Nu Horizons Electronics has introduced the OKI ML8953, a low-profile, MEMS 3D accelerometer that detects static and dynamic acceleration on three orthogonal axes. Designed for use in motion-sensitive mobile devices, security and gaming applications, it features an internal microcontroller with embedded Flash ROM. Its detection range is -3g to +3g and the device offers a sensitivity of 10mg/bit for acceleration and 0.5 degrees C per bit for temperature.
The built-in microcontroller provides temperature measurement, temperature compensation, several output modes, pitch and roll angle calculation and digital output. It therefore takes most of the operational load from the host computer. The on-chip Flash ROM stores calibration data. Operating options include automatic measurement, continuous or interruption mode, polling mode and an averaging function. Trigger threshold acceleration levels are programmable, and flexible connectivity is achieved with I2C and SPI interfaces.
The ML8953 comes in an 18-pin QFN, 5mm x 5mm ceramic package that is just 1.15mm high, making it suitable for use in space-constrained hand-held devices. An application kit allows rapid evaluation of the ML8953 features and development of applications requiring motion sensing, tilt angle detection and other sensing functions. The kit consists of a board based on OKI's ML67Q4061 ARM7 CPU, battery or USB power connections, RS-232 interface, and output options that include LEDs, a buzzer, and a 2-line x 16 character display interface.
