Politecnico di Torino David Vera Quiroga

Short Homework
David Junior Vera Quiroga
140301

Title

Hall Effect Sensors

The Hall effect sensor is a transducer that varies its output voltage related to the changes of
the magnetic field. These sensors are used for proximity switches, positioning, speed detection,
current sensing applications, etc.

Keywords: Hall effect, Sensor, Transducer, Current Sensor, Proximity sensor.

Abstract
In its simplest form, the sensor operates as an analogue transducer, directly returning a
voltage. With a known magnetic field, its distance from the Hall plate can be determined. Using
groups of sensors, the relative position of the magnet can be deduced.
Electricity carried through a conductor will produce a magnetic field that varies with
current, and a Hall sensor can be used to measure the current without interrupting the circuit.
Typically, the sensor is integrated with a wound core or permanent magnet that surrounds the
conductor to be measured.
Frequently, a Hall sensor is combined with circuitry that allows the device to act in a digital
mode (on/off), and may be called a switch in this configuration. Commonly seen in industrial
applications such as the pictured pneumatic cylinder, they are also used in consumer equipment; e.g.
some computer printers use them to detect missing paper and open covers. When high reliability is
required, they are used in keyboards.
Hall sensors are commonly used to time the speed of wheels and shafts, such as for internal
combustion engine ignition timing, tachometers and anti-lock braking systems. They are used in
brush-less DC electric motors to detect the position of the permanent magnet.

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Introduction

1) Sensor
A sensor; is a device that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal which
can be read by an observer or by an instrument. For example, a mercury-in-glass thermometer
converts the measured temperature into expansion and contraction of a liquid which can be read on
a calibrated glass tube.
In electronics sensor are all those components that transform a physical quantity into an
electrical signal. The microphone, for example, is a sensor that converts sound into electrical
voltages. And it is also the photo-resistor, whose sensitivity depends on the light that it invests. In
short, the sensor replace, in a certain way, our senses, from that derives its name, to work with
logical intelligence where it is used. Among the varied types of electronic sensors there is one less
known, but not less important. This is the Hall effect sensor, often similar to transistors. This sensor
generates voltages when there is invest from magnetic fields and, for this reason, is also known as
magnetic sensors.

2) Hall Effect
The Hall effect is the production of a voltage difference across a conductor transverse to an
electric current in the conductor and a magnetic field perpendicular to the current. The voltage
produced was called Hall voltage.

fig 1: Schematic interpretation of the Hall

Effect.

The Hall effect comes about due to the nature of the current in a conductor. Current consists
in the movement of many small charge carries, typically electrons, holes, or both. Moving charges
experience a force, called the Lorentz force, when a magnetic field is present that is perpendicular
to their motion. When such a magnetic field is absent, the charges follow approximately straight,
“line of sight” paths between collisions with impurities, phonons, etc. However, when a
perpendicular magnetic field is applied, their paths between collisions are curved so that moving
charges accumulate on one face of the material (D). This leaves equal and opposite charges exposed
on the other face (C), where there is a scarcity of mobile charges. The result is an asymmetric
distribution of charge density across the Hall element that is perpendicular to both the “line of
sight” path and the applied magnetic field. The separation of charge establishes an electric field that
opposes the migration of further charge, so a steady electrical potential builds up for as long as the
charge is flowing.

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How it works

The Hall voltage is usually too small and very influenced by physical entities and
manufacturing problems to be used directly. However, modern technologies are able to produce the
integrated magnetic sensor, whose operation is based on the effect described above and are called
the Hall sensors.

The construction of these new and, in part, as yet unknown components, has been noted that
after the Hall voltage is manifested in all the conductors and also in semiconductors which have
been designated as the primary elements for the construction of the Hall sensors. In fact, in the same
process of industrial production is possible to realize the Hall sensor and analog circuits, needed to
process the electrical signal and give the characteristics of stability and amplitude that are needed
for each use reliable, and non-critical, in electronic devices

Analog Hall Sensor

The Figure 2 shows the base electric and functional diagram of an integrated analog Hall
sensor, particularly suitable for linear applications, but also logical.

fig 2: Functional block diagram of an analog Hall sensor

(UGN 3501).

The voltage regulator (REG) provides the power, with a current compensated strictly, almost
constant and independent of supply voltage, obviously within the limits of tolerance, the entire
circuit of the integrated sensor. This is very important for the Hall effect, because different currents
would give rise to different voltages. In particular, the current is sized for a proper balance between
self-heating and the need for a high signal Hall.

The operational amplifier acts directly on the Hall voltage. And it is connected in differential
mode, i.e. this is sensitive only to the difference between the voltages on the opposite sides of the
sensor, not to their common value. With this system, the output of the operational amplifier is
conditioned only by the Hall voltage. The output signal from the amplifier is large enough to raise
no problems of connectivity and cabling and to be ready by normal processing analog circuits and
even logical. In practice, the amplifier can provide a few milliampere of current, allowing the use of
medium impedances, to increase the flexibility and immunity to interference of the circuit.

