Monolithic Power Systems Inc. MAQ850GQE-AEC1-Z

Overview

MAQ850GQE-AEC1-Z from Monolithic Power Systems is an AEC-Q100 Grade 1 automotive magnetic angle encoder delivering 8-bit absolute angular position via PWM output, with configurable push/pull button detection using dual magnetic field thresholds (MGH/MGL), 3.3V supply, and operation up to 125°C - deployed in rotary knob HMI controls for infotainment and climate systems.

For engineers reviewing the MAQ850GQE-AEC1-Z datasheet, MAQ850GQE-AEC1-Z pinout, MAQ850GQE-AEC1-Z application, or MAQ850GQE-AEC1-Z equivalent, key selection criteria include PWM frequency stability (42–56 kHz), INL accuracy (1.1 deg over full temp range), SPI-configurable zero angle and rotation direction, and QFN-16 package compatibility with end-of-shaft magnet mounting.

Technical Context

The MAQ850 employs SpinAxis™ phase-detection architecture-digitizing magnetic field direction directly without arctangent computation or feedback loops-enabling open-loop 1 MHz front-end sampling and sub-4 ms latency at 850–1100 kHz refresh rate. Its time-to-digital converter outputs raw angle data processed through a configurable 90 Hz digital filter (τ = 0.38 / f_CUTOFF) that adds no steady-state latency.

Two independent magnetic field thresholds (MGHT/MGLT) are stored in on-chip NVM and mapped to pins 16 (MGH) and 11 (MGL), supporting mechanical push-button emulation via air-gap-dependent field strength changes; threshold hysteresis is fixed at 6 mT with -600 ppm/°C temperature drift.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

MAQ850GQE-AEC1-Z is housed in a thermally enhanced QFN-16 (3 mm × 3 mm, 0.5 mm pitch) package with exposed thermal pad recommended to be connected to GND. Pin 1 is marked by laser top-side CALY LLLL code; pins 1, 2, 3, 6, 14, and 15 are internally disconnected (N/C) and must remain unconnected.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar magnetic angle encoder applications.

Compared with AS5600-DSO and TMAG5170AHQ, MAQ850GQE-AEC1-Z uniquely integrates PWM output, dual magnetic flags, AEC-Q100 Grade 1 qualification, and on-chip NVM in a QFN-16 package-reducing BOM count and validation effort for automotive HMI designs requiring drop-in potentiometer replacement.

Availability

MAQ850GQE-AEC1-Z is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for automotive human-machine interfaces, white goods control panels, and industrial manual actuators requiring stable component supply, long-lifecycle support, and AEC-Q100-compliant sourcing.

Supply support for MAQ850GQE-AEC1-Z 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 MAQ850-is engineered specifically for contactless angular position sensing in automotive and industrial HMIs, emphasizing robustness, configurability, and seamless integration into existing MCU-based control systems.

FAQ

What is the maximum rotational speed supported by MAQ850GQE-AEC1-Z?

The MAQ850GQE-AEC1-Z is specified for slow-speed human-interface applications up to 200 rpm. Its 850–1100 kHz internal refresh rate and 4 ms latency ensure accurate position capture at these speeds; exceeding 200 rpm may cause aliasing or missed transitions due to mechanical inertia and signal processing limits.

How is the zero-angle position configured and stored?

The zero-angle offset is set via 16-bit register pair (0x00 and 0x01), representing complementary angle Z(15:0). Writing to these registers stores the value in on-chip NVM; it persists across power cycles and automatically reloads at startup. Configuration requires SPI write with 20 ms NVM programming delay.

Can MAQ850GQE-AEC1-Z operate without connecting the exposed thermal pad?

Yes, the device functions without exposed pad connection, but MPS strongly recommends soldering it to a GND plane. This improves thermal dissipation (θ_JA = 50°C/W vs. θ_JC = 12°C/W), enhances electrical noise immunity, and increases mechanical reliability-critical for automotive under-hood or dashboard deployments.

What magnet configuration is recommended for optimal linearity?

A diametrically magnetized NdFeB cylinder (N35 grade, Ø5 mm × 3 mm) mounted on an aluminum shaft with 1.5 mm air gap delivers best-in-class linearity (<0.7° INL at 25°C). Magnet centering precision must be ≤0.5 mm relative to the sensor's sensitive area (centered within 50 µm of QFN package midpoint).

Does the PWM output require external filtering for MCU capture?

No-MCUs with timer input-capture peripherals can directly measure t_ON and t_OFF to compute angle using Equation (6). However, for analog potentiometer replacement, a low-pass RC filter (e.g., 10 kΩ + 10 nF) converts PWM to ratiometric 0.33–3.0 V output, though this introduces ~100 µs settling delay near 0°/360° transitions.

How are the MGH and MGL flags used in push-button detection?

MGH (pin 16) asserts high when field exceeds MGHT; MGL (pin 11) asserts high when field falls below MGLT. By setting MGHT to 110 mT and MGLT to 41 mT, pressing a knob moves the magnet closer (triggering MGH) then farther (triggering MGL), enabling distinct push/pull event discrimination without mechanical switches.

Is SPI communication required to use the PWM output?

No-PWM operates autonomously after power-up with factory-default settings (clockwise rotation, zero offset = 0°, MGHT/MGLT = 70/41 mT). SPI is optional and used only for customization: zero-angle calibration, rotation direction reversal, or magnetic threshold tuning for specific magnet geometries.