Monday, March 18, 2013: Micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) are tiny machines that add intelligent sensing and actuation to countless handheld devices. Accelerometers, gyroscopes, pressure sensors and altimeters, all fall into this category. Electronic products drive the broad adoption of sensors to enable a host of clever and useful functions, such as screen rotation, gesture recognition, user-interface control, and much more. Let’s have a look at the new launches in this domain
Model:Â 2SMPP-02/03, Brand: Omron, Manufacturer: Omron Electronic, Components, USA
Launched in January 2013, the SMPP-03 MEMS-based pressure sensor is ideal for medical applications such as negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) as well as leak detection, movement control, level indicators, home appliances and industrial control instruments. It offers precise measurement between -50kPa to +50kPa, complementing the 2SMPP-02 with a 0 to 37kPa range.
Key features
Compact external dimensions of just 6.1 mm x 4.7 mm x 8.2 mm •Offers a reduced offset voltage and span dispersions of ±4 mV and 3.1 mV, which makes trimming unnecessary •The devices have non-linearity of less than 0.8 per cent of the full-scale and a hysteresis of 0.5 per cent of the full-scale •A low temperature influence span of +/-1 per cent and offset of +/-3 per cent of the full-scale
Contact details: Ph: 847-882-2288; [email protected]; www.components.omron.com
India distributors: Mouser Electronics, Avnet and Arrow Electronics
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Model: BMA355, Brand: Bosch, Manufacturer: Bosch Sensortec GmbH, Germany
Launched in January 2013, BMA355 is an advanced, ultra-small, tri-axial, low-g acceleration sensor with digital interfaces in a wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP), aimed at highly integrated low-power consumer electronics applications. Featuring a 12-bit digital resolution, BMA355 allows very low-noise measurements of acceleration in 3 perpendicular axes and thus senses tilt, motion, shock and vibration in mobile devices.
Key features
Features a wafer-level chip scale package with a size of just 1.2 x 1.5 x 0.8 mm³ •Supports motion detection, portrait-landscape orientation-switching, flat detection, tap/double-tap sensing, shock detection and free-fall protection •Consumes low-power, has a 12-bit digital resolution and a flexible integrated interrupt engine
Contact details: Ph: +49-7121-35- 35900; www.bosch-sensortec.com
Asia distributors: WE Holdings Ltd & WE Components Pte Ltd Digi-Key Corporation
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Model: KXCJA; Brand: Kionix, Manufacturer: Kionix, Inc, USA
Launched in January 2013, the KXCJA is the thinnest tri-axis accelerometer in the market, according to the company. KXCJA offers up to 14-bit resolution for greater precision. User-selectable parameters include ± 2g, 4g or 8g ranges and Output Data Rates (ODR) with a programmable low-pass filter.
Key features
Ultra-thin at just 0.7mm •Low current consumption:
Contact details: Ed Brachocki, director, marketing; Ph: 480-229-4258; [email protected]; www.kionix.com
India distributors: Mouser Electronics and Digi-Key Corporation
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Model: 6DF series, Brand: Honeywell, Manufacturer: Honeywell Sensing and Control, USA
Launched in January 2013, the six-dimensional motion sensor, 6DF series motion variant is designed to provide motion, position and navigational sensing from a durable single device over six degrees of freedom. The 6DF Series is available in two versions, one with a 2 g accelerometer and the other with a 6 g accelerometer.
Key features
The sensor uses an industry-standard CAN SAEJ1939 communications protocol which allows the equipment operator to focus on other functions, enabling more precise control than can be achieved by using only the human eye, thus increasing safety, stability, and productivity •6DF-1N2-C2-HWL is slightly more accurate than the 6DF-1N6-C2-HWL, but less tolerant of vibration. It is designed for cleaner environments, where the higher accuracy can be realised due to the reduced environmental interference with respect to the signals •6DF-1N6-C2-HWL is much more tolerant of vibration and rugged environments than the 6DF-1N2-C2-HWL. This allows for optimum performance in harsh environments, with a small reduction in accuracy.
Contact details: [email protected]; Ph: +1-800-537-6945; www. sensing.honeywell.com
India distributors: Aimil Ltd, Arrow Electronics Asia (S) Pte and RS Components India
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Model: Xtrinsic MMA8491Q, Brand: Freescale, Manufacturer: Freescale, Semiconductor, USA
Launched in November 2012, Xtrinsic MMA8491Q accelerometer ensures ultra-low power consumption. It has a simple plug-and-play approach to tilt threshold detection —for use in physical tamper protection in smart meter applications. Xtrinsic MMA8491Q accelerometer has been designed to be very flexible and useful for a wide variety of applications beyond smart metering, in which orientation needs to be accurately measured—for instance, for motion detection in gaming consoles and home appliances.
Key features
Low current consumption at 400 nA per Hz •Dedicated enable pin: ‘On’ to trigger one-shot measurements and ‘Off’ for shutdown mode. It also has ultra-low current consumption at 10 nA •Pre-configured tilt threshold detection triggers simple plug-and-play integration •3-axis logic outputs (above/below threshold) provide tilt indicators •I2C functionality with +/-8 g dynamic range for traditional accelerometer data capture •3 x 3 x 1.05 mm³ QFN package with solder visually-inspectable pins at 0.65 mm pitch •Wide range voltage supply functionality at 1.95 V to 3.6 V
Contact details: Ph: 0041-22-799-1258; www.freescale.com
India distributors: Freescale Semiconductor India Pvt Ltd
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Model: SpacePoint Scout, Brand: PNI Sensor, Manufacturer: PNI Sensor, Corporation, USA
Launched in November 2012, the SpacePoint Scout is a development module that offers gaming application developers 9-axis motion tracking technology in one integrated module, which includes a suite of sensors (a 3-axis gyroscope, a 3-axis accelerometer and a 3-axis geomagnetic sensor), highly proven sensor fusion algorithms and an I2C interface for quick implementation.
