The Hall Effect Sensor

Rene Dupuis

Background Information
The Hall effect was discovered by Edwin Hall in
1879; electron was not experimentally
discovered; had to wait until quantum
mechanics came
Development of semiconductor compounds
in 1950's led to first useful Hall effect magnetic
instrument
In the 1960's, first combinations of Hall
elements and integrated amplifiers

Resulted to classic digital output Hall switch

In 1965, first low-cost solid state sensor

Theory of the Hall Effect

Hall effect principle, no
magnetic field

Hall effect principle,

magnetic field present

Potential Difference
(voltage) across output:
V=I*B

Basic Hall Effect Sensor

Hall element is the basic
magnetic field sensor

Differential Amplifier
amplifies the potential
difference (Hall voltage)

Regulator holds current

value so that the output of the
sensor only reflects the
intensity of the magnetic field

Types
Unipolar
Latching
Bipolar

Magnetic Parameters
BOP Operate point

A positive magnetic
field > BOP will switch
the sensor on (output
low).

BRP Release point

Removal of the
magnetic field < BRP
will switch the sensor
off (output high).

Bhys Hysteresis

Unipolar
Requires single polarity
magnetic field for operation
Positive magnetic field
(South pole)
Directed towards branded
face of the sensor for
activation
True-Power-On State

<BOP or >BRP

Latching
Require both positive
and negative magnetic
fields
Symmetrical Duty Cycle
operation
Guaranteed power-up
state

>BOP or <BRP

Bipolar
Unipolar Mode

Involves either Unipolar or

Latching characteristics
Same principle
Latching Mode

Sensor switch operation

Power-up states

Hall Effect Sensor Example

Application: Response to South or

North Polarity
Motor-Tachometer application
where each rotation of the
motor shaft is to be detected
When ring magnet rotates w/
motor, South Pole passes the
sensing face of the Hall sensor
after each revolution.
Sensor

Actuated when the South Pole

approaches sensor
Deactuated when South Pole
moves away from sensor

Single digital pulse produced

for each revolution.

Application: Gear Tooth Sensing

Sense movement of
ferrous metal targets
(magnetically biased)

Sensor

detects change
in flux level
Translates it into a
change in the sensor
output (high to low)

Benefits
Small and rugged non-contact sensors
Insensitive to oil, dirt, humidity and dust
High magnetic sensitivity
Accurate and Reliable

Delivers low
Power consumption
Supply voltage capability
Average current consumption

Prices and Sources

Range from $1-$60

Allied Electronics
Allegromicro
Digi-Key

Sensor

Optical
Incremental
Encoders
Interrupters

Indicate
s
Directio
n
Yes

Output

Digital
(Quadrature)

No

Digital

Rotational Notes
or Linear

Both
Rotational

Senses light
with light beam
interrupt

(Single Pulse)
Photoreflective
sensors

Uses light and

optics to sense
motion

No

Digital
(Single Pulse)

Linear

Generates
pulse whenever
sensor receives
reflected light

Laser
Interferometer

Yes

Digital
(Quadrature)

Linear

Laser supply
linear
displacement of
an object

Triangulation
Sensors

Yes

Analog

Linear

Laser supply
non-contact
linear
displacement of
an object

Digital

Rotational

Hall-Effect

QUESTIONS?