Precision MEMS pressure sensor from Freescale
Semiconductor for altitude detection
Freescale Semiconductor has introduced a new high-precision
MEMS based pressure sensor for altitude detection designed
to help users further leverage advanced navigation capabilities
and emerging location-based services such as GPS assist
and e911.
The Freescale Xtrinsic MPL3115A2 pressure sensor processes
pressure and temperature data locally, lessening the load
on the host application processor .The pressure sensor features
FIFO (first-in/first-out) memory buffer, a standby mode
of 2 micro amps and a low-power mode of 8.5 micro amps for
current consumption savings depending on conditions of the
processor and output data rates chosen.
According to research firm IHS iSuppli Corp, the demand
for MEMS technology in consumer electronics and mobile handsets
will grow by 25.6 percent in 2011.
"In conjunction with accelerometers, compasses and
gyroscopes, pressure sensors will be a key component for
indoor navigation solutions in combination with other location
technologies such as WiFi triangulation," said Jérémie
Bouchaud, principal analyst at IHS iSuppli. "Pressure
sensors have already appeared in tablets in 2011, and IHS
iSuppli expects sensor-supported navigation to take off
in smart phones and handsets in 2012 and 2013."
The Xtrinsic MPL3115A2 pressure sensor is designed to address
the increasing popularity of mobile location-based services
used in sophisticated handsets by delivering 30 cm resolution,
which enables the device to identify elevation at a granular
level. For example, a phone could detect the exact floor
a user is on within a high-rise building or a shopping mall,
allowing location-based services to more accurately reflect
immediate surroundings.
Beyond the smart mobile device market, the Xtrinsic MPL3115A2
pressure sensor has many other potential applications, including
tracking assets in business and industrial settings, providing
precise locations in emergency search and rescue missions,
forecasting climate changes in desktop weather stations
and monitoring home cooling and heating systems. In addition,
the sensor is ideal for medical applications, including
respiratory equipment and health monitoring and detection
systems that can help identify the location of patients
within their homes or other environments.
"For more than 30 years, Freescale has been a leader
in delivering sensing technologies that provide advanced
performance and meet stringent energy efficiency requirements,"
said Tom Deitrich, senior vice president and general manager
of Freescale's RF, Analog and Sensor Group. "With the
MPL3115A2, we are integrating smart features and technologies
to offer ease-of-use for our customers, while also paving
the way for future advancements in the mobile device space."
Freescale's Xtrinsic MPL3115A2 provides barometric and
altimetry pressure detection up to 30 cm of resolution and
delivers a digital output in either meters or pascals, based
on user preference. The MPL3115A2 sensor also includes embedded
functions and user-programmable options, such as temperature
compensation, with variable sampling rates up to 128 Hz.
Smart features include autonomous data acquisition with
two interruptions on thresholds detection. To enhance efficiency,
the device regulates auto-wake and sleep modes (to avoid
unnecessary use of power) and requires zero data processing
for mobile devices and medical and security applications.
Availability: Now in samples.
Price: $1.50 (USD) in 10K units
