The smallest accelerometers offer easy integration, reduced size, and features that enhance wearables and wearables with step counting, voice detection, and power efficiency.
Space is a critical factor in hearables, smartwatches, and other portable consumer electronics, where every component must be minimized in size. At the same time, OEMs are looking for plug-and-play sensors like step-counters that are easy to integrate and don’t require extensive application expertise. Addressing these needs, Bosch Sensortec has introduced the BMA530 and BMA580, the world’s smallest MEMS accelerometers. These devices are designed with built-in features that simplify their integration. The BMA530, with its step counter, is particularly suited for wearables, while the BMA580 is designed for hearables, featuring voice activity detection.
The sensors represent a significant size reduction, boasting a 76% smaller footprint compared to Bosch’s previous generation accelerometer, the BMA253, and a height reduction from 0.95 mm to 0.55 mm. This miniaturization is achieved through an innovative Wafer Level Chip Scale Package (WLCSP). Their compact size makes them easy to place on a PCB, and their integrated features facilitate seamless integration into portable products.
The BMA580 stands out with its innovative voice activity detection tailored for hearable devices. Traditionally, wearables require microphones to remain active, consuming significant power to detect voice activity. However, the BMA580 employs bone conduction to sense the user’s voice vibrations, triggering the microphone only when needed, thus conserving power. No other sensor on the market combines bone conduction with a miniature form factor. Additionally, the BMA580 allows users to interact with a hearable device through taps, such as answering or ending calls, with its software distinguishing between single, double, and triple taps.
Beyond wearables, the BMA530 is also well-suited for gesture recognition in toys, fall detection in laptops and other devices, and power management functions, like putting a smartphone to sleep when not in use. These new accelerometers feature multiple power modes and can automatically transition between low-power and high-power states to maximize battery life. They also support flexible connectivity options, including an I3C interface.
“The demand for tiny sensors with ever-increasing performance is growing as the industry moves towards more stylish and minimalist designs that require smaller sensors,” said Stefan Finkbeiner, General Manager and CEO of Bosch Sensortec.
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