Monolithic Power Systems Inc. MA736GGU-P

Overview

MA736GGU-P from Monolithic Power Systems is a contactless digital angle sensor that detects absolute angular position of a diametrically magnetized cylinder via integrated 2D Hall-effect sensing and proprietary SpinAxis™ phase-detection architecture. It delivers configurable 8-bit to 12.5-bit ±3σ resolution, 3 µs latency at constant rotation, and operates from -40°C to +125°C with 3.3 V supply. Used in servo motor feedback loops requiring real-time field-strength diagnostics and on-the-fly NVM configuration.

For engineers reviewing the MA736GGU-P datasheet, MA736GGU-P pinout, MA736GGU-P application, or MA736GGU-P equivalent, this page provides verified technical context, SPI interface timing constraints, magnetic mounting guidelines (end-of-shaft/side-shaft), resolution vs. filter time constant trade-offs, and NVM register persistence behavior - all critical for closed-loop motor control and automotive position sensing design validation.

Technical Context

The MA736GGU-P implements open-loop angle digitization using time-to-digital conversion of sinusoidal phase signals derived from integrated Hall devices - eliminating arctangent computation or interpolator-based feedback. Its front-end outputs raw angle data at 1 MHz before configurable digital filtering.

Digital filtering uses a second-order transfer function H(s) = 2(1+2τs)/(1+τs)², where τ is programmable (4 µs, 1 ms, or 4 ms), directly determining resolution (up to 12.5 bits), noise floor (as low as 0.01° RMS), and cutoff frequency (95 kHz down to 95 Hz). The sensor supports both SPI Mode 0 and Mode 3 with automatic detection and zero minimum clock rate.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

MA736GGU-P is housed in an ultra-small UTQFN-14 package (2 mm × 2 mm, 0.4 mm height) with wettable flanks and MSL Level 1 rating. Pin 1 is marked by a dot; top marking is "MVY LLLL".

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar contactless angle sensing applications.

Compared with AS5055A and TMAG5170, MA736GGU-P uniquely balances ultra-low latency (3 µs), on-chip NVM for field-robust calibration, and dual hardware diagnostics - making it optimal for automotive throttle, EPS, and high-speed servo applications where deterministic timing and self-contained reliability are mandatory.

Availability

MA736GGU-P is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive throttle position sensing, servo motor rotor feedback, robotic joint monitoring, and electric power steering systems requiring stable component supply across extended temperature ranges and long product lifecycles.

Supply support for MA736GGU-P includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Monolithic Power Systems (MPS) is a fabless semiconductor company specializing in high-performance power management and sensing solutions, with design centers in the US, China, and Taiwan.

The MagAlpha® family - including MA736GGU-P - is engineered specifically for contactless angular position sensing in harsh environments, emphasizing low latency, magnetic field resilience, and integrated diagnostics for automotive and industrial motion control.

FAQ

What is the minimum air gap supported between the MA736GGU-P and a diametrically magnetized cylinder magnet?

The recommended air gap is 1.5 mm for an N35 Ø5×3 mm magnet. Performance remains within specification down to 0.5 mm, but linearity degrades below 1.0 mm due to field distortion. Mechanical tolerance must stay within ±0.1 mm (10% of magnet radius) to maintain <1.1° INL accuracy across temperature.

Can the MA736GGU-P operate reliably in side-shaft (off-axis) mounting configurations?

Yes - the MA736GGU-P supports side-shaft mounting by compensating for non-linear field-angle mapping via SPI-configurable parameters. Its sensitive area is centered within 50 µm of the UTQFN package midpoint, enabling accurate angle recovery even when the magnet rotates eccentrically relative to the sensor.

How does the NVM endurance compare to typical EEPROM specifications?

The MA736GGU-P's NVM supports ≥100,000 write cycles and >10 years of data retention at +125°C. Unlike EEPROM, it uses charge-trap flash technology with wear leveling managed in firmware - no external refresh or erase cycles required before writing.

Is the 3 µs latency measured from magnetic field change or from SPI command initiation?

The 3 µs latency is the propagation delay from physical angle change to valid data in the output buffer - independent of SPI timing. It reflects the intrinsic front-end signal chain delay (Hall sensing → phase detection → TDC), not communication overhead.

Does the MA736GGU-P require external passive components for basic operation?

Only a single 1 µF X7R ceramic capacitor between VDD and GND, placed within 2 mm of the VDD pin, is mandatory. All pull-up/pull-down resistors are internal; no external termination or filtering is needed unless operating in high-EMI environments (then RC filters on SCLK/MOSI/MISO are recommended).

What happens to the IRQ pin when the angle change threshold is set to zero?

Setting the IRQ threshold to zero disables the interrupt - the pin remains low. Thresholds are configured via SPI register 10 (IRQ_THR[7:0]); valid range is 0.1° to 15.9° in 0.1° steps. Zero disables edge-triggered notification entirely.

How is the default zero-angle orientation defined mechanically?

By default, zero angle aligns with the positive X-axis of the sensor's coordinate system - defined as the direction from pin 1 (SCLK) toward pin 2 (MGL) on the top view. This orientation can be rotated in 0.1° increments via SPI register 1 (ZERO_OFFSET) to match mechanical assembly tolerances.