10/18/2020 The Hall Effect

Characteristics and application

Jen Jn. Pierre

VIEUX FORT COMPREHENSIVE SECONDARY SCHOOL
What is The Hall Effect?
The Hall Effect is the production of a voltage difference across an electrical conductor,
transverse to an electric current in the conductor and to an applied magnetic field perpendicular
to the current. It was discovered by Edwin Hall in 1879.

It was observed that when an electric current flows through a conductor in the presence of a
magnetic field, the charge carriers are pushed to one side as a result of the transverse force
applied by the field. This, in turn, causes a buildup of charge on the sides of the conductor that
will balance the magnetic influence. A measurable voltage is produced between the two sides of
the conductor.

Note that the

direction of
the current I
in the
diagram is that of conventional current, so that the motion of electrons is in the opposite
direction.

Hall Voltage, VH

In a magnetic field with a flux density B, the charge carriers with charge Q drifting with velocity
v through a conductor experience a deflection force expressed as BQv. The deflection of the
charge carriers are perpendicular to their flow. The accumulation of charges can be seen in the
diagram above. The opposite charges create an electric field E, which opposes further deflection
by the magnetic field.

Therefore, QE= BQv

 E=VH/d where VH is the Hall voltage and d is the thickness of the conductor perpendicular
to the field.
 Thus, QVH/d= BQv
 So, VH/d=Bvd
 Since vd= I/nQA, substituting in the equation,
 VH= Bld/nQA, A/d is the thickness t of the conductor in the direction of the field, thus
 VH=Bl/nQt
Charge Carriers in the Hall Effect

The Hall Effect is a conduction phenomenon which is different for different charge carriers. In
common electrical applications, conventional current is used since the movement of positive or
negative charge does not make a difference. However, the Hall voltage will have a different
polarity for the negative and positive charge carriers. This has been used to study the conduction
in semiconductors and other materials with a combination of negative and positive charge
carriers.

The average drift velocity of the charge carriers can be found by moving the Hall probe at
different speeds until the Hall voltage disappears, indicating that the charge carriers are not
moving with respect to the magnetic field.

Drift velocity of charge carriers: vd= I/nQA where n= free electron density (8.5 x 1028), v= drift
velocity, A= cross-sectional area and I= current.
Hall Probe
The Hall probe is a magnetic field sensor that passes electrical current when the sensor is
perpendicular to a magnetic field. The stronger the B-Field, the more current it passes.
Applications of the Hall Effect
The Hall Effect is demonstrated in our everyday life. Its applications include:

Used to detected movement – A Hall Effect probe is used in Go-Kart controls, smart
phones, paintball guns, or airsoft guns, as well as some GPS systems.
Using magnetic flux leakage – In order to properly inspect items such as pipes or tubes,
Hall Effect probes work with something called magnetic flux leakage. This is a way of
testing such items, and being able to spot potential corrosion, erosion, or pitting. This is
specifically used in steel items, and can give important information about lifespan or
safety.
Split-ring clamp-on sensors – These types of Hall Effect probes are used to test
equipment without having to take the whole circuit board apart, e.g. complex items.
Sensors to detect rotation speed – A Hall Effect probe can be used to in bicycle wheels,
speedometers in the automotive world, electronic types of ignition systems, and gear
teeth.
Hall Effect Sensors

Magnetic sensors are intended to respond to a wide range of positive and negative magnetic
fields in a variety of different applications. A magnet sensor with an output signal that is a
function of magnetic field density is called the Hall Effect Sensor.

