STMicroelectronics has introduced a new 3-axis broadband vibration sensor to reduce the design burden of industrial and automotive condition monitoring systems.

ST announced on the 13th that it has launched the 'IIS3DWBG1,' which integrates 3-axis sensing capabilities into a single digital device. This product is designed to detect anomalies based on vibration data in industrial equipment and automotive electronic systems, and to reduce design complexity and component costs.

The IIS3DWBG1 supports an operating temperature range of -40°C to 125°C. As an externally mountable ultra-compact sensor, it can be placed in locations required for diagnosis, even in equipment with limited installation conditions. By utilizing a 2.5mm × 3mm LGA-14L package, it can be integrated inside smart motors or smart gearboxes.

This product provides a flat frequency response from DC up to 6 kHz or higher (-3 dB) and has a noise density of 75 µg/√Hz in 3-axis mode. This allows for the detection of minute vibration signals associated with equipment malfunctions, such as defects, wear, poor fastening, and misalignment. Another feature is that it maintains sensitivity stability across the entire temperature range, which can reduce the need for separate calibration in the final application.

The application fields extend beyond motors and general industrial equipment to power electronics modules. The IIS3DWBG1 supports the detection of electromechanical vibrations occurring in coils, transformers, snubber capacitors, busbars, connectors, and electric vehicle traction inverters.

ST explained that this sensor extends the scope of remote diagnostics for automotive manufacturers to include power modules and traction inverters, and can be utilized for predictive maintenance-based customer support. It is also suitable for monitoring circuits and mechanisms exposed to high-temperature environments, such as hybrid motors.

The IIS3DWBG1 features a low-pass filter, a high-pass filter, an embedded FIFO, interrupts, a temperature sensor, and a self-test function. It is currently in production, and the price starts at $12 for orders of 1,000 units.