HMC1021D
www.honeywell.com
3
PIN CONFIGURATION
(Arrow indicates direction of applied field that generates a positive output voltage after a SET pulse.)
BASIC DEVICE OPERATION
The Honeywell HMC1021D magneto-resistive sensor is composed of a Wheatstone bridge element to measure magnetic
fields for both field strength and direction. With power applied to the bridge, the sensor element converts any incident
magnetic field in the elements sensitive axis direction to a differential voltage output. In addition to the bridge element, the
sensor has two types of on-chip magnetically coupled straps; the offset strap and the set/reset strap. These straps are
Honeywell patented features for incident field adjustment and magnetic domain alignment; and eliminate the need for
external coils positioned around the sensors.
The magnetoresistive sensor is made of a nickel-iron (Permalloy) thin-film deposited on a silicon wafer and patterned as a
resistive strip element die. Using semiconductor processes, the wafer is diced and packaged in a custom ceramic DIP IC
package with a low magnetic lead frame. In the presence of a magnetic field, a change in the bridge resistive element
causes a corresponding change in voltage across the bridge output (OUT and OUT+ pins).
This resistive element is aligned to have a sensitive axis (indicated by the arrow on the pinout) that will provide positive
voltage change with magnetic fields increasing in the sensitive direction. Because the output only is in proportion to the
one-dimensional axis (the principle of anisotropy) and its magnitude, additional sensor bridges placed at orthogonal
directions permit accurate measurement of arbitrary field direction. The combination of sensor bridges in two or three
orthogonal axis configurations permit applications such as compassing and magnetometry.
The sensor offset strap allows for several modes of operation when a direct current is driven through it. These modes are:
1) Subtraction (bucking) of an unwanted external magnetic field, 2) null-ing of the bridge offset voltage, 3) Closed loop
field cancellation, and 4) Auto-calibration of bridge gain.
The set/reset strap can be pulsed with high currents for the following benefits: 1) Enable the sensor to perform high
sensitivity measurements, 2) Flip the polarity of the bridge output voltage, and 3) Periodically used to improve linearity,
lower cross-axis effects, and temperature effects.
Noise Characteristics
The noise density for the HMR1021D is around 50nV/sqrt Hz at the 1 Hz corner, and drops below 10nV/sqrt Hz at 20Hz
and begins to fit the Johnson Noise value at around 5nV/sqrt Hz beyond 100Hz. The 10Hz noise voltage averages around
0.58 micro-volts with a 0.16 micro-volts standard deviation. These values are provided with a 5-volt supply.
Offset Strap
The offset strap is a spiral of metallization that couples in the sensor elements sensitive axis. The offset strap measures
nominally 50 ohms, and requires about 4.6mA for each gauss of induced field. The strap will easily handle currents to
buck or boost fields through the ? gauss linear measurement range, but designers should note the extreme thermal
heating on the sensor die when doing so.
With most applications, the offset strap is not utilized and can be ignored. Designers can leave one or both strap
connections (Off- and Off+) open circuited, or ground one connection node. Do not tie positive and negative strap
connections together of the same strap to avoid shorted turn magnetic circuits.
OUT+   1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
VBRIDGE
GND
OUT-
S/R+
S/R-
OFFSET+
OFFSET-
DIE
OUT+   1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
VBRIDGE
GND
OUT-
S/R+
S/R-
OFFSET+
OFFSET-
DIE
DIE
DIE