Today’s advancements in Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) sensor technology can mean new levels of performance and reliability in specific applications. An example is STMicroelectronics newest 3-axis digital gyroscope that provides high sensing resolution with high immunity to audio noise and vibrations. Housed in a 4x4x1 mm package, the L3GD20 is immune to both mechanical vibrations coupled through the printed circuit board and to audio noise, such as from speakers mounted close to the sensor that can easily occur in consumer and portable applications.
With user-programmable full-scale ranges from ±250 dps up to ±2000 dps, the low full-scale values provide high accuracy of slow-motion sensing and the high range can detect and measure very fast gestures and movements. The gyro has a 16-bit data output with additional embedded digital features, including configurable low- and high-pass filters. Operating over supply voltage range of 2.4 to 3.6V, the sensor includes power-down and sleep modes as well as an embedded FIFO (first-in first-out) memory block for smarter power management.
With these added capabilities, the new gyroscope is pin-to-pin adaptable and software-compatible with the current-generation L3G4200D gyroscope.
For more information about STMicroelectronics L3G420 three-axis digital-output gyroscope, click here.
