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pkorada@magnelab.com
Hall Effect Current Sensors
Magnelab
I. Introduction
The Hall effect can be explained by the Lorentz force Fig 2: Hall effect in a thin semiconductor bar with
principle. When a charge moves in a direction (a) negative and (b) positive charges
perpendicular to an applied magnetic field, it experiences a
force defined by the Lorentz Law. The direction of this III. Operation of Hall Current Sensor
force is perpendicular to the direction of propagation of
the charge and that of the external magnetic field. A Hall Current Sensor utilizes the principle of the Hall
effect to detect the current levels. These sensors monitor
For an n – type semiconductor as shown in Fig. 2.a, the the gauss level created by a flow of current; they do not
majority of the charge carriers are electrons. The current measure the actual current flow. The current being
flows across the semiconductor in the positive x direction, measured (through the primary conductor) is passed
with the external magnetic field in the positive z direction. through a flux-collecting core (which is generally a slotted
The electrons under the influence of the Lorentz force toroid) that concentrates the magnetic field on the Hall
drift away from the current line towards the negative y-axis, element. The Hall element is a piece of semiconductor
which results in the build up of excess charge. This gives material, which produces the Hall voltage proportional to
rise to an internal electric field, which opposes the Lorentz the current flow. The Hall voltage is a low level signal, so
force. The electric field is measured as the Hall Voltage. generally a low noise high gain amplifier is used to regulate
The force on holes/positive charges as shown in Fig 2.b is the output of the Hall element. The Hall Element along
towards the same side because of their opposite velocities with the evaluation and regulation circuitry is generally
and positive charges. fabricated into a single IC (Integrated Circuit).
1
The output of the sensor is linearly proportional to the core. The current through the secondary coil is driven
current in the primary conductor. Fig. 3 shows an example through a resistor to measure a voltage that is proportional
of the output waveform of these sensors. These sensors are to the input current Ip.
ratiometric; where the output voltage of the sensor is half
that of the supply voltage, when the current in the primary
conductor is zero. This voltage is called the Quiescent
voltage (Vq). When the current flows in the positive Is
direction then the output voltage is greater than Vq, when
the current flow reverses, the output voltage is leass than
Vq. Saturation occurs when the current exceeds the rating
of the sensor.
Output Voltage Ip
Vo
2
V. Results
2.5
2
1.5
Output Voltage (V)
1
0.5
0
-0.5
-1
-1.5
-2
-2.5
-140 -120 -100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
VI. References