Alps Electric Co Ltd announced that the company has completed the development of the HGD series of its highly reliable switching output type magnetic sensors, which will detect the opening and closing of the covers of mobile phones, notebook PCs, PDAs and other devices. The HGD series uses a magnetic sensor, which detects the opening and closing of folding mechanisms, doors and lids. These magnetic elements can sense over a wider area with higher reliability as compared to other magnetic elements. Additionally, the magnetic field sensing is available in three variations: 1) Single polarity/single output: One-way only magnetic field sensing 2) Dual polarity/single output: Two-way magnetic field sensing in either direction, output through one signal type 3) Dual polarity/dual output: Bi-polar magnetic field sensing in either direction, each with its own output signal The HGD series comes in two types, one is the industry’s smallest mold allay package (MAP) type, on which terminals are positioned on the reverse of the component, second is the small outline non-leaded (SON) type, on which terminals are extended from the side of the component for easier mounting.