Magnetics Business & Technology - July/August 2022 - 24

PRODUCT NEWS
Shin-Etsu Chemical Develops New Materials
for Wearable Devices
endure long hours of wearing.
Located in Eindhoven, Holst Centre is an independent R&D center
operated by imec and TNO focused on wireless technologies
and printable electronics.
For more info, see www.shinetsu.co.jp and www.holstcentre.
com.
New Giant Magnetoresistance Sensors for
HEVs from Allegro
Developers of wearable and attachable medical devices will likely
be intrigued with innovative electrophysiological dry electrodes
and high-elasticity wiring materials which have recently come out
of the labs of Shin-Etsu Chemicals in Japan.
Designed for wearable devices that enable remote measurement
and transmission of a person's electrical bio signals, including
such vital signs as heart rate and electrocardiogram waveform,
they can help bring about wellness pursuits as well as earlier
diagnosis and management of chronic diseases. While these
are based on the company's silicone research and development,
Shin-Etsu also has ongoing research focused on its extensive
portfolio of magnetic materials and products.
As the awareness of the need for better health management and
the necessity for home medical treatments are rising, the opportunities
to measure a person's electrical bio signals by means
of advanced wearable devices are increasing. When people wear
smart health patches directly on their skin for more than 24 hours
while the device is obtaining bio signal data, the experience can
become uncomfortable. When the measurement period takes
a long time, perhaps extending to one week, it is possible that
the process of obtaining of the bio signal data could become
unstable.
Electrophysiological dry electrodes based on the new silicone
material, however, have a better wearing feel by adapting to the
skin and making it very unlikely for the skin to become irritated.
About as thin as a human hair, it becomes soft and flexible to
the extent that you do not feel that you are wearing the device.
By optimizing the silicone's adhesiveness, the electrophysiological
dry electrodes will allow the device to track and follow
the movement of the wearer and realize the acquiring of stable
electrocardiogram signals. Because of the silicone's original
water repellent property, while wearing the device, taking a bath
is made possible, which was not possible when using an existing
gel-type electrode.
Depicted in the image above is a health patch developed by
Holst Centre Co. in the Netherlands that uses the electrophysiological
dry electrodes can acquire stable bio signal data for a
week, even when a person is continuously wearing the device.
The patch also employs a new highly stretchable material for
wiring developed by Shin-Etsu to transmit the acquired bio signal
data to the signal processing device. Even after repeated stretchability
testing, it maintained conductivity, providing the ability to
24 Magnetics Business & Technology * July/August 2022
Allegro MicroSystems has introduced two new giant magnetoresistance
sensors designed to control crankshafts and camshafts
in hybrid electric vehicles. They feature a large air gap for simplified
design-in, and an assembly that optimizes the IC-to-magnet
positioning for enhanced accuracy.
" They're unique to the market and outperform competing technologies
due to their high air gaps and level of accuracy, " says
Peter Wells, speed and sensor Interface business line director.
" The industry is transitioning to xEVs quickly, and the ATS16951
(crankshaft) and ATS16351 (camshaft) both offer a level of
precision that will help give automakers the increases in motor
efficiency they're targeting. "
With an air gap that's 50% larger than existing options, the camshaft
sensor improves both design-in flexibility and stray field immunity,
says Allego. It can be placed virtually anywhere, which is
increasingly important as some hybrid engines now include four
camshaft sensors. Tight spaces often combine with high current
transients, so engine designers need camshaft sensors that work
seamlessly through the resulting stray fields.
A three-pin single inline package houses the IC, magnet and
EMC protection components, enhancing flexible design-in and
system compensation. The precision assembly optimizes IC-tomagnet
positioning, as reduced tolerance stack between the IC
and magnet increases sensor accuracy and leaves ample margin
for in-application installation tolerance.
While the trend toward full electrification continues to accelerate,
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Magnetics Business & Technology - July/August 2022

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