STMicroelectronics' high-performance motion sensors
16 April 2008
STMicroelectronics has added two new accelerometers to its ultra-compact portfolio of devices in 4 x 4 x 1.5mm LGA packages.
The supplier of MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) devices found in gaming and mobile multimedia applications has launched the accelerometers with full-scale range selectable between ±2g, or ±6g for super-small applications where high performance is required.
The LIS244ALH two-axis accelerometer and LIS344ALH for three-axis applications operate at low power with high performance and high resolution in low-voltage and battery-operated systems. The devices’ analogue outputs provide direct measurements to external circuitry and allow designers to optimise external filtering and analogue/digital conversion. Output circuitry is factory calibrated for sensitivity and zero-g level, saving further recalibration when built into the end product. The devices also include an embedded self-test function that verifies both the MEMS sensor and the embedded electrical interface chip are working correctly, according to guaranteed specifications.
Both devices provide a low-footprint, low-profile solution to motion-detection challenges in space-constrained applications. These applications include mobile phones, portable media players, digital still or video cameras, and personal navigation devices, enabling features including freefall detection, smart user interfaces, and intelligent motion-based power management that could put the application in sleep mode depending upon its orientation on a surface. Additional applications could include interactive gaming terminals, anti-theft systems, sports equipment, and health-monitoring devices. The wide operating temperature, combined with shock survivability up to 10,000g, ensures robust performance when operated in a variety of consumer and ISM environments.
The 16-pin LGA package uses ST’s Ecopack RoHS-compliant lead-free technology. Now in high-volume production, components are delivered in trays or tape and reel from $1.60 for the LIS344ALH and $1.30 for the LIS244ALH in high volumes.
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