Freescale intros advanced airbag sensors for improved vehicle safety

MEMS Executive Congress, MONTEREY, USA: Freescale Semiconductor is offering a family of automotive acceleration sensors designed to expedite development of advanced airbag systems that help save lives and protect against injuries caused by vehicle collisions.

Freescale’s new Xtrinsic MMA65xxKW family of accelerometers employs intelligent sensing technologies designed for front and side crash detection that can be easily and efficiently integrated into vehicle airbag systems.

The MMA65xxKW family is based on high-aspect-ratio micro-electromechanical systems (HARMEMS) technology. The family offers better resolution (precision) and a wider dynamic range than competing solutions on the market today, resulting in higher performance capabilities. Featuring a robust, streamlined in-vehicle communication system, the MMA65xxKW family has sophisticated crash detection capabilities that enable fast and dependable deployment of the total passive safety system when collisions are unavoidable.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that airbags saved more than 25,780 lives between 1987 and 2008. As airbags become more advanced and driver and passenger safety is improved, automotive suppliers face expectations to continue improving performance while decreasing cost.

“Freescale’s latest family of accelerometers contributes to the automotive industry’s goal to reach zero automotive-related fatalities by providing the performance capabilities necessary to streamline airbag detection and deployment,” said Seyed Paransun, VP and GM of Freescale’s sensor & actuator solutions division. “The new family of sensors delivers a simplified approach for the airbag system that supplies a higher sensor resolution without necessary programming by automotive manufacturers – resulting in greater design efficiency and lower associated costs.”