Freescale Semiconductor today celebrated the recent shipment of its two-billionth sensor by launching a new, high-bandwidth 3-axis analog accelerometer engineered to detect ultra-high frequency motion and vibration in industrial motors and equipment.
Building on its longtime strength in automotive sensors, Freescale has experienced strong market acceptance across the breadth of its sensors portfolio, including its increasingly popular devices for the growing industrial and medical markets. Customers have incorporated Freescale sensors in more than 150 unique sensing applications each year for the last five years.
Freescale’s new FXLN83xxQ accelerometer underscores the company’s industrial sensing momentum. Designed to capture acceleration information often missed by less accurate sensors commonly deployed in consumer products such as smartphones and exercise activity monitors, the new device enables intelligent algorithms to better perform fault prognostication for predictive maintenance and condition monitoring applications.
“Information from sensor data is driving efficiency gains and fostering compelling new business models across the industrial and medical markets,” said Babak Taheri, vice president and general manager for Freescale’s sensors solutions division. “Freescale’s systems and applications teams have worked closely with customers to couple our broad sensor portfolio with our extensive array of microcontrollers to address these new applications and opportunities. The resulting solutions help systems designers collect and leverage sensor data to drive analytics and intelligence for next-generation industrial and medical applications.”
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Housed in a compact 3 x 3 mm package, the new FXLN83xxQ accelerometer features the highest bandwidth in its class (2.7 kHz) and is one of the first 3-axis devices to feature an operating temperature range of -40 to 105 degrees Celsius. With an analog output, the device is universally compatible across a wide range of ADC-enabled MCUs. In addition, the FXLN83xxQ features exceptionally low power consumption for battery-operated applications, exposed leads for rapid solder joint inspection, and ten years guaranteed product availability via Freescale’s product longevity program.
Key technical features of the new FXLN83xxQ product include:
- 1.71 V to 3.6 V supply voltage
- ±2 g to 16 g selectable
- High bandwidth: Up to 2.7 kHz capable
- Compact footprint (QFN 3 x 3 x 1.05 mm 0.65 mm pitch package) while supporting visible leads for solder inspection
- Analog parallel outputs for use with low voltage MCUs to optimize system power
According to IHS, worldwide industrial electronics semiconductor revenue for 2013 amounted to $32.4 billion, a solid 9 percent rise from $29.8 billion in 2012. This growth sets the stage for a robust 2014, with annual worldwide revenue forecast to grow another 9 percent to $35.4 billion.
Robust and Reliable Performance
Freescale sensor products meet critical industrial market requirements, including operation across extended temperature ranges. These products are designed and manufactured with rigorous process controls, and qualified using industry standard methodologies designed to yield defect rates in line with the stringent requirements of the industrial market. The FXLN83xxQ accelerometers are included in Freescale’s product longevity program, which provides assurance of supply for a minimum of 10 or 15 years from the time of launch. For terms and conditions, and to see a list of participating Freescale products, visit www.freescale.com/productlongevity.
Product Development Support
An evaluation kit, the DEMOFXLN83xxQ is available for the device, as well as four breakout boards (BRKOUT-FXLN8361Q, BRKOUT-FXLN8362Q, BRKOUT-FXLN8371Q, BRKOUT-FXLN8372Q) for a quick retrofit of the device. Freescale also provides the Xtrinsic Intelligent Sensing Framework for quick and easy software development.
Availability and Pricing
The FXLN83xxQ accelerometer is available now from Freescale and authorized distributors worldwide for a suggested resale price of $1.20 to $1.70 (USD) in 1kU quantities.