Date: 25/02/2009

Hall effect switch with microwatt power consumption for mobile phones

Melexis has introduced Omnipolar hall-effect switch MLX90248. MLX90248 is a non-contact magnetic switch with microwatt power consumption. The suitable applications include like flip, slide and clamshell mobile phones, PDA's and personal entertainment devices.

The MLX90248 operated from 1.5V. Suitable for existing 3V applications, the MLX90248 can now address the growing number of 1.8V applications and meet the reduced power consumption challenges presented by emerging markets. This device offers increased protection against ESD (Electro-Static Discharge) up to 8kV, safeguarding the IC within its production environment and operation.

Based on the Hall-Effect principle, the MLX90248 provides magnetic, contactless, solid-state switching for applications demanding special power management schemes, such as standby mode, which are required to save battery power or reduce overall power-consumption. The MLX90248 is widely used for Open/Close Detection in mobile phones and notebooks, and for Screen Rotation Detection in digital cameras and camcorders. The MLX90248 New Generation provides a 50% power reduction in the average IC, typically consuming only 5uA at 3V, versus 10uA consumed by earlier versions. At even lower voltages the IC exhibits the industry's lowest current consumption: 3uA at 1.5V, or less than 5uW.

The advantages of this device are,
Provides bounce-free, contactless "Solid-State" switching
MLX90248 can sense very low magnetic fields of below 6 MilliTeslas (60 Gauss). Due to which, small and inexpensive magnets are sufficient to trigger the IC.
The MLX90248 features Omnipolar switching, assuring that the IC detects the presence of any magnetic pole, North or South, eliminating both the need for pole recognition and proper magnet orientation during assembly.

Package: TSOT package (MLX90248ESE) and in a 2 x 1.5mm ultra-thin 0.4mm CSP package (MLX90248ELD).

Price: The MLX90248ESE: Euro 0.131
MLX90248ELD: Euro 0.141 in OEM quantities