Inertial Sensors Integration for Advanced Positioning Systems

Abstract

Modern navigation systems for the automotive market do require accurate and reliable sensors for precise implementation of the dead-reckoning algorithms needed for accurate map positioning in all different driving situations and circumstances. STMicroelectronics has been developing inertial sensors for these applications since 2009, with the introduction of the first 3-axis low-g accelerometers and the first ever fully integrated 3-axis gyroscope, now accepted as market standards and adopted in a myriad of in-dash infotainment systems. As happened earlier in other segments such as consumer, sensor integration is emerging in automotive to optimize performance and costs. Complete integration of acceleration and rate sensors on the same die can be enabled only by an advanced planar silicon technology, which is capable of creating independent mechanical structures that are diverse by nature. The tiny ASM330LXH is the smallest and highest-performance 6-axis Inertial Measurement Unit qualified to AEC-Q100 for non-critical automotive applications like navigation and telematics. This paper addresses the major integration challenges and presents the new device, with focus on the benefits versus traditional discrete solutions.