Magnetic gear tooth sensor IC optimized for traction motor apps

Allegro MicroSystems announced the launch of the ATS17501, the industry’s first gear tooth sensor IC designed to provide incremental position for electric vehicle traction motors operating up to 30k RPM.

The device addresses engineers’ most pressing traction motor challenges—including vibration at startup and running mode, high rotational speed, mechanical space constraints, high operating temperatures, and ISO 26262 safety requirements.

Market-leading features include:

High speed switching up to 40kHz (30k RPM operation)

Advanced algorithms to suppress undesired output pulses at startup and running mode

Patented integrated magnet package reduces design complexity and enables smaller motors

Operating temperature up to 160°C

ASIL-B compliance (pending assessment)

Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly prevalent as original equipment manufacturers OEMs are required to comply with air quality, fuel efficiency, and vehicle safety standards. With the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle market forecasted to explode within the next few years, the use of traction motors to address these requirements presents new challenges to engineers designing electric motor control systems. The ATS17501 is at the forefront of addressing these challenges.

The ATS17501 provides high speed switching up to 40 kHz—the highest in the industry. The device directly measures rotating ferrous gears up to 30k RPM and provides an incremental encoded output with speed and direction information on a dual-channel interface.

The ATS17501 incorporates the most advanced digital signal processing for vibration robustness and is built on Allegro’s SolidSpeed Digital Architecture to provide electric motor commutation information. The ATS17501 also offers highly adaptive performance that performs through environmental and mechanical shifts and perturbations.

The over-molded 4-pin SIP SG package fully integrates a magnet to optimize performance over air gap and temperature. This integrated package provides the highest levels of reliability and predictability required for space-constrained traction motor applications.

Using a certified ISO 26262:2011 safety design process, the ATS17501 incorporates real-time diagnostics to achieve an ASIL-B(D) rating as a safety element out of context (pending assessment).

The ATS17501 broadens the company’s leadership in electric motor speed sensors, alongside the ATS605 back-biased SG package.