Since consumers first embraced motion sensing capabilities in electronics, primarily driven to date by the popularity of the Nintendo Wii and Wii MotionPlus accessory and the Apple iPhone and iPad, their desires and expectations for more advanced motion-based user interface capabilities in devices has increased rapidly. In addition, an increasing number of application developers are introducing products that take advantage of motion sensing capabilities. For example, operating system platforms, such as the Android from Google and Windows 8 from Microsoft, are incorporating interfaces for motion-based applications.
Similar to the development of the microprocessor enabling the emergence of the personal computer and the multitude of applications that now run on that platform, as well as the development of the graphics processor enabling compelling, life-like graphics for numerous video gaming and professional applications, the introduction of an intelligent, integrated MotionProcessing™ platform enables the full potential of motion sensors and makes motion-based applications ubiquitous in consumer electronics. As the market continues to mature, component integration, sensor integration, and MotionFusion™ are the keys to success in reducing bill of materials (BOM) cost and board space while offering customers ease of design and a reduced time to market. MotionTracking™ from InvenSense is the next step in this process, combining motion sensors into one module capable of delivering integration for up to a 10-axis solution. MotionTracking incorporates a 3-axis gyroscope, 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis compass and 1-axis barometer while providing complementary software solution including system level test and calibration routines and “ready to install” applications packaged in a single 4x4x0.9mm die.
Integration of multiple motion sensors into one solution on the same chip provides improvement in alignment of the sensing of axes over multi-chip packaging techniques. Similar to a camera module, MotionTracking broadens the functionality of the sensors. An integrated 9 and 10-axis MotionTracking solution over standalone motion sensors eliminates many technical and logistical challenges including component selection and qualification, factory calibration, production procurement, board space constraints, and meeting application performance requirements. As consumer demands increase motion-based applications will expand far beyond the scope of smartphones, tablets, smart tv and gaming. There are many markets emerging from the capabilities of this technology Fitness, Sports, and Health markets, Indoor and Pedestrian Navigation are developing and with the MotionTracking module, they will be able to sense, measure, and process information more efficiently than ever before
