Ams introduces a dual-wafer integrated circuit that meets the ISO26262 automotive safety standard

     Ams AG, a leading provider of high-performance sensor solutions, has announced a new family of magnetic position sensors with improved safety performance and diagnostic capabilities to help automotive Oems achieve the highest safety rating in ISO26262 ASIL. The AS5270A/B is ideal for automation applications such as brakes, gas pedals, throttle valves, flip cover plates, steering disc positions, chassis suspension height, exhaust gas recirculation valves (EGR), oil level measurement systems, and 2/4-wheel drive switching.

     The new AS5270A and AS5270B System-on-chip (SOC) are magnetic position sensors that rotate 0º to 360o in all directions, with non-contact high-resolution and absolute Angle measurement. The AS5270A/B was developed as a SEooC(Independent Safety Unit) device that meets the requirements of the ISO26262 functional safety standard.

     The AS5270A/B magnetic position sensor is capable of diagnosing the full data channel on the chip and testing the entire device, from the Hall sensor front end, to the DSP engine that converts raw measurements of the magnetic field strength into sine and cosine vectors, and finally to the back-end interface and pins.

     The AS5270A/B is composed of twin wafers and is AEC-Q100 Grade-0 compliant with MLF-16 surface mount package for highly reliable, redundant operation. Each wafer has a separate package pin, so when there is an electrical fault on one wafer, it avoids affecting another wafer circuit at the same time.the 14-bit (0.22o) resolution front-end core Hall sensor array inside the AS5270A/B enables true 12-bit output resolution. The high sensitivity of the Hall sensor front end enables it to be used with miniature, low-cost magnets and to support a wide field strength input range of 10-90mT.

     The AS5270A provides analog output, while the AS5270B can provide digital SENT(single-edge progressive transmission) and PWM(pulse-width modulation) output, which can be programmed by the customer. Both devices allow customers to program the defined Angle range, digital filtering, and output linearization. In addition, the AS5270B provides customized programming Settings for different SENT and PWM interface protocols. For both devices, single-wire programming can be achieved through the output pin, while the built-in charge pump circuit requires no high voltage for programming. Once a one-time programming (OTP) fuse is disconnected, the device cannot be inadvertently or maliciously reprogrammed, reducing vehicle safety risks.

     The AS5270A/B position sensor operates at 5 volts, and the power supply and output pins are protected at up to 20 volts of overvoltage. In addition, the power supply pin is also protected at a negative bias voltage of -20 volts.

     The AS5270A/B is not affected by stray magnetic fields, thus guaranteeing highly accurate and reproducible measurements even in the noisiest magnetic environments. This makes their performance very stable and reliable, while saving system costs because they do not require complex shielding like competing magnetic position sensor integrated circuits.

     Marcel Urban, Head of product Management and Marketing for position Sensors at AMS, said: "The introduction of the AS5270A/B demonstrates AMS 'long-term commitment to improving safety for automotive customers. "Ams' new magnetic position sensor features complete safety support to provide automotive Oems with more robust diagnostic and self-test capabilities than previous magnetic position sensors, helping them meet the highest safety standards of ISO26262."