Unipolar Hall switches save board space in battery-powered applications

Diodes Incorporated offers two new portfolios of monolithic, unipolar Hall-effect switches developed for proximity sensing in battery-powered applications. With an ultra-low 1.1µA supply current at 1.85V and 1.6µA at 1.6V to 5.5V, these devices are excellent for battery-powered portable equipment like smartphones, laptops, and wearables. The devices also suit domestic appliances, game consoles, and industrial hardware use.

The 1.6V to 5.5V operating voltage of these Hall-effect switches permits them to be powered straight from a portable device’s battery, eradicating the area and cost of power conversion. Output 1 in the dual-output AH139x series responds to a North pole, while Output 2 responds to a South pole with typical operating points of 25G (AH1391) and 30G (AH1392). The single output on the AH138x series responds to a South pole on the part-marking side with typical operating points of 18G (AH1381), 30G (AH1382), and 45G (AH1383).

The tight operating window of these switches provide a lower magnetic spread, while their chopper-stabilised design supplies minimal switch point drift and superior temperature stability. These devices have strong HBM ESD protection for robustness: 8kV for the AH138x and 6kV for the AH139x series. Also, these devices have push-pull outputs that do not need an external pull-up resistor, simplifying system design, saving board space, and lowering the BOM.

To deliver their suitability in small form-factor applications, all devices are supplied in the industry’s smallest packages: DFN1010-4 and DFN1410-4. The AH1381, AH1382, and AH1383 versions are also available in SOT23 packaging.