Freescale Semiconductor unveiled what they say is the “latest in motion-sensing technology” for mobile phones – the highly accurate, power-efficient MMA8450Q accelerometer. The solution is designed for next-gen smartphones and smartbooks, and will “play a key role in Freescale’s smartbook tablet reference design,” which debuted last month at CES 2010. It offers a range of embedded and configurable functions designed to help OEMs address specific product requirements, including orientation, tap, double tap, jolt, freefall and shake detection capabilities.
Here’s more from the official press release:
The MMA8450Q sensor features 12-bit digital resolution and is contained in a compact, 3x3x1 mm package. It offers intelligent data management capabilities, with an internal first-in/first-out (FIFO) 32-samples/axis (X-, Y- and Z-axis) memory buffer engineered to improve overall system power savings and response time by offloading functions from the host processor. Using the FIFO buffer along with the embedded functions can allow the end processor to analyze only the required data, while at the same time helping to protect from the possibility of data loss when multiplexing other sensors on the same I2C bus. Configurable power saving modes and auto-wake/sleep capability help designers achieve optimal current consumption. The extensive configurability for each of the embedded functions that can be tied to the auto-wake/sleep function can enable context-aware products for more power efficiency.
In terms of availability, Freescale has already started selling the MMA8450Q for $1.67 in 10,000-piece quantities, meaning we could see it embedded in some phones later in the year. Additional information is available from Freescale’s website.