Rugged magnetic sensor ICs maximise battery life, improve system efficiency

Allegro MicroSystems Europe has released a family of micropower Hall-effect switch ICs - the APS11700 and APS11760 - designed especially for battery-powered applications in severe industrial and automotive environments. Automatic power management allows average supply current as low as 6µA while running directly from a vehicle battery or other unregulated supply. The power management occurs in the background and is transparent to the host system, delivering them a drop-in upgrade for existing Hall-effect switches or a solid-state alternative for mechanical microswitches or reed switches. "Thanks to the APS11700/760’s unique combination of ruggedness and ultra-low power, there is finally a reliable, solid-state upgrade for reed and microswitches, even in the most power-sensitive applications where the sensor will be connected directly to the battery," explains Jim Judkins, product line director for Allegro's Position Sensor ICs.