LSM333D, new iNemo family of inertial sensors.

STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications and the world’s top supplier of MEMS sensors for consumer and portable applications, has introduced a new member of the iNemo sensing family, a 9-Degree Of Freedom, fully integrated sensor module, to enable advanced movement and location-sensitive apps, location-based services (LBS) and indoor navigation on portable devices in smaller form factors.

Combining motion and position detection is opening exciting new opportunities, for smartphones and tablets as well as for portable products, such as personal navigation devices. ST’s new iNemo family of inertial sensors introduces new high-performance modules with 9-DOF (Degree of Freedom) inertial sensing by combining a 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyroscope and 3-axis magnetic sensor in a single package.

The first module in the family, the LSM333D, matches the high performance of the industry’s best discrete equivalent sensors by leveraging ST’s unique packaging expertise, its portfolio of more than 600 MEMS patents, and the experience of having delivered more than two billion sensors to the market. Moreover, ST‘s proficiency with MEMS technology enables it to produce this module in high volumes, allowing smartphone designers to drive system integration in new products supporting advanced context-sensitive user features.

“ST is able to integrate three sensors in the 16mm3 footprint that 12 months ago was the industry norm for a single sensor,” said Roberto De Nuccio, Business Development Manager for ST’s Analog, MEMS and Sensors Group. “Combining this aggressive technology advancement with outstanding sensor performance enables smartphone producers to create new features delivering extra value for end users.”

As a 9-degree-of-freedom system-in-package, the LSM333D greatly simplifies product design and saves about 30% of pc-board space compared to a discrete solution. Moreover, sensor-fusion software helps product designers enable indoor navigation, LBS, dead reckoning and advanced motion and position detection. The high performance and integration of this module provides the foundation for future generations of advanced, context-sensitive apps and services.

Further advantages of the LSM333D include a built-in temperature sensor and smart power management for longer handset battery life. In addition, the module allows the choice of either I2C or SPI connection to the main system controller, thereby providing extra flexibility for designers that competing modules do not offer.

Key features of LSM333D:

• Magnetic full-scale range: ±2 to ±12 gauss selectable
• Linear acceleration full-scale range: ±2 to ±16 g selectable
• Rotational acceleration full-scale range: ±250 to ±2000 dps selectable
• SPI and I2C serial interfaces
• Smart power management
• Programmable interrupt generators for freefall/motion/magnetic-field detection
• Embedded temperature sensor
• Embedded FIFO

The LSM333D is available now in a 3.5 x 6 x 1mm package, and will soon enter volume production in the 4 x 4 x 1mm package with a footprint of 16mm3. Please contact your ST sales office for pricing options and sample requests, or visit the following URL to order from distributors: http://www.st.com/internet/com/ordering/buy_from_distributors.jsp

About STMicroelectronics
ST is a global leader in the semiconductor market serving customers across the spectrum of sense and power technologies and multimedia convergence applications. From energy management and savings to trust and data security, from healthcare and wellness to smart consumer devices, in the home, car and office, at work and at play, ST is found everywhere microelectronics make a positive and innovative contribution to people's life. By getting more from technology to get more from life, ST stands for life.augmented.
In 2011, the Company’s net revenues were $9.73 billion. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com.