The drive toward greater vehicle autonomy is creating a demand for increased electrification and for by-wire systems capable of replacing traditional mechanically connected systems. By-wire designs, especially for steering, accelerator, and braking, require reliable sensing with built-in redundancy. This redundancy is essential to ensure the functional safety and availability of these critical systems. Furthermore, for the expanding electric vehicle (EV) market, immunity to the effects of spurious fields is vital to guarantee accurate measurements.
To support this drive toward greater autonomy, safety, and electrification, Melexis has added two variants to its already successful MLX90425 and MLX90426 robust 360° rotating spurious field sensors. These features include a novel dual-chip design, combining two integrated circuits (ICs) in a single TSSOP-16 (SMD) or SMP-4 (PCB-free) package. These innovations are ASIL C compliant and enable system-level integration up to ISO 26262 ASIL D, ensuring compliance with the automotive industry's increasingly stringent safety requirements. Compared to a discrete dual solution, both the MLX90425 and MLX90426 offer enhanced integration capabilities. Both ICs deliver high-precision operation and feature 5mT parasitic field immunity, providing exceptional reliability and a tailored specification designed to contribute to cost-effective end-user solutions.
At the core of both ICs is Melexis' magnetic technology, capable of exceptionally robust magnetic flux measurements on a single integrated circuit. Both products feature a programmable linear transfer characteristic of up to 17 points and a wide operating temperature range of -40°C to 160°C, making them well-suited for automotive applications. The devices differ in their output protocol. The MLX90425 features a ratiometric or PWM analog output, while the MLX90426 is equipped with a SENT digital output.
“With the introduction of these two new products, we are expanding our Triaxis range to ensure we have a comprehensive selection of solutions that meet our customers’ latest functional and cost requirements,” says Lorenzo Lugani, Product Line Manager at Melexis. “These new dual-array variants support the increasing by-wire, autonomous, and ADAS functionality in vehicles.”