They are devices that are stimulated by an external magnetic field. A magnetic field has two
components: flux density and polarity. The output signal from a Hall effect sensor is the function
of magnetic field density around the device. When the magnetic flux density around the sensor
surpasses a certain pre-set threshold, the sensor detects it and produces an output voltage called
the Hall Voltage, VH.
Hall Effect Sensors:

 Consist basically of a thin piece of rectangular p-type semiconductor material such as

gallium arsenide (GaAs), indium antimonide (InSb) or indium arsenide (InAs) with a
continuous current flowing through it. When the device is in the presence of a magnetic
field, the magnetic flux lines exercise a force on the semiconductor material which
deflects the charge carriers, electrons and holes, to either side of the semiconductor slab.
This movement of charge carriers is a result of the magnetic force they experience
passing through the semiconductor material.
 As these electrons and holes move sideways, a potential difference is produced between
the two sides of the semiconductor material by the build-up of these charge carriers. Then
the movement of electrons through the semiconductor material is affected by the presence
of an external magnetic field which is at right angles to it and this effect is greater in a
flat rectangular shaped material.
 To generate a potential difference across the device the magnetic flux lines must be
perpendicular to the flow of current and be of the correct polarity, generally a south pole.
 The Hall Effect distinguishes the type of magnetic pole and magnitude of the magnetic
field. Generally, Hall Effect sensors and switches are designed to be in the “OFF”, (open
circuit condition) when there is no magnetic field present. They only turn “ON”, (closed
circuit condition) when subjected to a magnetic field of sufficient strength and polarity.
Linear and Digital Outputs

o The output signal for linear (analogue) sensors is taken directly from the output of the
operational amplifier with the output voltage being directly proportional to the magnetic
field passing through the Hall sensor.
o Linear sensors give a continuous voltage output that increases with a strong magnetic
field and decreases with a weak magnetic field. In linear output, Hall Effect sensors, as
the strength of the magnetic field increases the output signal from the amplifier will also
increase until it begins to saturate by the limits set by the power supply. Any additional
increase in the magnetic field will increase saturation.
o Digital output sensors however have a Schmitt-trigger with built in hysteresis connected
to the op-amp. When the magnetic flux passing through the Hall sensor surpasses a pre-
set value, the output from the device switches quickly between its “OFF” state to an
“ON” state without any type of contact bounce. The built-in hysteresis eradicates any
oscillation that would occur in the output signal as the sensor moves in and out of the
magnetic field. Digital output sensors have two states, “ON” and “OFF”.
o There are two basic types of digital Hall Effect sensors, Bipolar and Unipolar. Bipolar
sensors require a positive and negative magnetic field (south pole) to operate and release
them respectively. Unipolar sensors require only a single magnetic south pole to both
operate and release them as they move in and out of the magnetic field.
o Most devices can not directly switch large electrical loads as their output drive
capabilities are very small around 10 to 20mA. For large current loads an open-collector
(current sinking) NPN Transistor is added to the output.
o This transistor operates in its saturated region as a NPN sink switch which shorts the
output terminal to ground whenever the applied flux density is higher than that of the
“ON” pre-set point.
o The output switching transistor can be either an open emitter transistor, open collector
transistor configuration or both providing a push-pull output type configuration that can
sink enough current to directly drive many loads, including relays, motors, LEDs, and
lamps.
Bibliography
Alec, F., & David, G. (2015). Physics for CAPE Examinations. London: Macmillian Publishers Limited.

Nave, R. (n.d.). HyperPhysics. Retrieved from HyperPhysics Web site: http://hyperphysics.phy-

astr.gsu.edu/hbase/magnetic/Hall.html#c2

Nave, R. (n.d.). HyperPhysics. Retrieved from HyperPhysics Web site: http://hyperphysics.phy-

astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/miccur.html#c4

The Hall Effect And It’s Many Applications. (n.d.). Retrieved from Hiem Precision:
https://hiem.com/resources/applications-of-hall-effect/

Unknown. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.phys.ufl.edu/demo/5_ElectricityMagnetism/M_SemiconductorsandTubes/HallPro
be.html

Unknown. (n.d.). Hall Effect Sensor. Retrieved from ElectronicsTutorials: https://www.electronics-

tutorials.ws/electromagnetism/hall-effect.html