Hall effect sensor

Measurement Trainer

Table of contents

1. Introduction

2. Technical Specifications

3. Front Panel Controls

4. Operating Instructions
 INTRODUCTION
The hall effect sensor is a type of magnetic sensor which can be used for detecting the strength and
direction of a magnetic field produced from a permanent magnet or an electromagnet with its output
varying in proportion to the strength of the magnetic field being detected.

Magnetic sensors convert magnetic or magnetically encoded information into electrical signals for
processing by electronic circuits, and in the Sensors and Transducers tutorials we looked at inductive
proximity sensors and the LDVT as well as solenoid and relay output actuators.

Magnetic sensors are solid state devices that are becoming more and more popular because they can
be used in many different types of application such as sensing position, velocity or directional move-
ment.

Magnetic sensors are designed to respond to a wide range of positive and negative magnetic fields in a
variety of different applications and one type of magnet sensor whose output signal is a function of
magnetic field density around it is called the Hall Effect Sensor.
Hall Effect Sensors are devices which are activated by an external magnetic field. We know that a
magnetic field has two important characteristics flux density, (B) and polarity (North and South Poles).

The output signal from a Hall effect sensor is the function of magnetic field density around the device.
When the magnetic flux density around the sensor exceeds a certain pre-set threshold, the sensor
detects it and generates an output voltage called the Hall Voltage, VH. Consider the diagram below.
Hall Effect Magnetic Sensor

The output voltage, called the Hall voltage, (VH) of the basic Hall Element is directly proportional to the
strength of the magnetic field passing through the semiconductor material (output ? H).

This output voltage can be quite small, only a few microvolts even when subjected to strong magnetic
fields so most commercially available Hall effect devices are manufactured with built-in DC amplifiers,
logic switching circuits and voltage regulators to improve the sensors sensitivity, hysteresis and output
voltage.

This also allows the Hall effect sensor to operate over a wider range of power supplies and magnetic
field conditions.

Hall Effect Sensors are available with either linear or digital outputs. The output signal for linear (ana-
logue) sensors is taken directly from the output of the operational amplifier with the output voltage being
directly proportional to the magnetic field passing through the Hall sensor. This output Hall voltage is
given as:
Linear or analogue sensors give a continuous voltage output that increases with a strong magnetic field
and decreases with a weak magnetic field. In linear output Hall effect sensors, as the strength of the
magnetic field increases the output signal from the amplifier will also increase until it begins to saturate by
the limits imposed on it by the power supply. Any additional increase in the magnetic field will have no
effect on the output but drive it more into saturation.

Digital output sensors on the other hand have a Schmitt-trigger with built in hysteresis connected to the
op-amp. When the magnetic flux passing through the Hall sensor exceeds a pre-set value the output
from the device switches quickly between its “OFF” condition to an “ON” condition without any type
of contact bounce.

This built-in hysteresis eliminates any oscillation of the output signal as the sensor moves in and out of
the magnetic field. Then digital output sensors have just two states, “ON” and “OFF”.

There are two basic types of digital Hall effect sensor, Bipolar and Unipolar. Bipolar sensors require a
positive magnetic field (south pole) to operate them and a negative field (north pole) to release them
while unipolar sensors require only a single magnetic south pole to both operate and release them as
they move in and out of the magnetic field.

Most Hall effect devices can not directly switch large electrical loads as their output drive capabilities
are very small around 10 to 20mA. For large current loads an open-collector (current sinking) NPN
Transistor is added to the output.

This transistor operates in its saturated region as a NPN sink switch which shorts the output terminal to
ground whenever the applied flux density is higher than that of the “ON” pre-set point.

The output switching transistor can be either an open emitter transistor, open collector transistor con-
figuration or both providing a push-pull output type configuration that can sink enough current to directly
drive many loads, including relays, motors, LEDs, and lamps.

Hall Effect Applications

Hall effect sensors are activated by a magnetic field and in many applications the device can be oper-
ated by a single permanent magnet attached to a moving shaft or device. There are many different types
of magnet movements, such as “Head-on”, “Sideways”, “Push-pull” or “Push-push” etc sensing move-
ments.

Which every type of configuration is used, to ensure maximum sensitivity the magnetic lines of flux must
always be perpendicular to the sensing area of the device and must be of the correct polarity.

