Nine-Axis Sensing Enables Games and Augmented Reality

At the 2012 International CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas, Frank Melzer, CEO of Bosch Sensortec demonstrates 9-axis sensing using a combined accelerometer and eCompass magnetometer with the company’s newest 3×3-mm triaxial gyroscope, the BMG160. The 9-degree of freedom sensing combined with an imaging system and additional software enables augmented reality. In addition, Melzer explains the use of a MEMS pressure sensor in a smart phone.

To watch the video, click here.

For more information about Bosch Sensortec MEMS sensors here or

Gyroscope, click here.

To Your Health: 3-Axis Accelerometers and Gyroscopes Provide Feedback

At the 2012 International CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas, Eric Zorich, CEO of Diesel Dogs describes how a three-axis accelerometer and three-axis gyroscope are used to provide a set of Smart Weights. The software in the design allows users to properly exercise and obtain the maximum benefit from a workout. The concept placed as a top 3 finalist in “The 2011 Innovation World Cup” sponsored by the Bluetooth SIG. The MEMS sensors in the company’s demonstration prototype were supplied by Freescale Semiconductor.

To watch the video, click here.

For more information about Diesel Dogs’ Smart Weights, click here.

For more information about Freescale Semiconductor’s three axis accelerometers and three axis gyroscopes, click here.

Nine-Axis MEMS Motion Sensing

At the 2012 International CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas, David Borison of InvenSense demonstrates the capabilities of nine-axis motion sensing using the company’s newly introduced MPU-9150 nine-axis (gyro + accelerometer + compass) MEMS MotionTracking device. The multi-axis sensor incorporates MotionFusion and run-time firmware that simplifies motion sensing in end products. To further simply the design-in process, a development dongle is available.

To watch the video, click here.

For more information about InvenSense MPU-9150, click here.

Three-axis Gyroscope Offers Small Size and Low Power

At the 2012 International CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas, Juha Lahtinen of VTI Technologies demonstrates the capabilities of the company’s newest three-axis, low power (2.5 mA) gyroscope, the CMR3100, as well as sensor fusion capabilities. VTI’s Sensor Fusion is a 9-axis 6 DOF solution for Android devices.

To watch the video, click here.

For more information about VTI Technologies’ CMR3100, click here.

Smoke Detector IC Boasts Programmability

Ionization smoke detectors have been around for more than 25 years. Microchip Technology’s RE46C180 ionization smoke-detector IC shows that there is always room for improvement. In addition to being the first with horn synchronization and auto alarm locate, the IC has programmable calibration and programmable feature selection.

Programmable calibration reduces component counts and simplifies setting up smoke detectors during manufacturing. The programmable features allow one IC to be used for multiple smoke-detector models, including models with different battery types, horn patterns and other features. With these integrated features, companies can develop and manufacture a broad range of residential and commercial smoke detectors using a single IC and printed circuit board.

For more information about Microchip’s RE46C180 ionization smoke-detector IC, click here.

Silicon MEMS Gyro Takes on Fiber Optic Gyros

Mechanical gyroscopes use a top-like mechanism spinning at high speed to detect angular position and provide high precision but at a high price. In contrast, fiber optic gyros (FOG) have minimal moving parts and offer high precision as well with a medium to high-end pricing. Sensonor Technologies’ STIM210 gyro module targets both designs with low bias error over temperature, a bias instability of 0.5⁰/h and low noise of 10⁰/√h. Operating over a temperature range of -40 to +85⁰C, the MEMS-based gyro is insensitive to magnetic fields and has no intrinsic wear-out mechanisms.

For more information about Sensonor Technologies’ STIM210 MEMS gyro module, click here.

Smallest Sensor Week: Dual-Axis Gyroscopes Boast Smallest Packaging

With a 3 x 3 x 0.75-mm form factor, InvenSense Inc. lays claim to the world’s smallest dual-axis gyroscopes. Targeting optical image stabilization (OIS) in smartphones, the IDG-2020 is an x-y (roll and pitch) and the IXZ-2020 is an x-z (roll and yaw) dual-axis MEMS gyroscope.

Features in the gyroscopes designed specifically for OIS requirements include the ability to have a factory full-scale output of ±32 degrees per second (dps) for the highest sensitivity to detect the slightest hand jitter, high-performance 32kHz ADC sampling, a nominal drive frequency of 27kHz that makes the gyroscopes immune to interference from audible frequencies such as music or ambient noise, a high speed 20-MHz SPI serial interface, and more.

For more information about InvenSense IDG-2020 and IXZ-2020 dual-axis gyroscopes, click here.

Smallest Sensor Week: Smallest 3-Axis Digital Gyroscope

With microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology and semiconductor packages, sensor manufacturers compete to cram the most technology into the smallest package. This week, Sensor Tips will highlight products that the manufacturer says is the world’s smallest. Without performing the extensive research necessary to verify the claims, we’ll take their word for it. Users can take advantage of these products’ minute size and capabilities to add features and performance to portable electronic products.

The first smallest sensor is STMicroelectronics world’s smallest 3-axis digital gyroscope. Housed in a 3 x 3.5 x 1-mm land grid array (LGA) 16-pin package, the L3G3200D gyroscope provides a 16-bit data output on the interrupt and data-ready lines and it integrates low- and high-pass filters with user-selectable bandwidth. The gyro operates with any supply voltage within the range of 2.4 to 3.6V with selectable full-scale values of ±250/500/2000 dps.

For more information about STMicroelectronics L3G3200D 3-axis digital gyroscope, click here.

Paper and Carbon Nanotubes Combined to Detect Explosive Devices

Targeting the detection of explosives, such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), researchers at Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) have developed a prototype sensor that uses carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for the sensing element. The wireless component, a resonant lightweight antenna, is printed on paper or paper-like material using standard inkjet technology.  Researchers think the low-cost sensors could be deployed in large numbers to alert authorities to the presence of IEDs and other explosives.

The newest CNT sensor possesses significantly improved sensitivity to minute ammonia concentrations that should enable the first practical applications to detect trace amounts of hazardous gases in challenging operational environments using inkjet-printed devices.

For more information about GTRI’s prototype wireless sensor, click here.

MEMS Gyroscope Provides Tactical Grade Performance

Tactical grade gyroscopes typically use fiber optic technology (a fiber optic gyro or FOG) to produce a higher performance level than an industrial grade product. With its ADIS16136 tactical grade iSensor® digital MEMS gyroscope, Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) provides 3.5°/hr typical bias stability and ±450°/Sec angular precision. This tactical level performance comes in a matchbox-sized (35.6x44x13.8-mm) module weighing only 25 grams.

Consuming less than 1W, the gyroscope targets platform stabilization and control, navigation, robotics and medical instrumentation.

For more information about Analog Devices ADIS16136 digital MEMS gyroscope, click here.

Next Page »