STMicroelectronics Provides World's Smallest and Highest Precision Positioning Solution

A set of 10 degrees of freedom sensors provides accurate orientation anywhere on Earth.

– STMicroelectronics ( www.st.com ), a world-leading integrated semiconductor company and the No. 1 supplier of MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) for consumer electronics and portable devices, announced a complete hardware solution for advanced sensor applications with 10 degrees of freedom (DoF). A set of three thin-film high-performance MEMS sensors provides accurate and comprehensive information on linear, angular, and magnetic motion along with elevation readings, enabling enhanced navigation capabilities and smarter user interfaces in mobile phones and other portable consumer electronics devices.

Emerging mobile consumer electronics applications, such as location-based services and dead-reckoning for indoor and multi-layer navigation, require more complex sensor capabilities. Consumer electronics devices can provide complete information on their own linear acceleration, angular velocity, Earth's gravity, direction, altitude, etc., by using just three ST MEMS sensors, such as a geomagnetic module, gyroscope, and pressure sensor. With this information, mobile users can identify their direction and exact location in 3D anytime and anywhere in places where there is no or low GPS signal, such as inside buildings in urban areas, mountainous and forested areas.

ST recently announced iNEMO™, the industry's first advanced filtering and prediction software engine that integrates the outputs of 3-axis accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetic sensors, supporting the integration of complex motion-sensor data for smart consumer electronics. By integrating data from these sensors (3-axis accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetic sensors) through advanced algorithms, the iNEMO™ engine provides the more accurate and reliable sensor performance required by manufacturers of next-generation smart devices to enhance motion-based capabilities.

Benedetto Vigna, Vice President and General Manager of ST’s MEMS, Sensors, and High Performance Analog business unit, stated, “Multi-sensor performance enhances the mobile user experience with unprecedented realism and accuracy in next-generation motion and location-based applications.” He added, “Leveraging world-class MEMS components, software, design, and manufacturing expertise, ST is leading the way in integrating various sensors into mobile phones, navigation systems, and a wide range of other consumer electronics devices.”

ST's MEMS chips are designed and manufactured using micromachining technology that ST has already successfully applied to over 1.2 billion sensors sold in the market, supporting ultra-small size and ultra-low power consumption along with exceptional accuracy and reliability. The 3-chip 10-DoF sensor solution consists of the following components:
• The LSM303DLHC geomagnetic module integrates a high-resolution 3-axis sensor for linear and magnetic motion into a 3mm x 5mm x 1mm package and operates with a minimum current consumption of 110µA. The LSM303DLHC provides highly accurate output over the entire extended range of ±16g (linear acceleration) and ±8 Gauss (magnetic field), along with excellent safety over the entire time and temperature range. In addition, it features many advanced technologies, such as 4D/6D orientation finding and two programmable interrupt signals supporting immediate notification for conditions like motion detection and free fall.