Also to ensure linearity, high field strength magnets are required that produce a large change in field
strength for the required movement. There are several possible paths of motion for detecting a magnetic
field, and below are two of the more common sensing configurations using a single magnet: Head-on
Detection and Sideways Detection.
 Head-on Detection
head on hall effect sensing

As its name implies, “head-on detection” requires that the magnetic field is perpendicular to the hall
effect sensing device and that for detection, it approaches the sensor straight on towards the active face.
A sort of “head-on” approach.

This head-on approach generates an output signal, VH which in the linear devices represents the
strength of the magnetic field, the magnetic flux density, as a function of distance away from the hall
effect sensor. The nearer and therefore the stronger the magnetic field, the greater the output voltage
and vice versa.

Linear devices can also differentiate between positive and negative magnetic fields. Non-linear devices
can be made to trigger the output “ON” at a pre-set air gap distance away from the magnet for indicat-
ing positional detection.

Positional Detector

This head-on positional detector will be “OFF” when there is no magnetic field present, (0 gauss).
When the permanent magnets south pole (positive gauss) is moved perpendicular towards the active
area of the Hall effect sensor the device turns “ON” and lights the LED. Once switched “ON” the Hall
effect sensor stays “ON”.

To turn the device and therefore the LED “OFF” the magnetic field must be reduced to below the
release point for unipolar sensors or exposed to a magnetic north pole (negative gauss) for bipolar
sensors. The LED can be replaced with a larger power transistor if the output of the Hall Effect Sensor
is required to switch larger current loads.
Linear Hall-Effect Sensor – Working and Application Circuit
Linear Hall-effect ICs are magnetic sensor devices designed to respond to magnetic fields to produce a
proportionate amount of electrical output.

Ratiometric Specified Functioning

Many standard linear Hall-effect ICs such as A3515/16 series from Allegro or DRV5055 from ti.com
are “ratiometric” by nature, wherein the devices quiescent output voltage and sensitivity vary in accor-
dance with the supply voltage and ambient temperature.

The quiescent voltage could be typically half the supply voltage. As an example if we consider the
supply voltage to the device to be 5V, in the absence of a magnetic field its quiescent output would
normally be 2.5V and would vary at a rate of 5mV per Gauss.

In case the supply voltage was to increase to 5.5V, the quiescent voltage would also correspond to
2.75V, with the sensitivity reaching the 5.5mV/gauss.
 ADITHY

Manual for

Hall Effect Sensor Trainer

( Sr. No:............................)
Specification:
1. One Bipolar type Hall effect sensor switch. MSH130 and One Unipolar type Hall effect sensor
MSH130NL.
2. One Linear output hall effect sensor. SS49E.
3. Build in power supply. 5v dc.
4. Build in Digital voltmeter to measure the output from hall effect sensor.
3.5 digit DPM to read displacement output voltage
Built in IC regulated power supply

Operating instructions

For hall effect sensor switch

1.Connect the output terminal from first hall effect sensor A3144 to digital voltmeter.
2. Place the magnet near the sensor on the scale marked and move the magnet near to the sensor by
south
pole or north pole.
3. Observe the output status by voltmeter. it must be hi or low , ie 5v or 0 v.
4. Now change the polarity of the magnet . and observe the output status.
5. This is latch type sensor, so it will latch at the output status even we remove the magnet and changes
status only when we change magnet polarity.
6. Now observe at what distance magnet from the sensor, the output changes state.
7. Repeat the above for top side and bottom side of the sensor.
For linear output hall effect sensor.
1. Connect the second hall effect sensor output to the voltmeter.
2. Note down the voltage output from the sensor.
3. Place the one pole of magnet near the bottom of the sensor away from a distance of 2 cm.and note
down
the readings . Move the magnet near to the sensor step by step in mm and note down the readings.
4. Change the polarity of the magnet and repeat the above procedure.
5. Take readings at the top side of the sensor also.
7. Note down the readings by Tabular column as;
SL.NO: Magnet distance
 HALL EFFECT SENSOR TRAINER
POWER

ADITHY DIGITAL DISPLAY

Volts ON

VOLTMETER
(-) (+)

LINEAR HALL SENSOR VOUT BIPOLAR HALL SENSOR VOUT UNIPOLAR HALL SENSOR VOUT
AH49E OR A3144 WSH130 WSH130NL

N S N S N S N S N S N S
GND GND GND

CM CM CM CM CM CM
3 2 1 0 1 2 3 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 3 2 1 0 1 2 3

Adithy Technologies, Chennai. Ph. No: 8870997144.

