STMicroelectronics announced a miniature 6-axis sensor device with custom motion-recognition capabilities. ST’s latest iNEMO inertial module enhances user experience and motion-sensing realism in today’s space-constrained and power-hungry portable consumer devices and shortcuts the path to wearable sensor applications in sports, fitness and healthcare diagnostics.
The LSM330 module houses a 3-axis digital gyroscope and a 3-axis digital accelerometer with two embedded finite state machines – programmable blocks that enable custom motion recognition inside the module. Programmable state machines enable the identification of specific motions or gestures and initiate associated actions or applications, such as switching on an augmented-reality view of a near-by object by moving your phone with a specific gesture. Integrated processing capability in MEMS sensors helps decrease power consumption in battery-hungry portable devices and brings more freedom and flexibility to the design of motion-enabled consumer electronics.
ST’s newest inertial module detects acceleration up to 16g and angular rate up to 2,000 dps along the pitch, roll and yaw axes . The integration of high-resolution linear- and angular-motion sensing in a single device increases system robustness and the advanced module design ensures superior thermal and mechanical stability. The LSM330 multi-sensor module targets a wide range of applications that include wearable sensor applications, motion-activated user interfaces in phones and tablets; motion detection and map-matching for indoor/outdoor navigation, augmented reality and other location-based services.
Addressing power constraints in battery-operated portable devices, the module includes power-down and sleep modes and an embedded FIFO (first-in first-out) memory block for smarter power management. In addition, it can operate with any supply voltage over the range of 2.4 to 3.6V.
