Accelerating the integration of motion and orientation sensors through collaboration with Microsoft
Ensuring the rapid adoption of MEMS and other sensor technologies on Windows 8-based tablets and computers

Korea, September 20, 2011 – STMicroelectronics ( www.st.com ), the world's leading integrated semiconductor company and the number one supplier of consumer electronics and portable MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems), has been working with Microsoft to develop motion and orientation HID (Human Interface Device) sensor solutions that run on Windows 8 OS.

Through collaboration with Microsoft, ST has demonstrated its capability to provide a complete sensor solution that integrates multiple sensors into a single module, along with processing performance and dedicated software. ST’s iNEMO module, currently in mass production, has won numerous awards and integrates a 3-axis digital gyroscope, a 3-axis digital accelerometer, a 3-axis digital magnetometer, a proximity sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, and an STM32 MCU running HID using ST’s iNEMO engine sensor fusion algorithm and the I2C (Intelligent Interface Controller) protocol.

Benedetto Vigna, Vice President and General Manager of ST’s Analog, MEMS, and Sensor business unit, stated, “By collaborating with Microsoft to enable ST’s sensors to operate on Windows 8 through the iNEMO engine, ST’s HID sensor solutions provide plug-and-play and turnkey benefits on both x86 and ARM processors running the new operating system.” He added, “Through the Microsoft sensor driver stack and ST’s sensor-controller firmware, we ease the requirements for equipment manufacturers who need to develop drivers, and enable end users to utilize sensor features built into Windows 8, such as screen rotation or indoor positioning, as well as additional power saving features through the STM32 microcontroller integrated into the iNEMO module.”

STMicroelectronics participated as a key partner for the sensor ecosystem and user experience during the development of Windows 8, and through this role, directly provided input and feedback to Microsoft regarding future sensor-based specifications and platforms.

As a provider of complete MEMS solutions as well as HID sensor solutions, ST also provides customer drivers for the upcoming Windows 8. This alternative solution uses ST's existing Windows 7 sensor driver currently in mass production. ST is the only vendor to have obtained Windows 7 motion and orientation sensor certification, demonstrating the company's commitment to supporting Microsoft solutions.