Rotary encoder suits low-power, battery-operated applications

austriamicrosystems announces the AS5055 magnetic rotary encoder with automatic power-down and wake-up modes. Targeted for low-power battery operated applications such as robotics, the new encoder is also well suited for other position sensing applications requiring small size and high resolution. The AS5055 integrates four Hall sensor elements, a 12-bit angle encoder, a smart power management controller, and an easy-to-use 3 or 4-wire SPI communications interface.

Housed in a small 4 x 4 mm QFN package, the low-power encoder is the smallest device in its class, according to company sources. Depending on the readout rate, the current consumption is reduced to µA-levels, e.g. 50 µA average at 10 measurements per second.

Only a few passive components and a magnet rotating above the chip are necessary to assemble an encoder system. The AS5055 performs all angle calculations as well as automatic power-up and power-down on-chip. It only draws current when a new measurement is requested by the host controller. As soon as a measurement is completed, the AS5055 automatically powers down.

The AS5055 operates from a 3.3 V power supply and has an ambient operating temperature range of -20° to 85° C. A demonstration board for the new magnetic encoder is available.

For more information, contact austriamicrosystems USA Inc., 5201 Great America Parkway, Suite 320, Santa Clara, CA 95054. Phone: 408-345-1790.