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3046, 3056,
AND
3058
HALL EFFECT
GEAR-TOOTH SENSORS
–ZERO SPEED
www.allegromicro.com
Sensor Operation.
The A3046EU/LU,
A3056EU/LU, and A3058EU/LU sensor ICs
each contain two integrated Hall transducers
(E1 and E2) that are used to sense a mag-
netic field differential across the face of the
IC (see S
ENSOR
L
OCATION
drawing). Referring
to Figure 2, the trigger switches the output
ON (output LOW) when B
E1
–
B
E2
> B
OP
and
switches the output OFF (output HIGH) when
B
E1
–
B
E2
< B
RP
. The difference between B
OP
and B
RP
is the hysteresis of the device.
Figure 3 relates the output state of a
back-biased sensor IC, with switching
characteristics shown in Figure 2, to the
target gear profile and position. Assume a
north pole back-bias configuration (equivalent
to south pole at the face of the device). The
motion of the gear produces a phase-shifted
field at E1 and E2 (Figure 3 (a)); internal
conditioning circuitry subtracts the field at the
two elements (Figure 3 (b)); and the Schmitt
trigger at the output of the conditioning
circuitry switches at the pre-determined
thresholds (B
OP
and B
RP
). As shown (Figure
3 (c)), the IC output is LOW whenever sensor
E1 sees a (ferrous) gear tooth and sensor E2
faces air. The output is HIGH when sensor
E1 sees air and sensor E2 sees the ferrous
target.
A gear-tooth sensor can be configured
(see A
SSEMBLY
T
ECHNIQUES
) to operate as a
latch, a (positive) switch, or a negative
switch. Note the change in duty cycle in
each of the cases (Figure 4).
A
latch
is a device where the operate
point is greater than zero gauss and the
release point is less than zero gauss. With
the configuration shown in Figure 3, such a
device will switch ON on the leading edge
and OFF on the trailing edge of the target
tooth.
A
(positive) switch
is a device where
both the operate and release points are
greater than zero gauss (positive values).
Figure 3
GEAR-TOOTH SENSOR OPERATION
B = +25 G
B
E1 E2
GEAR
4300 G
4130 G
150 G
0 G
-150 G
B =
–
25 G
V
OUT(SAT)
V
OUT
B & B
OUTPUT DUTY CYCLE
≈
50%
Dwg. WH-003
DIRECTION
OF ROTATION
LEADING
EDGE
TRAILING
EDGE
NORTH
SOUTH
E2
E1
(a)
(b)
(c)
In the configuration shown in Figure 3, such a device will switch ON
and then switch OFF on the leading or rising edge of the target tooth
(Figure 4 (a)).
A
negative switch
is a device where both the operate and release
points are less than zero gauss (negative values). In the configuration
shown in Figure 3, such a device will switch OFF and then switch ON
on the trailing or falling edge of the target tooth (Figure 4 (b)).
Speed sensors can use any of the three sensor configurations
described. Timing sensors, however, must use a latch to guarantee
dual-edge detection. Latches are most easily made using the
A3058EU or A3058LU device types.