposed to the opposite pole of the same flux density magnitude. There are three parts: AH3712: south pole ...

Nature provides the model for integrating sensors for a distributed edge AI system, say Bartosz Boryna and Zuzana Jirankova. The horseshoe crab (limulus polyphemus) is recognised by scientists as an interesting model for vision research because the animal’s body is large enough to study and its retina neurons are quite easily accessible. The crab has several compound eyes distributed over ...

Snap-off development boards are not a new idea, but they are new at Mikroe, where the idea has been combined with the company’s Click format to form Click Snap. “Users can develop their systems in the usual way using peripheral and development boards equipped with the mikroBUS socket,” said the company. “When the concept has been proven and code developed, ...

Senseeker has introduced a 1,280 x 1,024 version of its 10µm digital read-out IC (‘droic’) for short-wave infra-red imaging arrays, including quantum dot-based detector types. RD0131 as it will be known has a capacitive transimpedance amplifier (CTIA) front-end. There are three selectable gains, with well capacity of: 22k electrons (high-gain), 160ke- (medium) or 1.1Me- (low). In high gain, room temperature ...

STMicroelectronics has created a time-of-flight distance sensor for industrial use. VL53L4ED works over -40 to +105°C and in high ambient light, and provides “provides distance measurement to objects up to 1,150mm away over the full temperature range,” according to the company. “Special settings allow accurate distance measurement up to 800mm under strong ambient light [5klux].” On-board the 4.4 x 2.4 ...

Allegro MicroSystems has announced a 4 x 4mm QFN current sensor that measures hundreds of amps bidirectionally, with a burden resistance of ~100μΩ (plus ~500pH). Called ACS37220, five versions are available, giving a choice of sensitivity (±100, 150 or 200A) and operation voltage (3.3 or 5V) – only the ±200A 3.3V option is not available (see table). Power consumption is ...

Infineon and Swoboda are developing current sensor modules for automotive traction inverters and battery management systems. The deal combines Infineon’s sensor ICs with Swoboda’s expertise in sensor modules, and the first product (photo right) is aimed specifically at Infineon’s ‘HybridPACK Drive G2’ three-phase traction motor drive modules. Later models will cover more general applications. The infineon-specific model is called the ...

Melexis has qualified a pair of current sensors to UL/IEC 62368-1 for use where ‘reinforced isolation’ is mandated. “Until now, MLX91220 and MLX91221 had only been qualified as a basic, single barrier, isolation device, mandating the need for an engineer to incorporate extra elements like an isolation amplifier into their design,” according to the company. The UL/IEC 62368-1 certification (material ...

TDK has introduced a low-power digital output mems microphone for voice command and sound detection in IoT applications such as smart watches and augmented reality glasses. Called T5848, it has a I2S interface and an ‘acoustic activity detect’ (AAD) function with its own outputs. Vital statistics of its surface-mount bottom acoustic port package are 3.5 x 2.65 x 0.98mm. Three traditional ...

TDK is aiming at automotive and industrial 360° magnetic angle sensing in high-reliability systems with a tunnel-magnetoresistance (TMR) IC. TAS8240 is designed to operate next to a rotating magnet and contains four pairs of TMR half bridges (four Wheatstone bridges) to provide four separated sine-cosine outputs. “Depending on system architectures, fail-operational concepts can be supported by the new sensor,” according ...