Freescale smart motion sensor enables precise hand movement control

AUSTIN, USA: Freescale Semiconductor has introduced a highly advanced low-power sensor based on proven micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) technology specifically engineered for handheld portable electronic devices.

The 3-axis MMA7660FC accelerometer enhances user interfaces for mobile phones, small appliances and gaming by allowing the user to tap, shake or orient the device for specified commands. The device also includes smart power management features to help extend battery life.

Motion sensing is helping drive market growth for mobile messaging, browsing and overall data usage. According to a report published earlier this year by industry analyst firm iSuppli, accelerometer adoption in cell phones is forecast to grow from $220 million in 2009 to $426 million in 2010.

“Global revenue from all types of MEMS for cell phones will increase to $1.3 billion by the end of 2012, which is a substantial increase from $299 million in 2007,” said Jérémie Bouchaud, director and principal analyst, MEMS, for iSuppli. “The main driver of this increase is the overwhelming adoption of accelerometers in portable electronics due to consumer demand for advanced user interfaces on mobile devices, such as touch-screen and orientation detection.”

Freescale’s cost-effective, low-power accelerometer integrates a number of smart motion features such as orientation, shake and tap detection with auto wake-up/sleep detection in a compact 3 x 3 x 0.9mm package. The MMA7660FC can be configured with custom portrait/landscape trip points for six orientations: left, right, up, down, back, and front. In addition to precise hand movement control, the MMA7660FC communicates directly with the main system processor through an I2C interface for communication simplicity and flexibility.

The MMA7660FC accelerometer is designed to achieve up to five times longer battery life than current solutions on the market when continuously operating to determine motion. Configurable power saving modes and a power-select capability helps designers achieve optimal current consumption by choosing one of eight sample rates.

System-level power is reduced through an automatic configurable auto wake-up/sleep feature achieved without intervention or polling by the host processor. The MMA7660FC accelerometer provides conversion to digital values at a user-configurable output data rate, offering proportional savings in supply current and power.

“The use of sophisticated accelerometer technology in portable electronic devices is evolving from a luxury to a requirement as consumer preferences continue to evolve,” said Demetre Kondylis, vice president and general manager of Freescale’s Sensor & Actuator Solutions Division. “With Freescale’s MMA7660FC accelerometer, developers of portable electronics can now incorporate a single device for orientation, tap and shake detection while extending battery life for broader consumer adoption.”

Key applications for the MMA7660FC accelerometer include portable consumer devices such as mobile phones, PDAs and digital cameras. Additional applications include shock detection and motion control in PCs and peripherals, activity monitoring in medical and sports applications, and orientation and freefall detection in gaming and toys.