Kionix's latest motion-sensing user interface for consumer electronics, the KXTF9 tri-axis accelerometer, has an algorithm embedded into the ASIC of the sensor, creating up to 12 tap-enabled commands for customer-specified functions. The acceleromter operates by the detection of a quick, light tap—or double tap—on any of the six faces of an object (±X, ±Y, and ±Z). The embedded algorithm allows the accelerometer to discern a single or double tap and the direction from which the tap originated. The taps can be used as commands; for example, a single tap on the face of a mobile phone could send the call to voicemail or silence the ringing; a tap to the left could navigate functionality; a double tap on the bottom could provide a transition to Internet access. The sensor also has the orientation-detection and low-power motion interrupt algorithms. As well as the industry-standard I2C interface, the accelerometer features a user-programmable output-data rate with ADCs executed at user-defined sampling rates, selectable 8- or 12bit resolution and a digital high-pass filter with a user-selectable cut-off frequency. The 3x3x0.9mm, 10-pin, LGA device operates at supply voltages from 1.8 to 3.6V DC.
