CIE Components in Electronics
STMicroelectronics has launched a new family of always-on 6-axis inertial motion sensors with what it claims is the industry’s lowest power requirements. With ultra-compact packaging and improved design flexibility the family features a 6-axis inertial motion-sensing device that can run all sensor-related functions as well as customer-specific application software onboard while consuming up to 40% less power than existing solutions.
These new 6-axis sensors deliver motion sensing that can detect orientation and gestures to empower application developers and consumers with features and capabilities more sophisticated than simply orienting their devices for portrait and landscape mode. Taking 360-degree panoramic photos simply by slowly rotating your mobile phone or scrolling through maps with a sweep of your arm are just two of a number of new techniques that will be enabled by this new family of sensors.
Combining state-of-the-art motion sensing with the powerful ‘brains’ of an ARM Cortex microprocessor core, the LSM6DB0 6-axis smart sensor is the latest device in ST’s iNEMOTM smart-sensor family. Currently it is the only device on the market that can efficiently run all of the sensor-related features specified in Android KitKat 4.4 on board and thanks to the open microprocessor architecture, device manufacturers can integrate their own custom sensor application software.
“If you go for a long run, you need your portable device to accurately track the whole route, without running out of power midway. These sensors help avoid such mishaps by significantly reducing power consumption,” said Benedetto Vigna, Executive Vice President and General Manager Analog, MEMS & Sensors Group, STMicroelectronics. “Our new iNEMO product is the market’s ‘brainiest’ 6-axis motion-sensing device that can run all sensor-related software on-chip within previously unattainable power budgets. As a family, these new sensors offer greater convenience and value while showcasing ST’s emphasis on delivering outstanding innovation and quality and benefiting from our experience in shipping hundreds of millions of inertial measurement units (IMUs).”
ST’s new 6-axis inertial motion sensors are sampling now, with volume production scheduled for first half of 2014.
