New Industry Products

austriamicrosystems Unveils AS5040 Rotary Encoder IC

June 10, 2004 by Jeff Shepard

austriamicrosystems AG (Graz, Austria) unveiled the AS5040, the world's smallest 10-bit, multiple-output, magnetic rotary encoder IC. A system-on-chip, which integrates field-sensing Hall elements, analog front-end and digital signal processing in a single device, the AS5040 is suitable for industrial applications, including motion control, robotics, brushless dc motor commutation, power tools and a host of other applications. It is also suitable for many automotive applications such as steering wheel and gas pedal position sensing, headlight control, power seat position indicators, and transmission box encoders.

The AS5040 operates in a contact-less system with a small magnet that is placed either above or below the device. The device can detect 1,024 positions in a full 360-degree magnet turn. Due to the AS5040's highly integrated system architecture, the complete system requires a minimum number of external components. The AS5040 provides absolute, incremental and pulse-width modulated digital output signals simultaneously. An internal voltage regulator allows the AS5040 to operate at either 3.3 V or 5 V.

Tolerant to magnetic source misalignment, the AS5040 includes a failure detection feature that monitors the magnet placement during operation. The operating temperature range is from –40 °C to +125 °C. The AS5040 is priced at $4. It is now available in SSOP16 (5.3 mm x 6.2 mm) lead-free packaging.