MEMS and sensors

What does a sensor using the Hall effect (Hall element) mainly detect?

  1. ATemperature
  2. BMagnetic field
  3. CHumidity
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Answer: B. Magnetic field

When a magnetic field is applied perpendicular to a semiconductor carrying current, the carriers are deflected by the Lorentz force, and a voltage (Hall voltage) appears perpendicular to both the current and the field. A Hall element detects the magnetic field from this voltage and is used for sensing motor rotor position and in current sensors.

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