Four Reasons to Replace a Reed Switch with an MR Sensor in Battery Powered Appliances

摘要

Design engineers have used reed switches in low-power, battery-operated applications for four key reasons. The mechanical reed switch offers "zero" power consumption, high sensitivity, and low cost. In addition, there has not been a suitable alternative technology. These advantages are not entirely true anymore thanks to new magnetoresistive (MR) sensing IC options that can provide position sensing with virtually no power consumption, high sensitivity, and high reliability and durability, while housed in a small package.