Intro to Bipolar Hall-Effect Switches

Bipolar switches do not have a symmetric response to fields.

What are bipolar switches?

Bipolar switches are similar to latches.  They activate with one pole and then deactivate with the opposite pole.   

Unlike a latch, the response to south and north pole is probably not symmetric.  A particular device might respond more to one pole than the other.

 

They are usually only of use when magnet poles are cycling!  The only guarantee with a bipolar switch is that it will switch on and off somewhere as north and south poles repeatedly pass by the bipolar switch.

Some bipolar switches might be mostly on during a cycle; other might be mostly off.


Possible Transition Regions of a Bipolar Switch with a Magnet Parallel to the Switch

A bipolar switch can be thought of as a latch with a very asymmetric response to north and south poles.  The transition regions for the two poles can be different in shape.

The best use of bipolar switches is when a series of north and south poles pass by the switch.  These types of "counting" applications are a common application for bipolar switches.  They are not well suited for position measurement.

 

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