Digital magnetometer targets LBS in handhelds with high resolution, low price

Digital magnetometer targets LBS in handhelds with high resolution, low price

Aimed at handheld electronics such as smart phones and location-tracking devices, the Xtrinsic MAG3110 three-axis digital magnetometer is said to offer the highest resolution (0.1 μT ) in the smallest package (2 x 2 x 0.8-mm 10-pin μDFN) for this class of device, and does so at a price starting at under $1.50. As such, the part can directly address a designer’s need for a location-based-services (LBS) sensor that can operate with an accelerometer and GPS to provide precise orientation and location information for a more comprehensive navigational system. Alternatively, it can function independently to provide backup directional data when cellular and GPS services aren’t available.

For decreased latency and highly reliable readings, the magnetometer features minimal averaging requirements, and its wide, ± 1,000 μT dynamic range enables performance even in environments with magnetic interference. The device is designed to measure the components of the local magnetic field — both the geomagnetic field and the magnetic field created by components on the circuit board, including distortions — and can thus provide extremely accurate heading readings.

In addition to the magnetic field sensing element, the device has an interface IC that provides signal conditioning, communication, and embedded functionality. Magnetic field data is readily passed from the magnetometer to the target system’s computational engine via an I2C interface. Features include an interrupt signal that indicates when a new set of measured magnetic field strength data is available, thus simplifying data synchronization while improving power efficiency / battery life.

In normal operation from 1.95- to 3.6-V supply, the magnetometer consumes 24 μA at 1.25-Hz sampling rate; maximum sampling rate is 80 Hz. Several different OS drivers are available, and the environmental operating range is −40°C to 85°C. (From $1.47 ea / 10,000 samples available now, prod qty 2nd qtr.)

Freescale Semiconductor , Austin , TX
Information 800-521-6274
www.freescale.com