Inductive Sensor Interface ICs Based on LVDT Architecture

Microsemi Corporation today announced the availability of a new device in its recently launched family of sensor interface integrated circuits (ICs) based upon inductive sensing technology, the LX3302. As the newest addition to the industry's first inductive sensor interface IC product family utilizing linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) architecture implementations on printed circuit boards (PCB), Microsemi's LX3302 is specially designed for applications within the automotive, industrial and commercial aviation markets. Pre-production samples of Microsemi's LX3302 are available now, with full production release in March 2016.

Microsemi's LX3302 improves the LX3301A with an extended temperature range to 150 degrees Celsius, and a richer set of system interfaces which include analog sine/cosine outputs, single edge nibble transmission (SENT) and Peripheral Sensor Interfaces (PSI5), as well as the standard analog output and pulse width modulated output.

In addition, the LX3302 has double the EEPROM available in the LX3301A, allowing for eight-point calibration, versus six-point calibration, which increases system accuracy by 1-bit and permits less precise, lower cost sensor manufacturing. Leveraging Microsemi's expertise in inductive sensing technology and its more than five years' experience supplying customized ICs in production, the new device features LVDT principles, resulting in superior immunity to noise and interference.

"Microsemi is excited to expand our market opportunities with the LX3302, as our inductive sensing technology can replace the incumbent Hall-effect sensors, which are susceptible to external magnetic fields and/or metal objects in close proximity. Inductive technology eliminates the magnet, thereby improving immunity to such interference," said Shafy Eltoukhy, vice president and business unit manager at Microsemi. "Customers can use this emerging technology in a wide variety of mechanical motion sensing applications, as it provides significant improvement in temperature stability, reliability, safety and system costs."

As sensors are the key element in the feedback loop of virtually all closed loop systems, the LX3302 is suited for a variety of applications related to control systems and industrial automation, including linear displacement measurement (fluid level sensing, gear position for transmission actuator position and brake lamp switch/proximity detection) and angular motion measurement (robotic arm position, rotating shaft position, pedal position and rotary controls). It also meets strict automotive application requirements, including AECQ100-certified grade 0, and comes with Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) documentation support. Microsemi's experienced automotive support team is also provided to ensure customer success with the product.

The LX3302 and other products in the LX33xx sensor IC family can be used with Microsemi's motor drive reference design utilizing the company's SmartFusion(â„¢)2 system-on chip (SoC) field programmable gate array (FPGA) and a motor control IP suite to process the sensor inputs and motor drive algorithms. The sensor inputs can be connected to the motor control evaluation board.