ALPHA-MICRO A4231

a4231 general features
The a4231 is a proximity sensor integrated circuit to be used with a broad range of
inductive single-coiled proximity transducers in proximity detection applications
 Monolithic IC in bipolar technology
 User-adjustable sensing range by means of a single external resistor
 User-adjustable hysteresis (0…15%)
 5.5V…35V broad supply voltage range
 Low-voltage operation possible using stabilised 4.5V…5.5V voltage source
 Internal voltage regulator to improve immunity against fluctuations of supply
voltage
 Broad operating temperature range: -25°C...90°C
 Can work with a broad selection of inductive transducers
 NPN open collector output with guaranteed sink current of 150mA
 Output overload/over current protection
 Integrated power-on and detect LED drivers
 Normally open(NO)/normally closed(NC) select pin
 Broad range of operating frequencies: 100kHz…1MHz
 Output over current and short-circuit protection
 Easy temperature compensation of proximity transducers
 Package – QFN-24
example application schematic
min. 2.2uF/40V
electrolytic
RF
CF
100nF/6.3V
10%
Inductive
Transducer
Vcc
NO/NC
RF
NO/NC
220nF/6.3V
20% ceramic
CB
VCC
L1
L
P_LED
C RES
a4231
L2
D_LED
220nF/6.3V
20%
OutN
Rref
91kohm
GND
Rhyst, 5%
(optional)
GND1
RH
C DET
Cdet, 10%
(optional)
C OVL
Covl, 10%
100nF/6.3V
RSN
RS,N
1R6 5%
125mW
Typical application schematic of a proximity sensor/detector
OutN
electrical characteristics
DC Characteristics
The typical values are given for VCC =24V and Tj = 25°C unless otherwise specified.
#
Symbol
Parameter
1
IVCC,OFF
Supply current
2
IVCC,ON
3
VSAT,OUT
4
ILED
LED current
5
ILKG
Output leakage current
6
ITH,OVL
Conditions
Min
Typ
Max
Unit
Output inactive (off)
3.8
4.8
mA
Supply current
Output active (on)
8.5
12
mA
Output saturation voltage
IOUT=150mA
0.50
0.70
V
1.2
1.6
mA
<1
20
μA
190
220
mA
1.0
Overload threshold current*1)
158
*1) –overload threshold current is the level of the output current which triggers the overload
protection circuit.
AC and Timing Characteristics
The typical values are given for VCC =24V and Tj = 25°C unless otherwise specified.
# Symbol Parameter
Conditions
1
fOSC
Operating frequency
2
RN
Negative resistance
RN= –2·RF +/-3%
between pin L1 and ground
3
fMAX
Maximum switching
frequency*1)
4
HW
5
Defined by external LC
tank
Min
Typ
Max
Unit
0.1
1.0
MHz
-200
-2
kΩ
CDET=4.7pF, fOSC=600kHz
5
CDET=33pF fOSC=100kHz
2
kHz
Depends on RHYST
tR
Hysteresis width
Output rise time
Load=1kohm
<1.5
μs
6
tF
Output fall time*
Load=1kohm
<1
μs
7
TS,OVL
8
TSTARTUP Startup time*3)
10
CIN
2)
Sampling period in
overload mode
Input capacitance
Depends on COVL
Measured between Pin L1
and AC ground (Pin L2) for
fOSC=0.2…1MHz and |RN|
=2…100kohm
0
15
%
50
120
250
ms
50
120
250
ms
6
8.5
13
pF
*1) – these are maximum switching frequencies of the IC itself; switching frequencies of sensors may be
higher than those given above,
*2) – the fall time on leaving the start-up interval depends on the load used and can be as long as 10ms,
*3) – this is the maximum start-up time of the chip itself; this parameter does not reflect performance of a
sensor; during the start-up interval the output is inactive (OFF) regardless of the state of the NO/NC
pin.