Melexis introduces new steering-by-wire sensors

     Melexis has added MLX90427 to its portfolio of magnetic position sensors. The product is tailored for embedded position sensor applications that require a high level of functional safety. In addition to providing customers with stray field immunity and EMC robustness, the cost-effective MLX90427 features four different modes of SPI output. It consists of a rotation, joystick, and rotation of the stray field with an internal Angle calculated next to a mode of raw data output. It is ideal for steer-by-wire applications.

     As the automotive market increasingly emphasizes the digitization of control systems to aid in vehicle electrification and advanced autonomous driving capabilities, the requirements for sensors are also evolving. For innovative systems like steer-by-wire systems, where there is no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the bogie, the position sensor is a key component that must demonstrate superior reliability, functional safety and accuracy. Electric vehicles have increasingly high requirements for sensors, which require excellent electromagnetic compatibility robustness and anti-interference ability. At the same time, the solution must be cost-effective and easy to integrate.

     The device is the company's next generation magnetic position sensing IC. With its extensive automotive Hall effect sensing expertise, the product has been specifically designed to meet the current and future technical requirements of the automotive industry. At the heart of the device is a three-axis Hall magnetic induction element, which is sensitive to three components corresponding to the magnetic flux density (Bx, By and Bz) used for the IC, allowing accurate detection of the movement of any magnet in its vicinity. It is supported by an ADC, a robust DSP for complex signal processing, and an output stage driver for SPI signal output.

     The device can be seamlessly converted between four different operating modes. These modes include a standard rotation mode with two performance ranges, a joystick mode for XYZ 3D position sensing applications, and a 360° stray field immune mode for continuous rotation feedback in noisy environments. Within the vehicle, this allows the IC to be used for a variety of applications, such as steering, transmission shifting, and broader Hmis (such as infotainment control knobs), thus simplifying the vehicle design process. The device is AEC-Q100 certified (level 0) for inherent reliability and is ISO26262 ASIL C SEooC, supporting system-level integration up to ASIL D. In safety-critical applications such as steering columns, the MLX90427 offers excellent stray field immunity and EMC robustness and can be deployed with sensors using different sensing technologies, such as the inductive sensing MLX90513, for the highest level of functional safety through heterogeneous redundancy.

     Designed for embedded position sensor applications, the device features a high-speed full-duplex SPI output that communicates with the main microcontroller and has a 14-bit resolution output. Allowing for simple system integration, the device is compatible with 5V and 3V3 applications and has a wide operating temperature of -40 ° C to 160 ° C. Built-in self-diagnosis to quickly report faults and improve the safety of critical systems.

     "Melexis has a strong reputation as a leading supplier of sensors for safety-critical automotive systems, particularly in areas such as steering wheel position feedback," said Karen Stinckens, Melexis Global position sensor Marketing Manager. "The MLX90427 builds on our previous success and not only represents the next step in automotive position sensing, but it is also a viable option for a wider range of applications due to its advanced features and price point," she continued.

     Backed by the company's extensive application and functional safety knowledge, the device is a powerful and cost-effective solution. Its high precision and versatile operation are ideal for the next generation of vehicle control systems.