Magnetic digital encoder has mounting flexibility 

Melexis has launched an absolute magnetic encoder IC with mounting flexibility for micro-motors.

The MLX90382 magnetic position sensor combines a Hall magnetic front end, a 14bit analog-to-digital converter, on-chip digital signal processing with zero latency, and multiple output drivers. Differential outputs and a speed range of up to 200k e-RPM, make it suitable for industrial automation, robotics, and mobility solutions.

The device uses the Melexis Triaxis technology, bringing magnetic positional sensing into high-speed encoder devices. By detecting the three components of the magnetic flux density (Bx, By, and Bz) and measuring the differential magnetic field in the Z-axis, the MLX90382 enables precise tracking of absolute angle position and speed. It can achieve speeds of up to 200’000 rpm and has a stray-field immunity of 360o up to 4 kA/m.

The compact size of 4 x 4mm, stray field immunity and support for both on-axis and off-axis sensing, the MLX90382 offers flexible integration including into micro-motors.

The demand for cost-effective and accurate encoders in robotics means high-speed encoder feedback is essential in guaranteeing the correct functioning and safety of electric motor-driven applications, such as robotic arms, automated packaging machines, and industrial weaving machines.

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The MLX90382 offers the convenience of both on and off-axis mounting, providing support for hollow shaft applications that allow the passage of wiring looms or other components through the shaft without affecting encoder feedback – removing some design complexity and driving innovation.

The MLX90382 is available in a compact, RoHS compliant, single-die 4 x 4 mm2 QFN-24, supporting 5 V and 3.3 V applications. Reliability is guaranteed with both variants featuring AEC-Q100 (Grade 0) qualification. Furthermore, the on-axis configuration supports safety standards with SIL2 integrations.

The MLX90382 offers five different output modes designed to serve a wide range of applications. These consist of an industry-standard differential ABI/UVW interface for incremental angular output, an emulation of UVW signals typically used in BLDC motors, a PWM interface, as well as configurable SPI and SSI interfaces. Operating across a wide temperature range of -40°C to 150°C, this sensor is ideal for demanding environments.

The MLX90382 is available now and supported by a comprehensive evaluation kit to enable a streamlined development process.