Rotary encoder IC for contactless position sensing

Featuring automatic power-down and wake-up modes, the AS5050 encoder is targeted for low-power applications such as robotics and is also suited for servo-motor control and as an input device for low-cost battery-operated devices.

The single-chip AS5050 integrates four Hall sensor elements, a 10-bit angle encoder, a smart power-management controller and an easy-to-use three- or four-wire SPI communications interface.

Housed in a 4 x 4mm QFN-16 package, the low-power encoder is said to be the smallest device in its class.

Depending on the readout rate, the current consumption is reduced to uA levels.

For example, 50uA at 10 measurements per second is typical current drain.

Only a few passive components and a magnet rotating above the chip are necessary to assemble a contactless position-measurement encoder system.

The AS5050 magnetic rotary encoder performs all angle calculations on chip, features on-chip automatic wake-up and power-down, and only draws current when a new measurement is requested by the host controller.

The AS5050 automatically powers down as soon as a measurement is completed.

The AS5050 rotary encoder IC operates from a 3.3V power supply over an ambient operating temperature range of -40 to 85C.