STMicroelectronics (www.st.com) has announced the release of its latest generation of geo-magnetic modules, which is an ultra-low power device that addresses location-based services and advanced navigation by incorporating high-resolution three-axis sensing of magnetic and linear motion in a 5 x 5 x 1 mm package.

The inclusion of high-performance magnetic sensing and motion enables optimized electronic compassing in mobile phones and other personal electronic gadgets, including map/display orientation, direction finding, pedestrian dead reckoning and location-based services. The LSM303DLM geo-magnetic module, which is the newest addition to ST’s MEMS portfolio, has been specifically designed and manufactured using similar micromachining technology process that the company has also applied in over one billion motion sensors offered in the market today.

The company’s module combines high-precision sensing with smart embedded features including wake-up/power-down functionality and 6D orientation detection. This provides two programmable interrupt signals that allow immediate notification of free fall, motion detection and other conditions.

ST’s latest geo-magnetic module addresses energy efficiency on both the system and chip level. The module’s operating power consumption of 360uA translates to a 50 percent decrease over other devices in production.

The LSM303DLM module offers remarkably accurate output across full-scale ranges of ±2g / ±4g / ±8g (linear acceleration) and from ±1.3 up to ±8 Gauss (magnetic field). The device boasts of modern stability over time and temperature as well as an increase of 30 percent in magnetic sensing resolution over the previous module, the LSM303DLH.

This new module is pin-to-pin and software-compatible with the old model. Thus, customers can easily protect their investment in application development.

The LSM303DLM geo-magnetic module is offered at a price of $1.95 for volumes within the range of 100,000 pieces.