Building on its strength in automotive sensors, Freescale has launched a high bandwidth accelerometer for the industrial market, writes Nick Flaherty.
Designed to capture acceleration information often missed by less accurate sensors commonly deployed in consumer products such as smartphones and exercise activity monitors, the new FXLN83xxQ enables intelligent algorithms to better perform fault prognostication for predictive maintenance and condition monitoring applications.
“Information from sensor data is driving efficiency gains and fostering compelling new business models across the industrial and medical markets,” said Babak Taheri, vice president and general manager for Freescale’s sensors solutions division. “Freescale’s systems and applications teams have worked closely with customers to couple our broad sensor portfolio with our extensive array of microcontrollers to address these new applications and opportunities. The resulting solutions help systems designers collect and leverage sensor data to drive analytics and intelligence for next-generation industrial and medical applications.”
Housed in a compact 3x3mm package, the new FXLN83xxQ accelerometer features the highest bandwidth in its class (2.7kHz) and is one of the first 3-axis devices to feature an operating temperature range of -40 to 105˚C. With an analogue output, the device is universally compatible across a wide range of ADC-enabled MCUs. In addition, the FXLN83xxQ features exceptionally low power consumption for battery-operated applications, exposed leads for rapid solder joint inspection, and 10 years guaranteed product availability via Freescale’s product longevity programme.
Key technical features of the new FXLN83xxQ product include:
* 1.71V to 3.6V supply voltage;
* ±2g to 16g selectable;
* High bandwidth: Up to 2.7kHz capable;
* Compact footprint (QFN 3 x 3 x 1.05mm 0.65mm pitch package) while supporting visible leads for solder inspection;
* Analogue parallel outputs for use with low voltage MCUs to optimise system power.
According to IHS, worldwide industrial electronics semiconductor revenue for 2013 amounted to $32.4 billion, a solid 9% rise from $29.8 billion in 2012. This growth sets the stage for a robust 2014, with annual worldwide revenue forecast to grow another 9 percent to $35.4 billion.
The FXLN83xxQ accelerometers are included in Freescale’s product longevity programme, which provides assurance of supply for a minimum of 10 or 15 years from the time of launch.
An evaluation kit, the DEMOFXLN83xxQ is available for the device, as well as four breakout boards (BRKOUT-FXLN8361Q, BRKOUT-FXLN8362Q, BRKOUT-FXLN8371Q, BRKOUT-FXLN8372Q) for a quick retrofit of the device. Freescale also provides the Xtrinsic Intelligent Sensing Framework for quick and easy software development.
The FXLN83xxQ accelerometer is available now from Freescale and authorised distributors worldwide for a suggested resale price of $1.20 to $1.70 (USD) in 1kU quantities.