When new products are introduced, manufacturers like to identify other potential applications beyond the one used to drive product development. Mounting an accelerometer on an arrow tip to provide ballistic measurements to evaluate bows probably was not on any accelerometer manufacturer’s list. However, that is what Full Flight Technology does to improve high-performance archery. Using […]
Accelerometer
Smallest Sensor Week: Dual-Axis Digital Accelerometer Boasts Smallest Packaging
The second of this week’s small sensors is the world’s smallest and most robust digital accelerometer from MEMSIC Inc. Using patented MEMS thermal technology manufactured with a standard 0.18 µm CMOS process and advanced wafer- level packaging (WLP), the MXC6226XC two-axis digital accelerometer fits within a 1.2. x 1.7 x 1.0 mm package. Per the company’s […]
Vibration Energy Harvester Powers Train Sensors
Trains provide a sustainable source of vibration energy to power sensors, at least while they are moving. Testing has shown that the vibration spectra generated by train wheels was sufficient to allow Perpetuum’s energy harvester to generate 10s of mW of electrical energy – a level sufficient to power sensors to monitor the condition of […]
Sense Acceleration with a 2 x 2-mm Package
Sensing acceleration in a space-constrained end product may result in the tradeoff of another feature if the accelerometer takes too much space. To avoid the conflict, STMicroelectronics introduced three-axis accelerometers in 2×2 mm packages. The tiny sensors have a quite a few features of their own. With full-scale ranges of ±2g/±4g/±8g/±16g, the LIS2DH and LIS2DM […]
Miniature Triaxial Accelerometer in 6.3-mm Cube
Measuring acceleration or vibration in small spaces poses problems for applications such as small component qualification, structural vibration and environmental stress screening. PCB Piezotronics, Inc., new miniature Integrated Circuit – Piezoelectric or ICP triaxial accelerometer addresses these space-constrained applications. With a 6.3 mm (0.25-in) cube form factor, the Model 356A03 delivers 10 mV/g sensitivity. Other […]
Electric Field-Based Sensor Detects Movement
Applications in security, switching and gaming have a new option for detecting movements with Plessey Semiconductors newest Electric Potential Integrated Circuit (EPIC) sensors. The company’s initial product addressed ECG products for the health monitoring markets. In contrast, the PS25401 was engineered for higher volume applications and can be used in both proximity mode or to […]
MEMS IMU Delivers 10-Degree-of-Freedom Capability
Today, there are several sources for six degrees of freedom (DoF) sensors. However, when 6DoF is not enough, the newest solution from Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) may be the answer. The ADIS16488 is a 10-DoF sensor that integrates a tri-axis gyroscope, tri-axis accelerometer, tri-axis magnetometer and a pressure sensor into a single package. Based on […]
Applying MEMS Inertial Technology to Reduce Injuries
Analyzing athletes’ reaction to the extreme physical requirements of their sport leads to improved performance and avoids injuries. For competitive rowing, Roessingh Research & Development (RRD), a Netherlands research center, uses the Xsens MVN system developed by Xsens Technologies B.V. for its kinematics analysis. The Xsens MVN system is a motion capture solution that consists […]
Small Vibration Monitor Delivers Exceptional Low-noise Performance
A vibration monitor can prevent a myriad of problems – if it can fit within the monitored system’s space constraints and has the right performance. For noise sensitive applications with limited space, Analog Devices’ ADIS16228 iSensor vibration monitor could be that solution. An embedded programmable processor in the MEMS-based vibration analysis system provides directional sensing […]
Sensing Three Axes of Linear and Angular Motion in a 20-mm Footprint
There seems to be an insatiable demand to sense motion in the latest portable electronic products. For those with limited space, STMicroelectronics LSM330DL Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) sensor could satisfy their requirements. In its 4 x 5 x 1mm plastic land grid array (LGA) package, the 6 degrees-of-freedom (6DoF) inertial MEMS module is almost twice as […]
