Date: 03/05/2011

Geo-magnetic 2 modules for three-axis sensing of linear and magnetic motion

STMicroelectronics has introduced a new generation of geo-magnetic 2 modules for advanced navigation and location-based services in portable consumer applications by integrating high-resolution three-axis sensing of linear and magnetic motion in a 5 x 5 x 1mm package. iSuppli, a leading market research firm, forecasts rapidly rising global demand for digital compasses; it expects the market to grow at a CAGR of 12%, from $1.1 billion in 2010 up to $1.9 billion in 2015.

The integration of high-performance motion and magnetic sensing enables enhanced electronic compassing in mobile phones and other personal electronic devices, including direction finding, map/display orientation, location-based services and pedestrian dead reckoning. This latest addition to ST's MEMS portfolio, the LSM303DLM geo-magnetic module has been designed and produced using the same micromachining technology process that ST has already successfully applied to more than one billion motion sensors sold in the market.

ST's module couples high-precision sensing with smart embedded features, including 6D orientation detection; two programmable interrupt signals that enable immediate notification of motion detection, free fall, and other conditions; and wake-up/power-down functionality.

ST says it newest geo-magnetic module addresses energy efficiency on both the chip and the system level and its operating power consumption of 360uA represents a 50% reduction over devices currently in production.