STMicroelectronics Introduces Two-Axis MEMS-Based Accelerometer For Handheld Gamepad Applications.Business & Technology Editors GENEVA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 9, 2002 STMicroelectronics (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :STM (Scanning Tunneling Microscope) A microscope that can image down to the atomic level. An STM uses a piezoelectric tube with a tiny sharp tip at the end that is moved within nanometers of the object being sampled. )-- -- New accelerometer accelerometer Instrument that measures acceleration. Because it is difficult to measure acceleration directly, the device measures the force exerted by restraints placed on a reference mass to hold its position fixed in an accelerating body. device from ST features high resolution and an integrated low-pass filter A filter that blocks high frequencies and allows lower frequencies to pass through. Such filters are used in devices such as POTS splitters that direct phone and DSL signals to different lines. Contrast with high-pass filter. and is aimed at applications including handheld gamepads, toys, industrial robotics, automotive and domestic appliances STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM) today introduced a new two-axis linear accelerometer based on silicon-micromachined Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical Systems) Tiny mechanical devices that are built onto semiconductor chips and are measured in micrometers. In the research labs since the 1980s, MEMS devices began to materialize as commercial products in the mid-1990s. ) technology that has been developed for various applications, and in particular for handheld 'gamepad' human interface devices for videogames. The new LIS LIS - Langage Implementation Systeme. A predecessor of Ada developed by Ichbiah in 1973. It was influenced by Pascal's data structures and Sue's control structures. A type declaration can have a low-level implementation specification. 2L01 device senses inclination in both the side-to-side (roll) and forward-backward (pitch) directions, allowing control of game parameters such as steering and braking without an actual physical connection to a fixed structure. This means that gamepads can be cheaper, simpler and more compact than steering wheel or joystick assemblies. The new device can also be used in a variety of other applications where it is necessary to sense acceleration or inclination in two directions, such as industrial production equipment, robotic toys and automotive electronics. It is also useful for vibration sensing in industrial equipment and home appliance applications to detect fault conditions before evident symptoms appear. Accelerometers based on silicon-micromachined MEMS technology are effective because they provide high sensitivity and precision with the economies of scale of the wafer batch process used to make integrated circuits. ST has already introduced a rotational accelerometer sensor based on MEMS technology - the LIS1R02 - and is developing a range of one, two and three-axis linear accelerometers all based on the same proven technology. Delivering high resolution and including an internal low-pass filter to reduce the overall parts count, the LIS2L01 integrates, inside a single small-outline package, both a MEMS accelerometer sensor and an electronic interface chip. Movement or inclination in two directions causes small displacements of a moving silicon element in the MEMS die, changing the capacitance of the structure. The interface chip translates these minute capacitance changes into calibrated cal·i·brate tr.v. cal·i·brat·ed, cal·i·brat·ing, cal·i·brates 1. To check, adjust, or determine by comparison with a standard (the graduations of a quantitative measuring instrument): analog voltages proportional to the movement. Since the sensor has a single moving element with two degrees of freedom the two axes are intrinsically aligned precisely at 90' to each other. As a result board mounting is much simpler than when two separate linear sensors are used. The LIS2L01 has a sensitivity of 2V/g over a bandwidth of DC-30Hz and an equivalent noise acceleration better than 500 millionths of G. One G is the magnitude of the Earth's gravitational grav·i·ta·tion n. 1. Physics a. The natural phenomenon of attraction between physical objects with mass or energy. b. The act or process of moving under the influence of this attraction. 2. force. During transport and in service it can withstand accelerations up to 1500G without damage to the moving parts, making it extremely shock resistant. The interface chip is factory-trimmed to ensure repeatable performance without production-line adjustments in the end product. About STMicroelectronics STMicroelectronics, the world's third largest independent semiconductor company, is a global leader in developing and delivering semiconductor solutions across the spectrum of microelectronics applications. An unrivalled combination of silicon and system expertise, manufacturing strength, Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio and strategic partners positions the Company at the forefront of System-on-Chip (SoC) technology and its products play a key role in enabling today's convergence markets. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) World's largest marketplace for securities. The exchange began as an informal meeting of 24 men in 1792 on what is now Wall Street in New York City. , on Euronext Paris and on the Milan Stock Exchange Milan Stock Exchange The largest regional stock exchange in Italy, facilitating more than 90% of the country's trading volume. . In 2001, the Company's net revenues were $6.36 billion and net earnings were $257.1 million. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com. |
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