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.

Battery Sensor IC Boasts New Features

Vehicle electrification efforts such as start/stop systems put addition strain on the battery. To keep the battery in optimal condition, system designers need to measure and monitor the battery’s state of health (SOH), state of charge (SOC) or state of function (SOF). ZMD AG’s ZSSC1856 Intelligent Battery Sensor IC performs these functions and more.

The IC has an 18-bit Sigma/Delta analog to digital converter (ADC) with an on-chip voltage reference and two input channels. One channel measures the voltage drop at the external shunt resistor to provide IBAT. The second channel measures VBAT and the temperature. Packaged in a 5x5x0.85-mm QFN32 package, the AECQ100-qualified ZSSC1856 uses less than 100 µA in sleep mode and consumes 10 to 20 mA in normal operation.

For more information about ZMDI’s ZSSC1856 Intelligent Battery Sensor IC, click here.

Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Sensors for Continuous Submerged Water Applications

Wastewater treatment processes that use aerobic bacteria to break down organic compounds in sewage and aquaculture operations require measuring dissolved oxygen (DO) to maintain effect ecosystems. For these and other applications that need to measure DO, Sensorex developed its DO6400 and DO6441 Process Dissolved Oxygen Sensors.

Both sensors use galvanic cell technology and a large volume electrolyte reservoir for long term continuous deployments and have a replaceable membrane. The membrane is available in either Teflon for durability or wide-span HDPE membrane for faster response.

The Model DO6441T Sensor offers a factory-calibrated 4-20 mA output for direct PLC interface. For applications with an external transmitter and a local display, the DO6400 Series is compatible with the Sensorex DO500 and DOMA 4-20 ma loop powered transmitters. The transmitter display can be programmed to read percent saturation, mg/mL or ppm DO.

For more information about Sensorex DO6400 and DO6441 Process Dissolved Oxygen Sensors, click here.

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