Kionix's software-centric MEMS solution represents big gains in power, costs, and size

(iTers News) - Kionix, Inc., unveiled a high-performance accelerometer-magnetometer sensor with a sensor fusion software in what the company said is the world’s first implementation of software-centric MEMS solution.

The roll-out of the software-centric MEMS solution is to keep up with the growing demand for low-cost and low-power smartphone.

Named as KMX61G, the 6 axis MEMS chip solution is also the world’s first highly accurate gyro emulation using just 550µA of power.

Compared with other hardware-centric traditional gyro, this represents dramatic savings in power as well as BOM, bill of materials costs.

But, the 6-axis device can provide 9-axis accelerometer, magnetometer or e-compass  and gyro outputs with a power profile that enables applications previously unreachable using traditional 9-axis solutions.

In a demonstration, Kionix showed the 6 axis device can rival the traditional 9 axis in performance. (see a video clip)

Incorporating Kionix’s proprietary calibration and sensor fusion algorithms, the KMX61G features a range of capabilities to enable precise control of the sensor including 512-byte FIFO buffer with watermarking, embedded temperature sensor and a low-power, embedded motion wake-up function.Page 2

With applicability to the large and rapidly growing smartphone, tablet, and health and fitness devices market, the KMX61G is well-suited to help design engineers achieve new levels of product performance.

For customers only requiring high performance e-compass capabilities without a gyro output, Kionix is also introducing the KMX61, a 6-axis ecompass device with auto-calibration software. The KMX61 delivers high sensitivity (0.05 µT/count) with stability over temperature (± 0.05 %/ºC) and is well-suited for a range of smartphone, tablet and health and fitness applications.

It consumes 5 µA power in a standby mode. It comes in a 3x3x0.9mm package size, featuring user-programmable ±2g/±4g/±8g full-scale accelerometer range

The KMX61G will be sampling in the first quarter of 2013, while the KMX61 will be sampling in the first quarter.

Photos & Vides by JH Bae