Date: 26/08/2011

3-axis digital-output gyroscope with user-programmable full-scale ranges from ±250 dps3 up to ±2000 dps

STMicroelectronics has expanded its motion-sensor portfolio with a new high-performance three-axis digital-output gyroscope, L3GD20 housed in a 4x4x1 mm package for use in devices such as mobile phones, tablets, game consoles, and other smart consumer devices.

STMicroelectronics explains that L3GD20 operates with greater accuracy and reliability with a resonant frequency above the audio bandwidth, because it is completely immune to both mechanical vibrations coupled through the printed circuit board and to audio noise, such as from speakers mounted close to the sensor. Furthermore, its advanced design, with a single sensing structure for motion measurement along all three orthogonal axes, increases sensing accuracy and reliability and guarantees excellent output stability over time and temperature, adds ST.

As per STMicroelectronics, L3GD20 gyroscope provides a wide set of user-programmable full-scale ranges from ±250 dps3 up to ±2000 dps, with the low full-scale values for high accuracy of slow-motion sensing and the high range to detect and measure very fast gestures and movements, provides a 16-bit data output, together with additional embedded digital features, such as configurable low- and high-pass filters.

ST's new gyroscope includes power down and sleep modes addresses the power constraints in battery-operated portable devices, embedded FIFO memory block for smarter management and operates with any supply voltage over the range of 2.4 to 3.6V.

In addition to enabling intuitive man-machine interfaces in portable devices, ST's gyroscopes are used for dead reckoning and/or map-matching in enhanced navigation applications and for compensating digital video or still camera shaking for sharper shots.

ST's L3GD20 leverages the same micromachining technology process. The new gyroscope is pin-to-pin adaptable and software-compatible with the current-generation device, the L3G4200D, so customers can easily 'hot swap' and protect their investment in application development.

Availability: Now in samples and volumes in Q4 2011
Price: $2.95 each for 1K units