New Multi-Axis Gyroscope Improves Position Accuracy by Enabling Dead Reckoning for Portable Navigation Devices.

Small Size and Low Cost Device Brings Advanced Features Typical of Expensive, Highly Accurate In-Vehicle Systems to Low-Cost Dashboard GPS Systems

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- InvenSense, Inc. (www.invensense.com), the leading provider of integrated motion sensing solutions for mobile applications, today announced the availability of the IDG-1004, the world's smallest and lowest cost dual-axis gyroscope for the GPS portable navigation device (PND) market. The IDG-1004 enables dead reckoning (DR) and better map matching capability by measuring the direction of the vehicle with one axis, while providing better distance accuracy by measuring slope as the vehicle travels up and down hills or in rough terrain using the second axis.

The second axis of the gyroscope can also allow drivers easier installation by compensating for the angle at which the PND may be installed. Arbitrary mounting with a single axis gyroscope frequently results in lower accuracy. Furthermore, the X-axis and Y-axis sensing ability of the IDG-1004 makes it ideal for in-plane mounting on the main PND circuit board. Competing single-axis gyroscopes typically require a daughter board to be mounted perpendicular to the main PND circuit board since they measure only the Z-axis plane. This adds extra cost and manufacturing constraints.

"Sales of portable navigation devices are expected to top 25 million units worldwide in 2007," said Richard Robinson, principal analyst, automotive electronics, with the market-research firm iSuppli Corp., El Segundo, Calif. "Enhancing location and direction accuracy to the levels of more expensive in-vehicle systems will be one of the next main goals of PND makers."

The IDG-1004 gyroscope works with an accelerometer in a PND system to alleviate dead reckoning-related problems facing GPS-based systems today. Dead reckoning is the process of estimating one's current position based upon a previously determined position, or fix, and advancing that position based upon measured velocity and heading. Using this technique, the loss or degradation of the GPS signal from tall buildings, tunnels or tree foliage can be compensated and the driver can have uninterrupted directional feedback. Using DR techniques, navigation systems can also achieve more accurate map matching where the system continually determines the path of a vehicle's route by comparing its DR path to the actual road layout.

"With the addition of the IDG-1004 gyroscope to our portfolio of image stabilization and motion sensing gyroscopes, we continue to be the first to provide the smallest and lowest cost multi-axis gyroscopes tailored for major consumer electronics markets," said Dan Goehl, vice president of sales at InvenSense. "The in-plane sensing ability and dual-axis performance benefits makes the IDG-1004 gyroscope the perfect solution for the PND market."

The IDG-1004 integrated MEMS dual-axis gyroscope provides superior vibration rejection, high cross axis isolation, shock tolerance up to 10,000g and a full scale range of 50o/sec. The device is packaged in a small form factor QFN package and is currently in mass production.

About InvenSense

InvenSense, Inc. is the leading provider of motion sensing solutions for mobile applications. The company's motion sensing technology addresses emerging mass-market applications such as image stabilization, mobile navigation, location-based services and smart user interfaces that use hand motion and gesture-based commands. InvenSense corporate offices are located in Santa Clara, Calif. More information can be found at www.InvenSense.com.

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