Melexis sets new benchmark in DC motor applications

This sensor enables accurate speed and direction calculations, making it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications, including automotive, alternative mobility, consumer products, and industrial systems.

Designed for DC motors and encoders, the MLX92253 provides an integrated and cost-effective solution for embedded systems. Its versatile design offers benefits across multiple sectors, helping engineers achieve greater accuracy and efficiency in motor control.

Precision feedback for mobility and industrial applications

In modern mobility applications, directional feedback, along with sensing linear speed, rotational speed, or angular position, is essential for the safe and reliable operation of many systems. This type of feedback is crucial for controlling motorised components in passenger vehicles, such as window lifters, seat motors, and powered tailgates. In e-bikes, it detects pedal cadence and activates electric assistance. The sensor’s motor feedback capabilities also ensure precision and safety in applications ranging from smart home devices, like automated blinds, to industrial systems like ventilation units.

Addressing key challenges in motor design

Traditionally, engineers using dual latch solutions for stepper or DC motors have had to rely on integrating two separate systems or using a pitch-dependent solution, both of which add complexity and cost to the design process. The MLX92253 stands out by incorporating two Hall plates – one on the Z-axis and one on the X-axis – each with independent signal tracks. This design ensures a consistent 90° phase shift between the two speed outputs, regardless of the magnet pole pitch. Additionally, the MLX92253's low and narrow magnetic threshold allows for the use of smaller, more cost-effective magnets or a larger air gap, simplifying assembly and providing engineers with more flexibility in their designs.

The common magnetic centre of the sensor further streamlines the design process, making it easier to repurpose designs across different products. This functionality is particularly valuable for engineers looking to minimise development time and costs while maintaining high levels of accuracy and reliability.

Enhanced performance and flexibility

The MLX92253 offers fast and accurate feedback with low delay and minimal jitter, providing increased reliability compared to traditional solutions. Operating at a chopping frequency of 500kHz and supporting a voltage range of 2.7 to 5.5V, the sensor is well-suited for low-powered embedded designs. It can function in a wide temperature range from -40 to 150°C, making it robust for both consumer and industrial environments.

The sensor also features an output state feedback mechanism during start-up, allowing the microcontroller to retrieve the previous state of the MLX92253 before power-down. This ensures no movement data is lost, further enhancing its reliability in critical applications.

"The MLX92253 sets a new standard for affordable DC motors and encoders," said Minko Daskalov, Product Line Manager at Melexis. "It reduces development, production, and material costs while supporting a wide range of applications that contribute to global sustainability."

Available now in a compact TSOT23 package, the MLX92253 is designed for ease of integration into various systems. Engineering samples are also available upon request in a VA package.