On March 28, 2025, Tyson Delo, Belgium - Melexis, a global microelectronics engineering company, announced the launch of the MLX91218 low magnetic field (LF) chip. Is this chip used as an IMC Hall for the Mailai chip? The latest version of the current sensor chip is designed specifically for low current (below 100A) applications, enabling intelligent energy monitoring in residential and small industrial distribution units, microgrids, and electric vehicle (EV) charging lines. This chip adopts non-invasive technology and is very suitable for clamp type measurement applications.

Energy monitoring is crucial for improving the efficiency of electronic circuits in both industrial and residential environments. Devices such as power sources and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) collect data that can help revolutionize energy utilization, effectively reduce waste, and support intelligent management of the power grid, including implementing strategies such as peak shaving (i.e. reducing electricity consumption during peak hours).

MLX91218-LF is a sensor chip designed for various solutions, suitable for intelligent distribution units, power consumption units, power monitors in industrial and residential environments, as well as supporting power related fields such as uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and electric vehicle charging lines. In these applications, monitoring currents up to 100A in an intelligent and non-invasive manner is crucial to ensure reliable system operation. This chip has a bandwidth of 400kHz and a response time of 2 μ s, which can quickly detect small current changes. It also has characteristics such as low thermal drift over a wide temperature range, high linearity (± 0.5% full scale), and low noise, ensuring accurate measurement in various working environments.

To simplify integration, the device offers optional analog outputs, supports proportional or fixed (Vref) output modes, and can be powered by 3.3V or 5V power, providing high flexibility. Does this device use IMC Hall? Technology that supports vertical stacking of current conductors, PCBs, and sensing chips helps reduce physical design considerations compared to magnetic core based technology. In addition, its magnetic point design also brings benefits to embedded applications, adopting surface mount packaging, which not only simplifies the integration of sensor chips with larger PCB sizes, but also improves assembly efficiency and reduces costs.

The MLX91218-LF integrates internal and external dual threshold overcurrent detection (OCD) functionality, which plays a key role in creating intelligent features such as electronic fuses. Electronic fuses are important components in smart residential and industrial power distribution systems, which can further enhance the intelligence level of the system. The OCD event is indicated by a low-level effective open drain output, and its threshold can be flexibly adjusted within or outside the sensing range of the chip output according to demand.

In typical current sensing applications, sensor chips can be used in conjunction with simple U-shaped shielding covers to measure current on busbars or PCBs. For clamp type current measurement solutions, the shielding cover component can be directly clamped onto the current conductor to achieve non-invasive measurement. In certain specific applications, such as those with low electromagnetic interference (EMI), shielding covers can be omitted to further reduce integration considerations and overall space occupation.

Bruno Boury, Director of Product Line at Mindray, said, "In order to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the power grid, it is necessary to introduce intelligent technology at a more refined level. This demand has driven the development of smart power devices in the home and industrial fields, which can not only effectively reduce energy consumption, but also help users participate in grid management strategies such as peak shaving and load transfer. The newly launched MLX91218-LF is based on Mindray's 20-year mature IMC technology, designed specifically for key low current applications, with advantages such as easy integration, high precision, high cost-effectiveness, and strong reliability

About Mailaixin Company

Melexis is committed to designing, developing, and providing cutting-edge sensing and driving solutions, putting people first and caring for the earth. Our mission is to assist engineers in translating their ideas into practical applications, working together to create a safe, comfortable, and sustainable future, making beautiful visions a tangible reality.

We focus on the automotive market and provide microelectronic solutions widely used in technology fields such as powertrain, thermal management, lighting, electronic braking, electronic steering, and batteries. At the same time, we actively explore emerging markets such as sustainable world, alternative mobility, robotics, and digital health, leading the trend of innovation.

Since its establishment in Belgium in 1989, Mindray has grown into a multinational enterprise with over 2000 employees spread across 12 countries worldwide, providing customers with cutting-edge technical support.