Two-Wire Chopper-Stabilized Hall Effect Latch
A1242
7
Allegro MicroSystems, Inc.
115 Northeast Cutoff
Worcester, Massachusetts 01615-0036 U.S.A.
1.508.853.5000; www.allegromicro.com
Functional Description
Operation
The output, I
CC
, of the A1242 switches to the high current state
when a magnetic field perpendicular to the Hall element exceeds
the operate point threshold, B
OP
. Note that the device latches,
that is, a south pole of sufficient strength towards the branded
surface of the device switches the device output to I
CC(H)
. The
device retains its output state if the south pole is removed. When
the magnetic field is reduced to below the release point thresh-
old, B
RP
, the device output goes to the low current state. The dif-
ference between the magnetic operate and release points is called
the hysteresis of the device, B
HYS
. This built-in hysteresis allows
clean switching of the output even in the presence of external
mechanical vibration and electrical noise.
.
Typical Application Circuit
The A1242 should be protected by an external bypass capaci-
tor, C
BYP
, connected between the supply, V
CC
, and the ground,
GND, of the device. C
BYP
reduces both external noise and the
noise generated by the chopper-stabilization function. As shown
in figure 2, a 0.01 糉 capacitor is typical.
Installation of C
BYP
must ensure that the traces that connect it to
the A1242 pins are no greater than 5 mm in length.
All high-frequency interferences conducted along the supply
lines are passed directly to the load through C
BYP
, and it serves
only to protect the A1242 internal circuitry. As a result, the load
ECU (electronic control unit) must have sufficient protection,
other than C
BYP
, installed in parallel with the A1242.
A series resistor on the supply side, R
S
(not shown), in combina-
tion with C
BYP
, creates a filter for EMI pulses.
When determining the minimum V
CC
requirement of the A1242
device, the voltage drops across R
S
and the ECU sense resistor,
R
SENSE
, must be taken into consideration. The typical value for
R
SENSE
is approximately 100 ?
Extensive applications information on magnets and Hall-effect
devices is available in:
" Hall-Effect IC Applications Guide, AN27701,
" Guidelines for Designing Subassemblies
Using Hall-Effect Devices, AN27703.1
" Soldering Methods for Allegro Products SMD and Through-
Hole, AN26009
All are provided in Allegro Electronic Data Book, AMS-702 and
the Allegro Web site: www.allegromicro.com.
Figure 1. Switching Behavior of the A1242. On the horizontal axis, the
B+ direction indicates increasing south polarity magnetic field strength,
and the B direction indicates decreasing south polarity field strength
(including the case of increasing north polarity).
B
HYS
I
CC(H)
I
CC(L)
B+
I+
B
0
0
GND
A1242
VCC
V+
0.01 uF
A
B
B
GND
ECU
Package UA Only
A
B
Maximum separation 5 mm
R
SENSE
C
BYP
Figure 2. Typical Application Circuit