January 29, 2013, Seoul – STMicroelectronics (ST), a global semiconductor company in various electronic device applications and the world's number one MEMS manufacturer[1], has unveiled a new sensor product. The new product is the LIS331EB iNEMO-A, a micro smart sensor that combines an embedded microcontroller and a 3-axis accelerometer in a tiny 3x3x1mm LGA package, enabling customized advanced motion recognition capabilities.

In other words, it was named iNEMO-A by combining a microcontroller acting as a sensor hub for driving sensor-fusion algorithms with a high-precision 3-axis accelerometer into a single package. This chip reduces the burden on the host controller and application processor, as well as lowering power consumption in portable devices. This allows for greater freedom and flexibility in the design of motion-based electronics. Because high-resolution linear motion sensing and a sensor hub are integrated into a single package, the system becomes more robust and is ideal for board layout optimization.

Fabio Pasolini, Business Unit Manager of Motion MEMS at ST’s Industrial & Multisegment, Analog, MEMS & Sensor Group, stated, “Customers want smart motion sensors that integrate sensing and intelligent decision-making into a single package.” “With the iNEMO product family, ST possesses the unrivaled ability to combine accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, and other sensors with powerful ARM-based sensor hub microcontrollers, enabling customers to enjoy optimal flexibility and scalability in system partitioning,” he said.

The LIS331EB iNEMO-A smart sensor can be integrated into various applications, such as wearable sensor applications, motion-activated UIs for mobile phones and tablets, and augmented reality. This device features an embedded ultra-low-power ARM Cortex-M0 with functionality, power consumption, and memory size suitable for sensor hub applications and iNEMO sensor fusion in mobile applications. The sensor hub handles the connection of a 3-axis gyroscope, 3-axis magnetometer, and pressure sensor, providing a complete sensor fusion solution. Other sensors, such as temperature and humidity sensors, can also be connected.

To address power constraints in battery-powered portable devices, the LIS331EB iNEMO-A 3-axis digital accelerometer features two built-in Finite State Machines (FSMs) and one built-in First-In, First-Out (FIFO). The FSMs and FIFOs enable customized motion detection functions, such as specific motion detection, and additionally allow for the implementation of a pedometer that can operate without an embedded microcontroller, thereby reducing overall power consumption. The FSMs can also be used for microcontroller restarts by utilizing advanced power management techniques.

The high-performance 3-axis accelerometer of the LIS331EB iNEMO-A can be selected from full-scale categories of ±2g/±4g/±8g/±16g and is equipped with an ultra-low-power ARM Cortex-M0 core with 64KB flash memory and 128KB RAM memory, as well as multiple timers and I/O ports (GPIOs/SPI/I2C/UART).

Sampling of the LIS331EB smart motion sensor will begin in the second quarter of 2013, and the price per unit is set at US$2.40 based on a 1,000-unit order. For larger orders, please contact ST Korea.