For Linear Hall Effect Sensor.

1. Connect the Output of the Linear Hall effect sensor to Digital Voltmeter.

2. Place the Magnet at one side of the sensor with South pole facing the sensor at distance of 30 mm.

3. Measure the output voltage and tabulate the reading with distance.

4. Now Move the magnet close to sensor say 25 mm and measure the output voltage.

5. Likewise Take reading for ditance od 20mm, 15 mm, 10 mm and 5 mm.

6. Tabulate all the readings with distance.

Now Change the pole of the magnet and follow the above procedure.

Likewise Place the magnet to other side of the sensor and follow the above procedure.

For Linear Hall effect sensor the output voltage will be half of the Vcc, Ie If Vcc is 5V, Then the normal
output voltage is 2.5V.

If we place south pole to one side then the output will increase from 2.5 to 4.8 V With magnet close to
sensor.

If we place magnet to other side then, the output will decrease from 2.5V to 1V with distance close to
sensor.

SOUTH POLE NORTH POLE SOUTH POLE NORTH POLE

sl. no: DISTANCE TO SENSOR TO SENSOR TO SENSOR TO SENSOR
FRONT SIDE FRONT SIDE BACK SIDE BACK SIDE
1. 30 mm .................................................................................................................

2. 25 mm .................................................................................................................

3. 20 mm .................................................................................................................

4. 15 mm .................................................................................................................

5. 10 mm .................................................................................................................

6. 5 mm ..................................................................................................................
For BIPOLAR Hall Effect Sensor.

1. Connect the Output of the Bipolar Hall effect sensor to Digital Voltmeter.

2. Place the Magnet at one side of the sensor with South pole facing the sensor at distance of 30 mm.

3. Measure the output voltage and tabulate the reading with distance.

4. Now Move the magnet close to sensor say 25 mm and measure the output voltage.

5. Likewise Take reading for ditance od 20mm, 15 mm, 10 mm and 5 mm.

6. Tabulate all the readings with distance.

Now Change the pole of the magnet and follow the above procedure.

Likewise Place the magnet to other side of the sensor and follow the above procedure.

For Bipolar Hall effect sensor the output voltage will be 0 V or 5V, ie ON or OFF.

It is Digital Hall effect sensor. And it response for both the pole of the magnet.

It will act as switch and as position sensor.

It will switch ON and OFF Postion for both the south and north pole of the magnet.

SOUTH POLE NORTH POLE SOUTH POLE NORTH POLE

sl. no: DISTANCE TO SENSOR TO SENSOR TO SENSOR TO SENSOR
FRONT SIDE FRONT SIDE BACK SIDE BACK SIDE
1. 30 mm .................................................................................................................

2. 25 mm .................................................................................................................

3. 20 mm .................................................................................................................

4. 15 mm .................................................................................................................

5. 10 mm .................................................................................................................

6. 5 mm ..................................................................................................................
For UNIPOLAR Hall Effect Sensor.

1. Connect the Output of the Unipolar Hall effect sensor to Digital Voltmeter.

2. Place the Magnet at one side of the sensor with South pole facing the sensor at distance of 30 mm.

3. Measure the output voltage and tabulate the reading with distance.

4. Now Move the magnet close to sensor say 25 mm and measure the output voltage.

5. Likewise Take reading for ditance od 20mm, 15 mm, 10 mm and 5 mm.

6. Tabulate all the readings with distance.

Now Change the pole of the magnet and follow the above procedure.

Likewise Place the magnet to other side of the sensor and follow the above procedure.

For Unipolar Hall effect sensor the output voltage will be 0 V or 5V, ie ON or OFF.

It is Digital Hall effect sensor. And it will response only for the South pole of the magnet.

It will act as switch and as position sensor.

It will switch ON and OFF Postion only for the south pole of the magnet.

SOUTH POLE NORTH POLE SOUTH POLE NORTH POLE

sl. no: DISTANCE TO SENSOR TO SENSOR TO SENSOR TO SENSOR
FRONT SIDE FRONT SIDE BACK SIDE BACK SIDE
1. 30 mm .................................................................................................................

2. 25 mm .................................................................................................................

3. 20 mm .................................................................................................................

4. 15 mm .................................................................................................................

5. 10 mm .................................................................................................................

6. 5 mm ..................................................................................................................