Magnetic sensors modernize Hall-effect switch and position sensing for the IoT era

Silicon Labs brings Hall-effect sensing into the 21st century with a magnetic sensor portfolio offering industry-leading power efficiency, best-in-class sensitivity, flexible I2C configuration, and built-in tamper detection and temperature sensing. The company’s new Si72xx portfolio includes the most advanced, feature-rich magnetic sensors available today, outclassing reed switches and traditional Hall-effect devices in a wide range of open/close and position-sensing applications. The magnetic sensors provide solid-state reliability for white goods, flow meters, cordless power tools, wheel and dial-type controls for consumer electronics, industrial alarms, motor controls and door/window security applications. The sensors are AEC-Q100-qualified for automotive applications and designed to withstand harsh industrial environments. The company’s sensors solve several tradeoffs in selecting the right magnetic sensing solution for power- and cost-sensitive applications. Reed switches consume very little power but are bulky and unreliable. While Hall-effect sensors offer solid-state reliability, they are more power hungry. Traditional Hall-effect designs are also stuck in the past, providing only a few of the programmable capabilities and advanced features offered by other modern sensor types used in IoT applications. The sensors address these needs by matching the power efficiency of reed switches with the reliability of Hall-effect sensors, while adding more advanced features, higher sensitivity and exceptional configurability.