Melexis Launches Advanced Magnetic Position Sensor Chip

December 9, 2022, Tessenderlo, Belgium - Melexis, a global microelectronics engineering company, announced today the launch of the new absolute magnetic position sensor chip MLX90376, which has strong stray field interference immunity (SFI) and is suitable for 360° rotating automotive applications. The device is the first stacked dual-chip PCB-free product to be launched, using the industry's advanced sensing technology to support system integration that meets ASIL D requirements, making it ideal for steering and valve applications. It combines stability and excellent performance, making it an ideal choice for vehicle electrification applications.

The MLX90376 is a member of the Triaxis® high-end series, using Melexis proprietary technology. The chip has a number of features for demanding steering wheel angle, throttle and thermal management valve applications. These features include:

-Optional PCB-free stacked dual-chip version;

- ASIL C-level safety unit out of box (SEooC), supporting system integration up to ASIL D standard (ISO 26262);

- SFI up to 5mT (4000A/m) for 360° rotation applications (ISO 11452-8).

This position sensor chip adopts SMP-4 PCB-free or surface mount (SMD) package. The SMP-4 package facilitates mechanical integration and speeds up development and design schedules. The stacked dual chip is a highlight with respect to the off-axis tolerance, which is critical for applications such as electric power steering (EPS). The SMD version adopts SOIC-8 (for single chip) and TSSOP-16 (for dual chip) package.

The MLX90376 is ASIL compliant and is an ASIL C SEooC developed according to ISO 26262. The dual-chip MLX90376 enables system redundancy in safety-critical applications, making the chip support integration of ASIL D compliant systems.

With an SFI of up to 5mT (4000A/m), the MLX90376 chip is suitable for 360° rotation applications (ISO 11452-8) and helps eliminate common electromagnetic noise sources in electric vehicles.

Other features of the MLX90376

The MLX90376 offers output options suitable for various applications: analog, PWM, SENT or specific SPC codes. The SPC protocol is compatible with SENT and can send bidirectional commands via the bus interface. This modern protocol makes the in-vehicle networking infrastructure simpler (less wiring to save cost and weight) and ensures that the system architecture meets the safety concept specified by the ASIL D standard. It is generally suitable for applications involving multiple critical valves.

The device supports operating temperatures up to 160°C, enabling position sensing in high-temperature environments such as engine compartments.

To ensure that electromagnetic compatibility testing is successful the first time, the MLX90376 only requires one test cycle, helping to shorten design time and reduce costs. Its performance matches the proven MLX9037x high-end series.

"Melexis is constantly seeking breakthroughs in the field of position sensing. This new absolute rotary position sensor chip has many unique features and is a truly innovative achievement." said Dieter Verstreken, Global Marketing Manager for Melexis Position Sensor Chips. "Its dual-chip PCB-free version is suitable for demanding applications and has broad application prospects."