Key features
SpacePoint Scout includes the RM3000 geomagnetic sensor, which uses magneto-inductive technology that offers over 15 times better resolution and 16 times less noise than commonly used Hall effect magnetic sensors •RM3000, in conjunction with the SpacePoint Scout’s sensor fusion algorithms, enables highly accurate pointing and motion tracking even in the presence of magnetic anomalies.
Contact details: Deanna McKenzie, director, sales; [email protected]; Ph: 707-566-2260; www.pnicorp.com
India distributors: Sinocom Optoelectronic Technology Co Ltd
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Model: GYPRO2300, Brand: Tronics, Manufacturer: Tronics Microsystems, France
Launched in November 2012, GYPRO2300 angular rate sensor (gyrometer) is designed for applications in the industrial, aerospace and military markets, which require much higher performance than the automotive sector.
Key features
Good bias instability (Allen variance) of 1 degree per hour, an ultra-low noise density of 10°/h/Sqrt(Hz), and a thermal bias stability of +/- 0.05 degrees per second allows the GYPRO2300 to be used for platform stabilisation applications •GYPRO2300 is a single Z-axis device, which is small (0.55 cm³), lightweight (2.6 grams) and has a 24-bit output.
Contact details: Herve Borrel, director, sales and marketing; [email protected]; Ph: 832-283-6481; www.tronicsgroup.com
Asia distributors: Marubeni Information Systems Co Ltd
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Model: ESCP2-002, Brand: Theon, Manufacturers: European Sensor Systems SA, Greece
Launched in November 2012, ESCP2-002 is a MEMS based capacitive barometric pressure sensor which can be used in smartphones/tablets, altimeters, navigation systems and every other electrical equipment that demands high resolution/accuracy measurement of the barometric pressure.
Key features
Altitude resolution of 10 cm with SPI and I2C interface •Includes a high resolution ∆Σ •ADC to digitise the signal •The digital output is fully calibrated and temperature compensated based on the internal temperature sensor and the factory calibration coefficients are stored in the embedded memory •Integrated with a low phase noise oscillator, eliminating the need of any external components •Different power modes are available enabling low power operation •Provides a digital high accuracy 32 bit pressure and temperature output
Contact details: Emmanuil Zervakis, director, MEMS business unit; [email protected]; Ph:+30-6932 509-846; www.theon.com
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Model: Grid-EYE, Brand: Panasonic, Manufacturer: Panasonic Electric Works, USA
Launched in October 2012, Grid-EYE passive infrared sensor enables contactless temperature detection over the entire specified area, unlike conventional single thermopile or pyroelectric sensors that only measure temperature at a certain point-of-contact. Grid-EYE can use passive infrared detection to determine temperature differentiation, allowing it to detect multiple objects simultaneously.
Key features
Features 64 thermopile elements in an 8 x 8 grid format •Combination of a built-in thermistor and an integrated circuit (IC) enables temperature sensing in a small surface mount technology (SMT) package, measuring just 11.6 mm x 4.3 mm x 8 mm •The device’s 64 pixel range yields accurate temperature sensing, within the range of -20 C to 100 C, over a viewing angle of 60 degrees provided by a silicon lens •It uses an external I²C communication interface, enabling temperature measurement at speeds of 1 or 10 frames/sec.
Contact details: [email protected]; Ph: 1-800-228-2350; www.pewa.panasonic.com
India office: Panasonic Industrial Devices Sales India
509-846; www.theon.com
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Model: EE160, Brand: E+E Elektronik, Manufacturer: E+E Elektronik GESMBH, Germany
Launched in October 2012, EE160 sensor is a cost-effective, highly accurate and reliable solution for measuring relative air humidity and temperature. The precision of E+E’s advanced sensor technology is combined with the latest manufacturing technologies to create this product with an outstanding price/performance ratio.
Key features
The enclosure minimises installation costs and provides outstanding protection against contamination and condensation, thus ensuring flawless operation •EE160 employs the new humidity/temperature E+E sensor element HCT01 with excellent long-term stability and resistance against pollutants •In combination with a long calibration experience, EE160 provides a measurement accuracy of ±2.5 per cent RH, and is available for wall or duct-mounted applications with current, voltage or Modbus RTU output
Contact details: [email protected]; Ph: +43-7235-605-0; www.epluse.com
India distributor: Jupiter Electronics
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Model: LPS331AP, Brand: ST, Manufacturer: STMicroelectronics, Switzerland
Launched in September 2012, LPS331AP pressure-sensing device incorporates proprietary MEMS technology, called VENSENS, which allows the pressure sensor to be fabricated on a monolithic silicon chip. Manufacturing the device in this way eliminates wafer-to-wafer bonding and maximises reliability. The sensing element in LPS331AP is based on a flexible silicon membrane formed above an air cavity with a controlled gap and defined internal pressure.
Key features
Has a high resolution, low-noise sensor that is able to detect differences within centimetres of altitude variation •Selectable ODR from 1 Hz to 25 Hz •Low power consumption: low res. mode 5.5µA; high res. mode: 30 µA •Supply voltage: 1.71 to 3.6 V •Temperature range extending from -40 °C to +85 °C •Integrated temperature sensor enables temperature span compensation •Fab calibration of pressures and temperatures, eliminating the need for in-house calibration of shipped devices
Contact details: Ph: +41-22-929-2929; www.st.com
India distributor: Arrow Asia Pac Ltd, Avnet India Ltd, Edom Technology, Future Electronics India and Teck International (Pte) Ltd
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