Digital home appliances

Digital still camera/mobile camera

The Hall sensor is utilized to implement various functions of the digital still camera.
Introducing the Hall sensor promotes downsizing of the components, and improves the water-proof performance and durability.

The Hall sensor is used as an essential component to implement the “shake compensation function” that has been popular recently. In the “optical shake compensation mechanism,” it detects a very small amount of shift in a CCD or lens in micron order and feeds back the position information to the system.
Using the Hall sensor allows to downsize the mechanism with the common use of the magnetic field circuit for the voice coil motor.
In addition, calculating the output signals from 2 sensors allocated on one axis can give the stable output independent of the environmental temperature.

>> Application Note > Close position sensing
>> Products > Hall element > Line-up > HG series

The camera functions of cellular phones have been increasingly advanced and introduction of the “AF function” and “optical zooming function” have already started. At the same time, downsizing of the lens unit for camera-equipped cellular phones (camera module for cellular phones) becomes essential. To implement the downsizing, the Hall sensor now commands public attention.
Asahi Kasei Microdevices has developed micro Hall sensors and worked hard on the implementation.
For the start/end position detecting strategy for the lens moving range, the optical sensors (photo interrupter or photo reflector) have been mainly used. However, by employing a magnetic Hall sensor with high dust and contamination proof, further downsizing of the unit and reliability improvement can be implemented. Moreover, the Hall sensor can detect lens positions continuously within the moving range.

>> Application Note > Close position sensing
>> Products > Hall element > Line-up > HG series
>> Products > Hall element > Line-up > HQ series

The Hall sensor can apply to the dial-type switch including the mode selector switch, and the slide switch operating the zooming mechanism.
For the dial-type switch, the rotation sensor (16-point switch) is the best selection. It removes the burden of replacing the relevant electric components when the number of switch contact points is changed.
For the sliding-type switch, using the analog signals that vary depending on the lever travel, the zooming speed and operation feel are to be integrated.

>> Application Note > Slide device
>> Products > Hall element > Line-up > HG series
>> Products > Hall element > Line-up > HQ series

Notebook computer

Recently, the notebook computer is required to have sufficient durability and impact resistance performance from the viewpoint of data protection, etc. Therefore, non-contact type sensors with high durability and reliability have been employed.
The Hall effect IC not only detects the open/close operation as a suspend switch, but also implements the “non-contact” position detection (for example, LCD swivel of a tablet PC) that the conventional physical switch cannot provide.

>> Application Note > Open/close switch
>> Products > Hall effect IC > Line-up > Switch

The Hall sensor is used in the small precision motor integrated into the CPU fan and DVD drive for controlling its rotation.

>> Products > Hall element > Line-up > HW series

Portable game machine and DVD video camera

The Hall effect IC is used in the suspend switch and LCD rotation position detecting switch.

>> Application Note > Open/close switch
>> Products > Hall effect IC > Line-up > Switch

Applications to every equipment in the IT mobile equipment and digital home appliance field are possible.

Other than described above, Asahi Kasei Microdevices can provide the following applications. Please additionally take the applications below into account.

Portable information equipment such as PDA, electronic dictionary, electronic book

Remote control equipment such as AV personal computer, large screen TV, DVD recorder
Input equipment such as digital camera, mobile music player

Small lens module, robot