In the automotive field, magnetic sensors are an invisible but indispensable technology that enables everything from turning signals to ignition timing.
In your car, there may be as many as 70 of these small sensors, and they silently perform various functions assigned to them, allowing you to smoothly move from destination A to destination B.

"Like many other semiconductor devices used to maintain the normal operation of modern production and life, users cannot see the magnetic sensor, but it plays a pivotal role for many functions that we have been accustomed to," said Ricky, process development manager Jackson said.

Mass application

Magnetic sensors are ubiquitous, small in size, and affordable, and can be easily integrated with other circuits on the chip. Therefore, magnetic sensors are widely used in various applications. (For more information on magnetic sensors, please read the white paper).

The advantages of magnetic sensing technology in robotics and factory automation are particularly obvious. Because magnetic sensors have higher reliability and precision in part position and speed detection, they are essential for motion control. This advantage also enables robotic arms and other components to move smoothly and accurately, ensuring a high quality and safe manufacturing process.

In addition to automobiles, magnetic sensors are also widely used in household appliances such as washing machines and microwave ovens to detect whether the door of the machine is closed or open. Magnetic sensors are also widely used in medical devices. For example, when applied to hearing aids, it can detect whether the wearer is carrying a mobile phone and then change to the corresponding mode to help the wearer hear the incoming call more clearly. In addition, it is often used for floor detection in elevators and to detect whether handheld devices such as tablets or mobile phones are on or off.

working principle

Magnetic sensors work by converting a magnetic field into voltage or current information. Because the sensor's internal operation and external components do not require physical contact, magnetic sensors are ideal for reducing environmental pollution in automotive and industrial environments. At the same time, it can reduce wear caused by friction between components, thereby reducing equipment. Maintenance costs.

Magnetic sensors have a variety of functions, but it is important to point out that two types of sensors can be widely integrated into other circuits, that is, Hall-effect sensors and flux-gate sensors.

Hall-effect sensors can reliably operate in a variety of electromagnetic environments and are highly regarded and loved by manufacturers. Common applications include fuel gauges, which are mainly used to detect floats in fuel tanks. It can also be used in brushless motors to detect rotor position and time the current. When magnetic sensors are integrated with other circuits, the manufacturing process does not require special materials or special handling, which helps reduce design costs.

Compared with Hall-effect sensors, the fluxgate sensor is more sensitive, and it can detect very small changes in the magnetic field. Common applications for fluxgate sensors include electronic compasses for ships and aircraft, and geologists' instruments for detecting underground structures.

new development

Texas Instruments offers a range of solutions related to integrated Hall-effect or fluxgate sensors.

"We are developing a variety of magnetic induction technologies and integrating them into semiconductor processes to develop interesting new devices," said Ross Eisenbeis, a system engineer.

For engineers who want to use TI sensors in their chip designs, TI offers a wealth of on-chip features and support. A range of tools and software can help engineers create new designs, and engineers can exchange ideas and discuss best practices in our forums. Abundant online training can help engineers make full use of the features and advantages of TI magnetic sensors.

Ross said, "We are developing a series of new

technologies to help design engineers more easily achieve performance and cost goals. At the same time, we can also provide them with a large number of easy-to-use technical documents. Our technical experts and IC designers also These technologies have been continuously promoted. "