All Imego accelerometers are micromachined and utilize the patented Quad Slanted Beam principle where four separate masses are suspended by slanted beams that bend in different directions. This accelerometer principle provides full symmetry and has identical properties in the x-, y-, and z-direction with near-zero cross-coupling between the axes. The Imego accelerometers are especially suited for demanding navigation and industrial measurement applications due to its high performance and symmetrical properties, but can also be adapted to high-volume low-cost applications such as home appliances, vehicles, mobile phones and toys.
One everyday example of an application where accelerometers are central to the function can be found in automobile safety systems where the car's movement is measured such as airbags and electronic stability programs (ESP). Built into portable computers, accelerometers can instantly detect when it is dropped, allowing time to park the hard drive before it hits the ground, preventing damage and data loss. In automobile alarms, accelerometers can be used to detect wheel theft and in palm top computers and digital cameras they can sense how the device is being held, thereby enabling viewing of both in tall screen and wide screen mode.
Imego’s triaxial accelerometer, the IQ10A, is a patented sensor solution for motion measurement in three dimensions. All three axes of motion are measured with a single silicon chip sensor, which is good news for those who need to measure vibrations or accelerations in tight spaces. The unique sensor solution and construction method gives IQ10A a number of advantages over other technology in this area.
Compact
The monolithic design of the IQ10A four-sensor element enables minimizing the component size without affecting its high performance. Its small size is one of IQ10A’s decisive strengths. Quality assured
Micromechanical systems (MEMS) are manufactured in a completely automated process, which means that quality deviations in production are minimized. IQ10A’s unique design with multiple sensors on the same silicon wafer also eliminates the risk of mounting and calibration error.
Cost effective
IQ10A’s construction method (batch-compatible wet etching) enables a very low production cost in large runs. Since the system is constructed in a single piece, the usual costs for mounting and calibration of multiple individual sensors are eliminated. |