Melexis introduces ASIL-ready Hall sensor for safe autonomous driving

Melexis, a provider of automotive semiconductor sensors, has launched the MLX91377 ASIL-ready Hall sensor IC to better secure automotive systems, such as for electric power-assisted steering.

The MLX91377 sensor is Highly effective in steering torque and general automotive sensing. It offers functional safety (per die) and can detect internal failures and enter into a “safe state” to prevent unusual vehicle behavior. The sensor works in ambient operating temperature up to 160° C and combines high linearity with excellent thermal stability — including low offset and sensitivity drift.

Additionally, it supports accurate, dependable torque-sensing in EPAS systems to enable safe control in conventional and autonomous driving. Its TSSOP-16 package expands safety by offering two fully redundant dies to enable support for critical applications such as steering and braking systems.

Apart from functional-safety applications, the MLX91377 offers a wide range of automotive and industrial contactless position-sensing use cases. The main ones among them include steering torque sensors, acceleration, brake, or clutch pedal sensors, absolute linear position sensors, float-level sensors, non-contacting potentiometers, small-angle position sensors, and small stroke position sensors.

Designers can use the enhanced flexibility of the programmable measurement range and multi-point calibration of the ASIL-ready Hall sensor IC. The wide range of output protocols enables one IC to be used in multiple applications, reducing any re-qualification efforts and costs.

The Short PWM Code (SPC) protocol allows measurements to be taken and transmitted upon detection of a trigger pulse. As many as four MLX91377 sensors can be synchronized up to 2 kHz, enabling simultaneous magnetic measurements with deterministic latency to ensure high accuracy. Also, the low-noise and high refresh rate allow high control-loop speeds enabling systems to deliver fast response times with minimal filtering.

MLX91377, with its 48-bit programmable identification number, is immensely suitable for use in safety-critical automotive systems. According to Melexis, the MLX91377 has been developed as a Safety Element Out of Context (SEooC) to comply with the ISO 26262 standards and is qualified to AEC Q-100 Grade 0. It supports functional safety level ASIL-C in digital (SENT or SPC) mode and ASIL-B in analog mode.