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ATS616LSG-DS, Rev. 1

Worcester, Massachusetts 01615-0036 (508) 853-5000

115 Northeast Cutoff, Box 15036

www.allegromicro.com

Allegro MicroSystems, Inc.

Dynamic Self-Calibrating Peak-Detecting Differential Hall Effect Gear Tooth Sensor

ATS616LSG

Assembly Description.

The ATS616 gear-tooth sensor is a

Hall IC/magnet configuration that is fully optimized to provide

digital detection of gear tooth edges. This sensor is packaged in

a molded miniature plastic body that has been optimized for size,

ease of assembly, and manufacturability. High operating tem-

perature materials are used in all aspects of construction.

After proper power is applied to the component, the sensor is

capable of instantly providing digital information that is repre-

sentative of the profile of a rotating gear. No additional optimi-

zation or processing circuitry is required. This ease of use should

reduce design time and incremental assembly costs for most

applications.

Sensing Technology.

The gear tooth sensor module contains a

single-chip differential Hall effect sensor IC, a samarium cobalt

magnet, and a flat ferrous pole piece (figure 2). The Hall IC

consists of 2 Hall elements (spaced 2.2 mm apart) located so

as to measure the magnetic gradient created by the passing of a

ferrous object. The two elements measure the magnetic gradient

and convert it to an analog voltage that is then processed in order

to provide a digital output signal.

The Hall IC is self-calibrating and also possesses a tempera-

ture compensated amplifier and offset cancellation circuitry. Its

voltage regulator provides supply noise rejection throughout the

operating voltage range. Changes in temperature do not greatly

affect this device due to the stable amplifier design and the offset

rejection circuitry. The Hall transducers and signal processing

electronics are integrated on the same silicon substrate, using a

proprietary BiCMOS process.

Internal Electronics.

The processing circuit uses a patented

peak detection scheme to eliminate magnet and system offsets.

This technique allows dynamic coupling and filtering of offsets

without the power-up and settling time disadvantages of classical

high-pass filtering schemes. The peak signal of every tooth and

valley is detected by the filter and is used to provide an instant

reference for the operate and release point comparator. In this

manner, the thresholds are adapted and referenced to individual

signal peaks and valleys, providing immunity to zero line varia-

tion from installation inaccuracies (tilt, rotation, and off-center

placement), as well as for variations caused by target and shaft

eccentricities. The peak detection concept also allows extremely

low speed operation for small value filter capacitors.

The ATS616 also includes self-calibration circuitry that is

engaged at power on. The signal amplitude is measured, and

then the device gain is normalized. In this manner switchpoint

drift versus air gap is minimized, and excellent timing accuracy

can be achieved.

The AGC (Automatic Gain Control) circuitry, in conjunction

with a unique hysteresis circuit, also eliminates the effect of

gear edge overshoot as well as increases the immunity to false

switching caused by gear tooth anomalies at close air gaps. The

Functional Description

Target (Gear)

Back-biasing Magnet

South Pole

North Pole

Case

(Pin 1 Side)

(Pin

n >1 Side)

Hall IC

Pole Piece

Element Pitch

(Concentrator)

Dual-Element

Hall Effect Device

Hall Element 1

Hall Element 2

Figure 2. Relative motion of the target is detected by the dual Hall ele-

ments mounted on the Hall IC.

Figure 3. The peaks in the resulting differential signal are used to set the

Device Output

Differential

Magnetic Flux

B+

B–

0