Slimline accelerometer aids handset integration

Three-axis digital-output accelerometer is claimed to be 77% smaller than previous industry offerings.

Freescale Semiconductor has expanded its microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based sensor portfolio with a three-axis digital-output accelerometer claimed to be 77% smaller than previous industry offerings.

Billed as the world's thinnest accelerometer, the MMA7450L is available in a 0.8mm thin plastic land grid array (LGA) package designed to meet the growing space constraints of feature-rich portable devices.

Designed to simplify integration of microprocessors and microcontrollers (MCUs), the MMA7450L is ideal for handheld terminals that implement user interfaces based on hand movements and appliances that require movement, acceleration or inclination sensing.

"The potential of triple-axis accelerometers is sparking the imagination of designers for all kinds of end uses, which will drive the growth of MEMS sensors in portable consumer electronics by nearly 10% over the next five years", says Marlene Bourne, principal analyst at Bourne Research.

"Low profile is extremely important, and Freescale has set the bar with one of the thinnest packages yet".

The MMA7450L can communicate on both I2C and SPI interface buses.

The digital output streamlines communication with the MCU or microprocessor.

It eliminates the need for a dedicated analogue-to-digital convertor and enables the sensor to share interfaces with other devices, saving further space in small-form-factor systems.

Additionally, portable device manufacturers can connect the MMA7450L directly to a wireless platform, such as Freescale's i.MX architecture, or a highly integrated 8bit MCU to design accelerometers into cellphones and portable media devices.

The MMA7450L enables an array of motion-based functions, such as tilt scrolling, gaming control, tap to mute and freefall hard disk drive protection.

"This digital output accelerometer allows designers to make mobile devices, such as mobile phones and portable gaming, more advanced, enjoyable and easier to use", says Demetre Kondylis, Vice President and General Manager of Freescale's Sensor and Actuator Solutions Division.

"We have achieved a 77-percent reduction in package sise and combined three axes of sensing direction with digital output, eliminating the need for an A/D convertor and external memory".

"In short, this is an ideal acceleration sensor for the handheld consumer electronics market".

In addition to providing an onboard digital output, the MMA7450L embeds features, such as threshold and pulse or click-detect for quick motion detection and offset calibration, eliminating the need for external memory.

The MMA7450L includes a g-select feature with three sensitivities (2g, 4g, 8g).

This gives designers the flexibility to select the g-force detection level a specific application needs.

The MMA7450L is an ideal solution for portable consumer electronics that require a fast response time, high sensitivity, low-current consumption, low-voltage operation and a standby mode in a small package.

Leveraging its experience and heritage of zero-defect quality and reliability in the automotive market, Freescale continues to enhance its sensor designs, providing very high immunity to vibration and shock resistance up to 10,000g.

The MMA7450L accelerometer is available now in sample quantities, with general availability expected in the third quarter of 2007.

Suggested list price per unit in 10,000-piece quantities is US $2.66.

The KIT3468MMA7450LE evaluation board is available now for a suggested list price of US $35.

The RD3152MMA7260Q reference board is also available now for a suggested list price of US $99.

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