Toshiba Offers Digital Output Magnetic Sensor Lineup With North, South or Both Pole Detection for On-Off Switches

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc., (TAEC)* has announced a lineup of magnetic sensors for use in applications such as on-off switches in mobile phones, notebook PCs, home appliances, and other products with open-close mechanisms that use on-off, hibernate or other system-based signals determined by the distance or angle of the sensor to a magnet. Three series of sensors, TCS20, TCS11 and TCS10, developed by Toshiba Corp. (Toshiba), detect magnetic flux from north or south magnetic poles, or both. Combined, the three series include 13 devices with a choice of three levels of magnetic flux sensitivity, magnetic pole detection and push-pull, open-drain or inverted open-drain digital output, and three types of packages.

Four sensors in the TCS20 Series provide two different levels of magnetic flux density and two different packages which meet different application requirements and feature both north- and south-pole detection. The TCS20DPR and TCS20DPC provide push-pull digital output, while the TCS20DLR and TCS20DLC feature an open-drain output system. TCS20xxR devices feature high magnetic flux sensitivity of 4.4mT (max.) for the BON detection level and 0.9mT (min.) for the BOFF release level. They are offered in three-pin SOT-23F packages measuring 2.4mm x 2.9mm x 0.8mm. TCS20xxC devices feature an ultra thin package with high magnetic flux sensitivity of 3.8mT (max.) for the BON detection level and 0.3mT (min.) for the BOFF release level. They are offered in six-pin CST6C packages measuring 1.5mm x 1.15mm x 0.38mm. The sensors utilize a very low average power consumption current of 12.8 microamperes (ave.), with an operating voltage of 3.3V. They can operate over a wide operating voltage range from 2.3 to 3.6V.

Nine additional sensors in the TCS11 and TCS10 Series are available for applications that can utilize different levels of magnetic flux.  They feature magnetic flux sensitivity of 2.5mT (max.) for the BON detection level and 0.3mT (min.) for the BOFF release level, with a low average power consumption current of 8.5 microamperes (typ.) and an operating voltage of range from 2.3 to 3.6V.  The TCS11 and TCS10 Series are offered in five-pin UFV packages, which measure 2.0mm x 2.1mm x 0.7mm.

The Toshiba TCS11 Series includes three devices with inverted output, open-drain.  The TCS11SLU detects south polarity, the TCS11NLU detects north polarity and the TCS11DLU detects both poles.

The TCS10 Series includes three sensors with push-pull output and three with open-drain output.

In the push-pull output group, the TCS10SPU detects south polarity, the TCS10NPU detects north polarity and the TCS10DPU detects both poles.  Of those with open-drain digital output, the TCS10SLU detects south polarity, the TCS10NLU detects north polarity and the TCS10DLU detects both poles.

"This lineup provides solutions for a diverse range of consumer electronics magnetic switch requirements with a selection of north, south or both polarities, magnetic field strength and digital output types," said Talayeh Saderi, business development engineer, RF and small signal devices, for TAEC.

Availability

Samples of the entire lineup of digital output magnetic sensors from Toshiba are available now, with pricing starting at $0.12.  Volume discounts are available.

Toshiba's Discrete Products

Since 1986, Toshiba Corp. has ranked as the top discrete supplier on a worldwide basis, based on annual revenue from international shipments of total discrete products.  According to the most recent annual report from market research firm Gartner Dataquest (San Jose, CA), Toshiba remained the top discrete semiconductor supplier.  (Source: "2009 Worldwide Semiconductor Market Share Report," Gartner, released April 2010).  More specifically, Toshiba is a leading supplier in a number of discrete product categories, including power transistors, rectifiers and thyristors, LMOS logic, CMOS logic, photocouplers, Toslinks™, LEDs, small signal diodes and transistors.  The company's discrete devices are designed to meet the growing demand for high-performance and lower voltages in today's wireless telecommunications and consumer electronics applications, while emphasizing its strength in the automotive and industrial markets.

*About Toshiba Corp. and TAEC

Through proven commitment, lasting relationships and advanced, reliable electronic components, Toshiba enables its customers to create market-leading designs.  Toshiba is the heartbeat within product breakthroughs from OEMs, ODMs, CMs, distributors and fabless chip companies worldwide.  A committed electronic components leader, Toshiba designs and manufactures high-quality flash memory-based storage solutions, discrete devices, displays, advanced materials, medical tubes, custom SoCs/ASICs, digital multimedia and imaging products, microcontrollers and wireless components that make possible today's leading cell phones, MP3 players, cameras, medical devices, automotive electronics and more.

Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, Japan's largest semiconductor manufacturer and the world's third largest semiconductor manufacturer (Gartner, 2009 WW Semiconductor Revenue, April 2010).  Toshiba was founded in 1875, and today operates a global network of more than 740 companies, with 204,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing $68 billion.

For additional company and product information, please visit http://www.toshiba.com/taec/.

Information in this press release, including product pricing and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current and believed to be accurate on the date of the announcement, but is subject to change without prior notice.  Technical and application information contained here is subject to the most recent applicable Toshiba product specifications.  In developing designs, please ensure that Toshiba products are used within specified operating ranges as set forth in the most recent Toshiba product specifications and the information set forth in Toshiba's "Handling Guide for Semiconductor Devices," or "Toshiba Semiconductor Reliability Handbook." This information is available at www.chips.toshiba.com, or from your TAEC representative.

Editor’s Note:  Images available for download from: http://www.toshiba.com/taec/news/press_releases/2010/lgss_10_603.jsp

SOURCE Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc.