Integrated 3-axes compass chip

30 November 2005 Electronics Technology

AKM Semiconductor claims to have developed the industry's first fully integrated 3-axes electronic compass, combining three Hall-effect sensors and a mixed-signal processing chip. Developed primarily for portable GPS applications, the 3-axes AK8970N measures magnetic field strength of the earth in x, y and z directions. The 3-axes device touts several advantages over 2-axes sensors. For example, by integrating the 3-axes electronic compass into a GPS device, it orients the map in the direction the user is heading, and magnetic field measurements are correct even when the user is tilting the GPS device. The device integrates proprietary Dynamic Offset Estimation software, which performs continuous calibration to eliminate stray magnetic field errors. Accuracy of the compass is claimed to be ±5%. The AK8970N, housed in a 24-pin QFN package, operates from 2,5 V to 3,6 V and draws 8,5 mA.

www.akm.com

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