Monolithic Power Systems Inc. MAQ473GQE-AEC1-P

Overview

MAQ473GQE-AEC1-P from Monolithic Power Systems is a 9-bit to 14-bit automotive-grade absolute angle sensor using SpinAxis™ phase-detection technology to measure angular position of diametrically magnetized rotors at speeds up to 60,000 rpm. It delivers ABZ quadrature (programmable 1–1024 PPT), 14-bit PWM, and SPI/SSI serial outputs, with on-chip NVM for zero-angle calibration and magnetic field diagnostics. Used in EPS motor position sensing and transmission gear angle feedback.

For engineers reviewing the MAQ473GQE-AEC1-P datasheet, MAQ473GQE-AEC1-P pinout, MAQ473GQE-AEC1-P application, or MAQ473GQE-AEC1-P equivalent, key selection criteria include AEC-Q100 Grade 1 qualification, -40°C to +150°C operation, programmable magnetic field thresholds (MGLT/MGHT), ABZ hysteresis (0.08–2.8°), and 0.7–1.16° INL across temperature and field range.

Technical Context

The MAQ473GQE-AEC1-P implements a contactless Hall-based angle measurement architecture using proprietary SpinAxis™ phase detection-directly digitizing magnetic field direction without arctangent computation or closed-loop interpolation. Its front-end generates a time-to-digital output at 1 MHz, fed into a configurable digital filter (τ = 64 µs or 16 ms) that determines effective resolution (9.0–14.5 bits) and noise floor (0.003–0.12° RMS).

Dual output paths are independently configurable: ABZ quadrature supports programmable pulses per turn (1–1024) and hysteresis tuning, while PWM provides fixed 840–1090 Hz frequency with 13–14-bit resolution. Magnetic field strength detection uses two user-programmable thresholds (MGLT/MGHT) with ±5 mT accuracy and 6 mT hysteresis, enabling axial movement sensing and magnet health diagnostics.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

MAQ473GQE-AEC1-P is housed in a wettable-flank QFN-16 (3 mm × 3 mm) package with exposed thermal pad (recommended unconnected). Pin functions are validated per MPS Rev. 1.1 datasheet and support dual-interface operation (SPI/SSI) and diagnostic flag outputs.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar absolute angle sensor applications.

Compared with AS5055A-DSOT and TLE5012B E1000, the MAQ473GQE-AEC1-P uniquely integrates ABZ generation, PWM output, and field-strength diagnostics in a single AEC-Q100 Grade 1 device-reducing BOM count and enabling predictive maintenance in EPS and transmission systems.

Availability

MAQ473GQE-AEC1-P is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for electric power steering (EPS), automatic transmission gear position sensing, and steer-by-wire actuator feedback requiring stable component supply, long-term automotive lifecycle support, and AEC-Q100-compliant traceability.

Supply support for MAQ473GQE-AEC1-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 motion sensing ICs, with design centers in the US, China, and Taiwan.

The MagAlpha® family-including MAQ473GQE-AEC1-P-is engineered specifically for automotive and industrial rotary position sensing, emphasizing contactless reliability, wide temperature operation, and integrated diagnostics for functional safety-critical systems.

FAQ

What is the maximum mechanical speed supported by the MAQ473GQE-AEC1-P?

The MAQ473GQE-AEC1-P supports mechanical speeds up to 60,000 rpm. This capability is enabled by its 1 MHz internal sampling rate and sub-10 µs propagation latency, ensuring accurate angle capture even at high rotational velocities typical in EV traction motors and turbocharger shafts.

How does the SpinAxis™ technology differ from traditional Hall-based angle sensors?

SpinAxis™ uses phase detection of sinusoidal Hall signals instead of arctangent computation or interpolator-based methods. This eliminates loop instability and computational latency, delivering deterministic 8–10 µs latency and enabling true open-loop 1 MHz sampling-critical for high-bandwidth motor control.

Can the MAQ473GQE-AEC1-P operate in side-shaft (off-axis) configurations?

Yes. The MAQ473GQE-AEC1-P supports side-shaft mounting using bias current trimming (BCT, ETX, ETY registers) and programmable zero-angle offset to linearize non-ideal field geometry. Factory default settings assume end-of-shaft use, but full side-shaft calibration is supported via SPI.

What is the purpose of the MGL and MGH pins, and how are their thresholds set?

MGL and MGH are open-drain digital flags indicating whether sensed magnetic field strength falls below MGLT or exceeds MGHT thresholds. Thresholds are set via 3-bit registers (0x06), with ±5 mT accuracy and 6 mT hysteresis-enabling diagnostics such as magnet detachment or axial drift detection.

Is the exposed thermal pad on the QFN-16 package required to be soldered?

No. The exposed pad is recommended to remain unconnected (floating). While grounding improves thermal and electrical performance marginally, MPS specifies it is not required for functional operation or thermal compliance within rated conditions.

Does the MAQ473GQE-AEC1-P support both SPI and SSI simultaneously?

No. SPI and SSI share physical pins (SSD/MISO, SSCK/SCLK) and operate in mutually exclusive modes. SPI supports full register access and angle readout; SSI supports angle readout only. Mode selection is hardware-determined by which interface clock is driven first after power-up.

What is the guaranteed write endurance of the on-chip NVM?

The on-chip non-volatile memory is rated for 1,000 write cycles at 25°C. Each write requires a mandatory 20 ms delay for NVM programming; failure to observe this results in register corruption. Read operations have no endurance limit and do not affect NVM lifetime.