Murata has introduced two ultra-low-power AMR magnetic sensors, the MRMS166R and MRMS168R, for switching functions in battery-powered electronics. Both devices are designed around one of the biggest challenges in compact, always-on systems, keeping standby current as low as possible.
These sensors use anisotropic magnetoresistance to detect the presence of a magnetic field and trigger simple system actions. In practical terms, they sit close to a magnet and feed a clean signal into the control logic, often to wake a microcontroller or place a device back into sleep mode.
The MRMS166R is tuned for very low-voltage operation. It works down to 1.2 V and draws just 20 nA on average, which makes it a strong fit for silver oxide coin-cell designs where power budget is tight. Murata has optimized the internal circuitry to keep performance stable at these lower voltages while minimizing current consumption, helping extend battery life in products that are difficult to replace or recharge.
The MRMS168R takes a slightly different approach. It operates from 2.0 V to 3.6 V and draws around 80 nA on average, while offering up to 12 mA output current. That gives designers more flexibility when they need to drive higher-load inputs or interface directly with other stages.
Both parts are aimed at replacing mechanical switches in applications where sealed construction, long life, and reliability matter more than switching speed. With no moving contacts, there is no bounce or wear, which makes them a good fit for medical patches, capsule devices, wearables, IoT nodes, door sensors, and smart locks.
The package is also very compact at 1.0 x 1.0 x 0.4 mm, making it easier to fit into tight layouts. The MRMS166R supports a 1.2 V to 3.6 V supply range and offers up to 1 mA output, while the MRMS168R extends output capability for more demanding use cases.
In battery-powered designs, these sensors make a strong case for themselves not through speed or complexity, but through efficiency. When a system spends most of its life idle, saving even a few nanoamps can make a real difference over the product’s lifetime.
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