Hall effect sensing introduction app note from Honeywell.
The Hall effect has been known for over one hundred years, but has only been put to noticeable use in the last three decades. The first practical application (outside of laboratory experiments) was in the 1950s as a microwave power sensor. With the mass production of semiconductors, it became feasible to use the Hall effect in high volume products. MICROSWITCH Sensing and Control revolutionized the keyboard industry in 1968 by introducing the first solid state keyboard using the Hall effect. For the first time, a Hall effect sensing element and its associated electronics were combined in a single integrated circuit. Today, Hall effect devices are included in many products, ranging from computers to sewing machines, automobiles to aircraft, and machine tools to medical equipment.