Freescale Accelerates Consumer MEMS Market With Extension of its 1-2-3 Axis Sensors

Freescale Semiconductor (Nuremberg, Germany) has introduced three highly sensitive sensors to address the rapid shift in the microelectromechanical-systems (MEMS) industry toward greater adoption within the consumer market.

The XZ-Axis MMA6280Q (1.5g-6g) and the XY-Axis MMA6270Q (1.5g-6g) dual axis sensors have the customer selectable g-range feature for sensing a full-range of directional motion.

The introduction of the MMA6270Q (XY-axis), MMA6280Q (XZ-axis) and MMA7261Q (XYZ-axis) MEMS-based sensors — also known as accelerometers — extends Freescale’s current offering from 1.5g to 10g. The three low-gravity (low-g)sensors aimed at the low-cost consumer electronics market are ideal for electronic systems that require the detection of small changes in force resulting from fall, tilt, motion, positioning, shock or vibration.

“While the MEMS industry has traditionally been associated with automotive applications, the consumer market continues to gain ground as these tiny sensors become more sensitive and less expensive,” said Marlene Bourne, principal analyst at Bourne Research. “The use of MEMS sensors in consumer electronics is forecast to grow from $355 million in 2005 to nearly $800 million in 2010, as more people rely on mobility and benefit from the improved ease-of-use interfaces that MEMS sensors provide.”

The MMA6270Q (XY-axis), MMA6280Q (XZ-axis) and MMA7261Q (XYZ-axis) sensor devices provide two and three axes of sensitivity based on the application needs. The MMA6280Q, the industry’s first XZ-axis accelerometer, can sense in both lateral and perpendicular planes, which eliminates the need for daughter cards and makes it a more cost-effective solution when a three-axis device is not needed. Applications include advanced pedometers that can measure a runner’s foot motion, distance and speed. All three sensor devices allow for selectable sensitivity where various sensitivities are needed for multiple applications and functions.

“As a leading supplier of 1-2-3 axis sensors, Freescale is addressing a growing customer and market demand for a greater range of g-select for new applications,” said Demetre Kondylis, general manager of Freescale’s sensors business. “The products will enable greater functionality and ease of use allowing our accelerometers to expand into new markets.”

The MEMS-based sensors can be used in any consumer, industrial or healthcare monitoringproduct or embedded system using the six sensing functions to meet the application needs.

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