Market's Slimmest Digital Accelerometer From STMicroelectronics Enables Advanced Motion Control in Clam-Shell Phones
Geneva, Switzerland (ots/PRNewswire)
- MEMS-based Sensor Packs World-class Performance, Smart Features, and Digital Output Into 1mm-high package
STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM), a leading supplier of MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) devices, today announced that it has expanded its portfolio of three-axis accelerometers with the thinnest digital-output sensor on the market. Embedding high performance and smart functionality in a 1-mm-high package, ST's LIS3LV02DL opens new possibilities for advanced motion-based applications in ever-more popular, thin-profiled clamshell mobile phones.
MEMS-based accelerometers have enabled the introduction of high-performance, cost-effective motion-based user interfaces in mobile applications, including gesture recognition, motion-activated scrolling, and navigation on the phone display. ST's new ultra-slim 3D sensor with digital output extends these advanced capabilities to the clamshell form factor, which is expected to account for 41% of the estimated 750 million handsets sold worldwide in 2006, and represent the majority of mobile phone sales by 2008.
The LIS3LV02DL is the newest member in ST's market-unique family of three-axis accelerometers with a standard SPI/I2C digital interface. The digital output streamlines communication with the baseband chip; it eliminates the need for a dedicated A/D converter on each input channel and enables the sensor to share interfaces with other devices, thereby saving further space in slim-form-factor systems.
ST's LIS3LV02DL embeds a host of smart features, including a free-fall and wake-up flag, adjustable bandwidth, and direction detection.
Adjustable bandwidth provides optimized performance for different frequencies. The bandwidth can be flexibly changed with a software command, allowing designers to effectively combine measurements of slow and fast motions, such as tilt and vibrations, in one application. When a threshold is crossed along any of the three axes, the embedded direction detection helps quickly understand in which direction the sensor is moving before any data calculations are made.
The new sensor can measure both tilt and acceleration along all three (x, y, z) axes at a very low noise level and minimized power consumption, which is especially critical in battery-operated portable systems, such as mobile phones. Other areas of application include PDAs, MP3 players, laptop PCs, and remote controls for consumer appliances.
Manufactured in ST's proprietary THELMA15 technology, the LIS3LV02DL provides both +/-2.0g and +/-6.0g full-scale acceleration ranges, which can be changed by software command even during operation. The device offers high temperature stability and tight offset tolerances and its robust design provides very high immunity to vibration and a shock resistance up to 10,000g.
Supplied in 16-pin LGA and QFN28 packages, the LIS3LV02DL is sampling now, with volume production starting in March 2006. Unit pricing is less than $4 in volume.
This press release is also available at
www.st.com/stonline/stappl/press/news/year2006/p1767.htm
.......with links to further information on the LIS3LV02DL.
About ST's MEMS Portfolio
ST's MEMS inertial sensors target a wide array of applications in computer peripherals, consumer, telecommunications, and automotive markets. ST accelerometers initiate the deployment of car alarm systems and detect excessive vibrations in electronic home appliances. ST's MEMS devices also open up new possibilities for intuitive man-machine interaction in gaming and mobile applications, enabling users to interact with the system by simply tilting the device in the desired direction. Market analysts predict that by 2010, there will be one accelerometer in each portable hard-disk-based device (laptops, audio/video players) and every mobile phone, representing a total amount of more than 1.2 billion units.
About STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today's convergence markets. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, on Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange. In 2005, the Company's net revenues were $8.88 billion and net earnings were $266 million. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.
For further information, please contact:
STMicroelectronics
MEDIA RELATIONS:
Mariagrazia Prestini
Sr. Director Corporate Communications
Tel: +41-22-929-5924
Mariagrazia.prestini@st.com
Burson-Marsteller
Sandrine Romano
Tel: +33-41-86-76-77
sandrine_romano@fr.bm.com
Burson-Marsteller
Guerric de Beauregard
Tel: +33-41-86-76-82
guerric_debeauregard@fr.bm.comContact:
STMicroelectronics, MEDIA RELATIONS: Mariagrazia Prestini, Sr.
Director Corporate Communications, Tel: +41-22-929-5924,
Mariagrazia.prestini@st.com; Burson-Marsteller, Sandrine Romano, Tel:
+33-41-86-76-77, sandrine_romano@fr.bm.com; Burson-Marsteller,
Guerric de Beauregard, Tel: +33-41-86-76-82,
guerric_debeauregard@fr.bm.com