STMicroelectronics, an MEMS major player, has announced the launching of an automotive-grade, 3-axis low-g accelerometer named AIS328DQ, the latest product in its sensor range.
The sensor consumes low power and delivers high accuracy. The sensor that has small footprint could be used in various automotive solutions such as vehicle tracking, abuse monitoring, event recording, and dead reckoning for improved routing capabilities.
The AIS328DQ detects acceleration to the length of all three axes and translates the motion generated into a high-resolute digital signal. This signal then sends out to a microcontroller via a conventional I2C or SPI interface. The sensor delivers results in the range of 2g/¡Ó4g/¡Ó8g, with high accuracy and constancy over temperature and time.
The AIS328DQ can withstand electromagnetic interference and shock as it has passed the critical stress test for integrated circuits used in automotives named AEC-Q100 that is designed by the Automotive Electronics Council. The sensors, which can withstand a temperature range between ƒ{40¢XC to 105¢XC, can be employed in the interior of modules or cabins that have self-heating parts such as power stages. An entrenched routine, which can be triggered at any time, regulates the operations of the sensors.
The AIS328DQ is manufactured using a production technology, which STMicroelectronics is using for its motion sensors. The company has produced only samples now. The company will start volume production in the third quarter of 2011.