New lens variant broadens Melexis MLX90394 magnetic sensor lineup

Edited by ad hoc news New Releases & Launches Desk. Reviewed before publication on 06/15/2026 at 8:17 PM ET. Details in the imprint.

Melexis has quietly widened its MLX90394 3D magnetic position sensor family with a new extra-wide transmission lens option, giving car and industrial engineers another way to shrink contactless position sensing into tight spaces. The latest MLX90394 variant keeps the same core Hall-based architecture but tweaks the optical path to measure magnets farther away or across wider gaps, easing mechanical tolerances for designers.

What the MLX90394 sensor does and what Melexis just added

The MLX90394 is a tiny monolithic sensor that measures magnetic field components in three dimensions and converts them into a digital signal that MCUs can use to infer linear or angular position. According to the official Melexis product brief, the chip integrates spinning-current Hall plates, on-chip signal conditioning and an I2C or SPI interface in a QFN package rated for automotive AEC-Q100 Grade 1 operation up to 125 °C, targeting pedals, valves, actuators and other under-the-hood or chassis functions. The official MLX90394 product page lists multiple lens options that shape the magnetic field sensitivity profile to fit different mechanical layouts.

In its latest update to the MLX90394 family, Melexis has introduced an “extra-wide transmission” lens option that effectively broadens the magnetic field acceptance region above the sensor without changing the basic QFN footprint. This change lets designers place the reference magnet farther away or tolerate larger axial and radial misalignment while still staying within the specified linearity window of the sensor, which is useful for applications like gear selector position sensing, brake pedal travel measurement and industrial valves where mechanical stacks vary from model to model.

While the sensing core still relies on Melexis’ Triaxis Hall technology with programmable gain, offset and filtering, the different lens options behave like tailored magnetic concentrators, shaping the field lines before they hit the Hall plates. The extra-wide transmission lens sacrifices some maximum field strength at very close distances but flattens the response over a larger air gap range, which can simplify calibration because production tolerances in magnet placement no longer translate into large linearity errors near the edges of the stroke.

Melexis positions the MLX90394 as a low-cost, compact alternative to multi-component sensor assemblies that previously combined discrete Hall ICs, amplifiers and external magnet concentrators. Industry coverage highlights that the family supports both single-die and dual-die variants for applications needing redundancy to meet ISO 26262 functional safety goals, while maintaining a small footprint suitable for compact actuators and compact pedal modules. A report from EE News Europe notes that Melexis tunes the lens and front-end electronics together to optimize performance for specific stroke lengths and mechanical stacks.

The wider lens option fits into Melexis’ broader push to offer application-optimized variants rather than one-size-fits-all ICs, recognizing that a steering torque sensor, a throttle position module and an industrial valve all have different stack heights and magnet geometries. For OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, being able to qualify a single base silicon platform like the MLX90394 and then swap lens options for different modules can shorten design cycles and reduce validation complexity, because EMC behavior, digital interfaces and diagnostics remain consistent across the family.

From a purchasing perspective, Melexis typically prices its position sensors in the low-single-digit dollar range in automotive volumes, though individual MLX90394 SKUs and lens options are usually negotiated directly with OEMs and are not listed with public MSRPs. Distribution partners in Europe and Asia list MLX90394 samples for engineering evaluation and low-volume production, and catalog distributors in North America carry selected variants for industrial and aftermarket customers, making the part accessible beyond the automotive Tier 1 ecosystem.

Strategically, the MLX90394 family sits in the heart of Melexis’ automotive sensing portfolio, which includes current, temperature and pressure sensors as well as a broad range of Triaxis magnetic devices for steering, motors and pedals. The company has repeatedly emphasized in investor presentations that magnetic position sensing remains a growth driver as vehicles adopt more electrified actuators and as x-by-wire systems spread into mid-range models, as each actuator typically needs at least one robust, contactless position sensor. A recent Melexis investor presentation highlights position sensors as a core revenue pillar alongside drivers for LEDs and motor control.

Melexis is headquartered in Belgium and generates much of its revenue from automotive semiconductor content sold to European, Asian and North American customers, with MLX90394-type products typically shipped directly to OEMs and module makers rather than through consumer retail channels. Shares of Melexis (BE0165385973) trade on Euronext Brussels; the stock last changed hands at about €82.90 on 06/15/2026, according to exchange data.

This article was a.i.-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without warranty; prices and availability may change at short notice. Not investment advice and not a buy or sell recommendation. Trading involves risk up to and including the total loss of invested capital.