Oki Develops World's Thinnest Tri-Axis Accelerometer Module with Digital Communication Function
Tokyo, Japan, August 17, 2004 -- Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (TSE: 6703) today announced that it has developed the world's thinnest ultra small tri-axis accelerometer module (*1), the ML8950. Integrating the sensor chip with the control IC enabled Oki to develop the world's thinnest package. In addition to detecting the tri-axis (X, Y and Z) acceleration (±3g), the tri-axis accelerometer module can also detect inclination and impact shock as well as measure the degree of inclination and vibration. Targeting the mobile phone, mobile equipment, HDD and entertainment markets, sample shipments will begin in Japan and North America in October 2004 and volume shipments in April 2005.
"Because Oki's module is thin and its shock survivability is high, the tri-axis accelerometer modules can now be mounted onto mobile equipments. We believe our world's thinnest module will make a strong impact on mobile handset and mobile equipment manufactures," said Hironori Kitabayashi, President of Silicon Manufacturing Company at Oki Electric.
Oki's tri-axis accelerometer module, ML8950 detects tri-axis acceleration, inclination and vibration and outputs the signal in a digital format. With micromachined technology (*2), using SOI (Silicon on Insulator) wafers, Oki succeeded in developing a module that combines high shock survivability with a 1.4mm thin film and small size sensor chip, all of which are necessary conditions when mounting onto a mobile equipment.
The control IC chip is equipped with a signal amplification circuit, a control circuit, an analog/digital converter and a temperature compensating circuit. In addition, it is the first tri-axis accelerometer module to be equipped with a digital interface. This omits the need for an analog/digital signal converter on the equipment and can easily embed the tri-axis accelerometer module into digital equipment because it is directly connected to the CPU.
This is Oki's first product for the MEMS market, in which it has been providing production services utilizing its silicon micro fabrication technology since 1999. Oki plans to reach a target sales of 10 billion yen by the fiscal year ending March 2007 through its MEMS technology and development of high functional MEMS sensors by combining LSI design and development technologies with integrated MEMS.
[Glossary]
- 1. Tri-axis accelerometer module:
- A sensor that detects acceleration, inclination and vibration in tri-axis. Because Oki's tri-axis accelerometer module is highly sensitive, it can measure gravity at stasis and can detect instantaneous acceleration and inclination.
- 2. Micromachined technology:
- A technology to create a micron size mechanical section on silicon wafer with glass and silicon junction technique and micro fabrication technology such as lithography and etching in ICs.
About Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
Founded more than a century ago in 1881, Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. is Japan's first telecommunications manufacturer, with its headquarter in Tokyo, Japan. With the corporate vision, "Oki, Network Solutions for a Global Society," Oki Electric provides top-quality products, technologies and solutions to its customers through its telecommunications systems, information systems and electronic devices segments. All three segments are integrated into one effective organization that functions as a collective force to create exciting new products and technologies, including information and telecom converged solutions. Through its business activities, Oki Electric satisfies a spectrum of customer needs in various markets.
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