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Digital Hall sensor

The Figure 3 shows the digital version of the sensor, more suitable for the logic applications,
for which the information is “all” or “nothing”, at or less than a certain magnetic field.

f
ig 3: Block diagram of a digital Hall sensor
(UGN 3075T/U).

The output of the operational amplifier is connected to a comparator with a fixed threshold that
switches and varies the level of its output when the magnetic field and, consequently, the output of
the operational amplifier exceeds the threshold. The comparator has hysteresis to prevent
oscillations and uncertainties at the time of capture, when the signal is near the threshold. Which
would prevent the proper operation of logic circuits that require steep sides and no rebounds. The
output of the comparator, as can be seen in Figure 3, acts on an NPN transistor that provides the
current needed to drive all the normal loads of logic circuits. When the transistor is saturated, it
provides a level of zero to a few hundred millivolts or less, depending on load, compatible with the
common logic families. The output of the transistor is the collector (open-collector) so as to allow
adaptation to any type of circuit on power supply, taking into account that it is possible to vary the
power to the sensor (X) and the logic within wide limits. The collector output transistor allows the
wired-or technology, very comfortable in all those cases where you must collect, on a single input,
the signal from many sensors.

Technology

A hall probe contains an indium compound crystal such as indium antimonide, mounted on
an aluminum backing plate, and encapsulated in the probe head. The plane of the crystal is
perpendicular to the probe handle. Connecting leads from the crystal are brought down through the
handle to the circuit box.

When the Hall Probe is held so that the magnetic field lines are passing at right angles
through the sensor of the probe, the meter gives a reading of the value of magnetic flux density. A
current is passed through the crystal which, when placed in a magnetic field has a “Hall Effect”
voltage developed across it. The Hall Effect is seen when a conductor is passed through a uniform
magnetic field. The natural electron drift of the charge carriers causes the magnetic field to apply a

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Lorentz force (the force exerted on a charged particle in an electromagnetic field) to these charge
carriers. The result is what is seen as a charge separation, with a build up of either positive or
negative charges on the bottom or on the top of the plate. The crystal measures 5 mm square. The
probe handle, being made of a non-ferrous material, has no disturbing effects on the field.

A Hall Probe is enough to measure the Earth's magnetic field. It must be held so that the
Earth's field lines are passing directly through it. It is then rotated quickly so the field lines pass
through the sensor in the opposite direction. The change in the flux density reading is double the
Earth's magnetic flux density. A hall probe must first be calibrated against a known value of
magnetic field strength. For a solenoid the hall probe is placed in the center.

Typical applications

Now we can mention a few, among the most common and actual, practical applications of
these modern integrated.

fig 4: Notch or Hole sensor.

Figure 4 shows probably the most immediate and useful practical applications of the Hall
sensors, as it allows in a simple and inexpensive measure the speed of a magnetized wheel, or the
number of laps completed by this. Because every time the wheel sets to notch the Hall sensor, the
magnetic field varies and the varying reactions of the Hall effect sensor.

Another common application is the magnetic piston (Figure 5) in this pneumatic cylinder
will cause the Hall effect sensors (2 and 3) mounted on its outer wall to activate when it is fully
retracted or extended.

fig 5: Magnetic piston.

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The Hall effect sensor are also used to measure the current without interrupting the circuit.
This device uses the magnetic field generated by the current flowing on the conductor, and based on
its intensity calculates the current flowing through the conductor. The Hall effect current sensor is
very sensitive and is able to measure both DC and AC, in some examples up to the kilohertz range.
This type is often used with oscilloscopes, and with high-end computerized digital multimeters.

fig 6: Hall-effect current sensor.

The last application that we discuss is the Hall-effect proximity sensor. The proximity of
metal to the magnet alters the magnetic field detected by the Hall-effect sensor resulting in an
altered voltage output ultimately generating a fault signal. The typical Hall-effect proximity sensor
employs a magnet structure consisting of a cylindrical permanent magnet with a flat end. The Hall
sensor is positioned adjacent the flat end and with the plane of the Hall element parallel to the plane
of the magnet end. Hall-effect proximity sensors detect a change in a polarity of a magnetic field.
Therefore, a target is limited to a magnetic material. Hall-effect proximity sensors are sensitive to a
gap between the target and the sensor and typically have a limited temperature operating range.

f
ig 7: Hall-effect proximity sensor.

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Bibliography

• Hall effect Wikipedia's article - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall_effect.

• Hall effect sensor Wikipedia's article - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall_effect_sensor.

• Hall effect sensors - http://www.microst.it/tutorial/hall.html (Italian)

• Proximity sensors - http://www.electronics-manufacturers.com/products/sensors-

transducers-detectors/proximity-sensor/hall-effect-proximity-sensor/.

• UGN 3501U Data-sheet.

• UGN 3075T/U Data-sheet.

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