Date: 03/05/2012

Accelerometer from ST senses shocks up to 400g in 3D

STMicroelectronics has revealed the motion sensor H3LIS331DL that measures very high accelerations along all three axes at low current consumption. ST's H3LIS331DL accelerometers address the need for precise shock detection up to 400g in space- and power-constrained applications, from car black boxes to medical monitoring devices and sports equipment.

ST's new high-g accelerometers deliver both the three dimensional precision and low current consumption optimized for battery operated applications. They can improve crash detection capabilities in event data recorders and freight monitoring systems. They can enhance anti-shock protection functionality in consumer electronics.

ST's high-g accelerometers provide three-axis motion sensing across selectable from ±100 g up to ±400 g full-scale ranges. An on-chip IC interface converts the acceleration data into a 12-bit digital bit stream that is transmitted to a dedicated microcontroller chip through a standard SPI or I2C protocol.
The H3LIS331DL combines a novel sensing structure design with the interface of ST's LIS331DLx acceleration sensors.

Samples of ST's high-g accelerometers are available and volume production is expected to start by the end of Q2 2012. Unit pricing is $5 for volumes in the range of 1,000 pieces.