Angular Position Sensing with the Infineon TLE5501E0002XUMA1 GMR Sensor

The precise and reliable measurement of angular position is a cornerstone of modern automotive, industrial, and consumer applications, from electronic power steering and throttle control to robotics. The Infineon TLE5501E0002XUMA1 represents a significant advancement in this field, leveraging Giant Magneto-Resistance (GMR) technology to deliver exceptional performance in a compact, integrated package.

Unlike traditional sensors based on Hall or anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) effects, the TLE5501 utilizes GMR technology. This principle relies on the quantum mechanical effect where the electrical resistance of a thin-film multilayer structure changes significantly in the presence of an external magnetic field. This inherent characteristic gives the sensor a highly sensitive and stable response to magnetic field direction, which is directly correlated to the angular position of a rotating diametrically magnetized magnet.

The TLE5501 is engineered for ease of use and system integration. It is a pre-calibrated 360° angle sensor that provides two analog output signals: sine and cosine of the angle. This raw differential output format offers maximum flexibility, allowing the system's microcontroller to perform arctangent calculation (atan2) to determine the absolute angle with high resolution. Key features that make it stand out include:

Integrated Signal Conditioning: The chip includes on-chip signal processing, eliminating the need for external amplification circuits.

High Accuracy and Robustness: It offers outstanding accuracy across a wide temperature range (-40 °C to 150 °C), making it ideal for harsh automotive environments. Its design is robust against external stray fields and mechanical misalignment.

Safety-Relevant Applications: With its high diagnostic capabilities and functional safety concepts, it is suitable for safety-critical systems like steering and braking.

Small Form Factor: The tiny and leadless TSSOP16 package allows for space-constrained designs.

A typical application involves placing a simple two-pole magnet on the end of a rotating shaft. The TLE5501 sensor is positioned either in the center (end-of-shaft) or off to the side (side-shaft) of this magnet. As the magnet rotates, the direction of its magnetic field changes. The GMR elements inside the sensor detect this change and convert it into precise sine and cosine voltage waveforms. An external ADC in a microcontroller then digitizes these signals, and the angle value is computed via a CORDIC algorithm or a lookup table.

ICGOO FIND: The Infineon TLE5501E0002XUMA1 is a premier solution for non-contact angular sensing, combining the high sensitivity of GMR technology with full integration to create a robust, accurate, and versatile sensor. It simplifies design-in processes while meeting the stringent demands of automotive and industrial applications, marking a significant step forward in magnetic position sensing.

Keywords: GMR Sensor, Angular Position Sensing, Non-Contact Measurement, Functional Safety, Analog Output