MLX90393 Digital 3D Hall Effect Sensor – Triaxial Position, Angle & Rotation Detection

Description

The MLX90393 Digital 3D Hall Effect Sensor is a high-precision, micropower triaxial magnetometer built on Melexis’ patented Triaxis® technology. It measures the magnetic flux density along the X, Y, and Z axes simultaneously, providing 16-bit digital output for each axis plus an integrated temperature sensor . Unlike conventional magnetometers that saturate in strong fields, the MLX90393 is designed with a wide dynamic range (up to ±50 mT / ±500 Gauss), making it suitable for both Earth’s magnetic field sensing and proximity detection of nearby magnets .

At the heart of the module is the MLX90393 sensor IC, which uses Hall-effect sensing elements with Melexis’ proprietary Integrated Magnetic Concentrator (IMC) technology. The sensing elements are located at the center of the die, enabling accurate 3-axis measurement in a compact QFN 3×3mm package . The sensor is designed for micropower applications, with a programmable duty cycle from 0.1% to 100%, allowing you to trade off between current consumption, speed, and signal noise based on your system requirements .

The MLX90393 supports multiple operating modes — Single Measurement (SM), Burst Mode (SB), and Wake-up on Change (WOC) — which can be reconfigured at run-time . The Wake-up on Change mode is particularly useful for battery-powered applications: the sensor stays in a low-power state until the magnetic field changes beyond a programmable threshold, then triggers an interrupt to wake the host MCU .

Communication is handled through either I²C (fast mode) or SPI (3-wire or 4-wire), where the MLX90393 acts as a slave device . The I²C address is determined by 2 hardware pins (A0, A1) plus 5 software bits, allowing up to 4 sensors on the same bus with hardware addressing alone . The module includes an onboard non-volatile memory for storing calibration data .

The sensor offers a resolution of 0.161 µT and a fast sample rate of up to ~500 Hz, making it suitable for dynamic applications like joystick control, rotary knobs, and 3D position sensing . The operating voltage is 2.2V to 3.6V, with a typical current consumption of just 100 µA .

The MLX90393 is widely used in joystick and gimbal applications, rotary knobs and dials, linear actuator position sensing, magnetic impeller flow meters, door/closure detection, liquid level sensing, and non-contact HMI controls . It is also popular in robotics, automation, and educational STEM projects where precise magnetic field measurement is required.

Important Note: The MLX90393 is not a replacement for a standard compass for navigation purposes — it is designed for magnetic field sensing and relative position/orientation detection, not absolute heading. The module operates at 2.2V–3.6V (3.3V typical); the Adafruit breakout includes a 3.3V regulator and level shifter for 5V compatibility, but only SDA and SCL are level-shifted — other pins (INT, TRIG) require external level shifting on 5V systems . The sensor is not waterproof and should be kept dry. Avoid placing strong magnets near the sensor during calibration or operation, as this may saturate the sensing elements .

Whether you are building a contactless joystick, a magnetic position sensor, or a 3D motion tracking system, the MLX90393 Digital 3D Hall Effect Sensor provides a reliable, precise solution for triaxial magnetic field measurement. It is suitable for individual makers, engineers, and businesses purchasing in bulk for product development or industrial applications.

Features

• Triaxis® 3D magnetic sensing — Measures X, Y, and Z magnetic field components simultaneously

• 16-bit digital output — High-resolution measurement for each axis plus temperature

• Wide dynamic range — Up to ±50 mT (±500 Gauss), suitable for Earth’s field and magnet proximity

• Micropower design — 100 µA typical current consumption with programmable duty cycle (0.1%–100%)

• Multiple operating modes — Single Measurement, Burst Mode, and Wake-up on Change

• I²C and SPI interfaces — Flexible communication options with hardware and software addressing

• Multi-sensor capable — Up to 4 sensors on one I²C bus via hardware address pins

• Onboard non-volatile memory — Stores calibration data for consistent performance

• Compact QFN package — 3×3mm sensor IC with integrated IMC technology

• Wide application range — Joysticks, rotary knobs, position sensing, flow meters, HMI controls

Technical Specifications