Epson Electronics America (EEA) is planning to introduce the development of two series of sensing platforms, which are based on QMEMS and semiconductor technologies developed by Epson. These new tools have been developed to help in the easy development and evaluation of consumer applications that include position and motion sensing.
The E series comprises of two sensor evaluation units, which are multifunctional, while the M Series sensing platforms are specialized evaluation modules. Both these series are being offered to their customers from August, 2011.
According to Bob Porooshani, who is the General Manager of the Microelectronics Operations Division at EAA, these series were meant for companies that specialize in software development, or for small companies, which need hardware resources or even those, which were looking forward to use position and motion sensing technology for enhancing their consumer applications. These new evaluation units will combine semiconductor technologies and Epson’s QMEMS quartz gyroscopic sensors for improving both the products and the competitiveness of the companies. Hardware, which will process and digitize sensor data is combined with the software, which will display and accumulate sensor data, which is then transmitted to a PC through one of the several wireless, wired and interface options.
The E series sensor evaluation units execute a number of sensing tasks with the help of a six-axis sensor, comprising three Epson gyroscopes for stability and high accuracy, a pressure sensor, triaxial geomagnetic sensor and a triaxial accelerometer with a ±6G dynamic range. These units are being offered with either a USB interface or a ZigBee for getting connected to a PC. An accessory board will also be provided for expansion of interfaces along with usage as a power source in a wide range of evaluation settings.
The M Series of sensor evaluation modules are highly compact with specific sensor functions. With two models, the S7U4E002002, which is an accurate motion sensor having six degrees of freedom and the S7U4D002003, a position sensor, which comes with a GPS receiver, these modules can be offered as handy, and portable evaluation equipment chiefly due to their compact design and usage as a single function.