ST's newest 3-axis accelerometer: Stingy with power, spendthrift with features

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND: STMicroelectronics has extended its motion-sensor portfolio with a 3-axis digital-output accelerometer that combines a drastically reduced power consumption – more than 90% lower than available solutions on the market - with miniature footprint and enhanced functionality.

With operating current consumption as low as 2 microamps, the 3x3x1 mm accelerometer is a perfect fit for motion-sensing features and applications in space- and power-constrained consumer devices, such as mobile phones, remotes and game controllers.

The sensor provides extremely accurate output across full-scale ranges of + or - 2g/+
or - 4g/+ or - 8g/+ or - 16g, boasting excellent stability over time and temperature.
The LIS3DH accelerometer contains a temperature sensor and three analog-to-digital converter channels for easy integration with companion chips, such as gyroscopes.

It embeds a host of enhanced features, including click and double-click recognition, 4D/6D orientation detection, and the power-saving sleep-to-wake-up mode. In this mode, the device keeps the read chain active and wakes up when an event occurs, automatically increasing the output data rate.

Other important features include a programmable FIFO (first-in first-out) memory block and two programmable interrupt signals that enable immediate notification of motion detection, click/double-click events, and other conditions.

The latest addition in ST's MEMS portfolio, the LIS3DH has been designed and produced using the same manufacturing-process technology that ST has already successfully applied to more than 700 million motion sensors sold in the market.

The device is pin-to-pin and software-compatible with all ST accelerometers in the LIS331 family, so customers can easily 'hot swap' and protect their investment in application development.

Volume production is scheduled for early Q3 2010 and the unit price is $0.85 in quantities of 100,000 units.