ANDOVER, Mass., May 8, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MEMSIC Inc. (Nasdaq:MEMS), a leading solutions provider, combining proprietary MEMS technology with advanced mixed-signal processing and systems solutions, today announced the availability of the latest member of its AMR based Magnetic Sensor family, the 3-Axis ultra-small MMC3316xMT. It provides the industry's highest accuracy performance, lowest noise and low power consumption combined with enhanced sensing range and exceptionally small package, and addresses the ever-increasing demands of mobile applications.
Dr. Yang Zhao, MEMSIC's chairman, president and CEO, said, "MEMSIC has successfully extended the full scale range of its AMR based magnetic sensors with the introduction of the world's first 3-Axis, +/- 16 Gauss full scale device based on AMR technology. The MMC3316xMT raises the bar in the magnetic sensing space from a performance, size and value perspective. The electronic compass is projected to grow to more than 1 billion units by 2014. As electronic compasses become standard installations in all smartphones, users are beginning to demand enhanced phone performance and functionalities, including pointing accuracy and ease of use. In the past customers who needed more than +/- 8 Gauss were forced to use Hall or other noisier, less accurate technology, trading accuracy, noise and resolution for a larger full scale range. With the introduction of the MMC3316xMT, customers can now have the benefits of AMR technology and the FS range their application requires."
Dr. Zhao continued, "We expect that this highly integrated and full functioning device to provide our customers with a highly differentiated product offering while simultaneously saving them valuable board space and lowering manufacturing costs. We expect the product to strengthen MEMSIC's position in the worldwide mobile e-compass market as well as offer us opportunities to expand through consumer, industrial and automotive applications."
The MEMSIC MMC3316xMT ultra-small 3-Axis Magnetic Sensor provides 14-bit operation over a wide +/- 16 Gauss operating range with accuracies of +/- 2.0 % FSO, hysteresis of 0.5 % FSO and repeatability of 0.5 % FSO on each of its 3-axis. It provides the capability to address a broad range of applications with exceptionally high performance by its ability to demonstrate insensitivity to external magnetic interferences. The ultra-small, low profile LGA package measures 2.0 x 2.0 x 1.0 mm. and operates over the -40 to + 85 degree C temperature range from a supply voltage of 1.8 to 3.3 volts. It exhibits extremely low power consumption of only 0.1 mA at a seven samples per second data rate making it ideal for power sensitive mobile applications. Being a complete system incorporating on-chip signal processing and integrated I2C 400 KHz FAST mode operation, it allows direct connectivity to the system microprocessor, thus eliminating the need for A/D or timing functions and saving valuable board space, simplifying the design and manufacturing, increasing the reliability and reducing cost by minimizing parts count.
MMC3316xMT comes with MEMSIC's state-of-the-art sensor integration algorithm that removes the effects of hard iron and soft iron interferences as well as motion sensor integration software that leverages MEMSIC's proven 11 DOF (Degree Of Freedom) sensor integration technology, currently employed by many of MEMSIC's precision industrial and avionics customers. Our sensor integration algorithm, used together with the MMC3316xMT, outperforms the "sensor fusion" algorithms available in market today. Applications include smartphones and tablets, gaming, electronic compasses for automotive use, GPS navigation, positioning sensing and magnetometry.
The MEMSIC MMC3316xMT 3-Axis Magnetic Sensor is available immediately in sample quantities and by Q3 2012 in production quantities. Unit pricing is $0.84 in 100K+ unit quantities.
About MEMSIC, Inc.
Headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts, MEMSIC, Inc. provides advanced semiconductor sensor and system solutions based on integrated micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology and mixed signal circuit design. MEMSIC's unique and proprietary approach combines leading-edge sensor technologies, such as magnetic sensors and accelerometers, with mixed signal processing circuitry to produce reliable, high-quality, cost-effective solutions for automotive, consumer and industrial markets.