Bosch Sensortec launches BMX160, a tiny 9-axis motion sensor, for tight form factors

Bosch Sensortec launched the BMX160, a compact 9-axis motion sensor targeting applications that include smartphones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, and smart jewelry (e.g., rings, necklaces), as well as augmented/virtual reality devices.  

Compared to smartphones, wearables face much harsher space and power constraints. The BMX160 is housed in a compact, 2.5 x 3.0 x 0.95-mm package, which the company says is the smallest 9-axis motion sensor in the industry.

By combining Bosch Sensortec’s advanced accelerometer, gyroscope and geomagnetic sensor technologies, the BMX160 can meet the increasingly stringent low-power requirements demanded by wearable devices. Bosch's low-power sensor technology reduces power consumption to below 1.5 mA. This sensor is suited for applications that face extreme form-factor constraints, such as in smart glasses.

The BMX160 sensor enables Android wearable applications relying on sensor data such as device orientation, magnetic heading or the gravity vector. Moreover, the sensor supports applications such as 3D indoor mapping and smartphone optimized virtual reality applications – e.g., Cardboard Virtual Reality (VR). The sensor can be used with the Bosch Sensortec BSX sensor data fusion software library to further optimize performance. 

The single-package BMX160 effectively replaces the present mainstream two-component workaround solution, which combines a 6-axis IMU with a 3-axis geomagnetic sensor. 

The BMX160 has a built-in power management unit and ultra-low-power background application features. This enables the power-hungry application processor to remain in sleep mode much longer, for example when counting steps, which helps to extend battery recharge intervals. The integrated step counter function and the Android-compatible significant motion detector consume only 30 µA each.

The accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetic technology in the BMX160 have been optimized for low offset, low noise, and best temperature stability. Bosch Sensortec gyroscope technology offers an extremely low drift, which is a key requirement for an accurate real-time user experience, especially in augmented and virtual reality applications.

Samples are available for development partners. 

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