Yamaha YAS529Three-Axis Geomagnetic Sensor IC Chip

location based services

Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan: July 26, 2006 — Yamaha Corporation (president: Shuji Ito) announced today that it has developed the Yamaha YAS529 Three-Axis Geomagnetic Sensor IC Chip, the world's smallest class1 of three-axis geomagnetic sensor2 for applications related to mobile phones and compact navigation systems. Plans call for beginning to market the chip in October 2006.
Sample Pricing and Market Launch Date
Product
Model No.
Sample Price
Shipment Date
Yamaha Three-Axis Geomagnetic Sensor IC Chips
YAS529
¥1,050 (Including consumption tax)
October 2, 2006 (Mon.)
Product Description
Yamaha will soon begin shipping samples of its newly developed YAS529 three-axis geomagnetic sensor, the 2mm x 2mm x 1mm dimensions of which place it in the world's most compact class of such sensor developed to date. It is expected to be in strong demand for applications related to mobile phones and compact navigation systems.
Market Overview
Recently, the number of mobile phones with GPS functions has surged, and navigation services have become increasingly popular. Most mobile phones with GPS functions show the user's current location on a map, but the services are difficult to use because the maps provided do not rotate in response to the user's movements nor do they indicate the direction in which the users is moving. End users have thus been expressing a growing desire for a geomagnetic sensor with an electronic compass function, or "heading up function," that keeps the map oriented in the direction of the user's movement. Moreover, the increasing compactness and thinness of mobile phones seen in recent years is leading to strong demand for ever more compact components of all types.
Development Background
Since 2005, Yamaha has been mass producing and shipping such products as the YAS525 two-axis geomagnetic sensor and the YAS526 three-axis geomagnetic sensor, both of which are suitable for mobile phones and similar applications. The newly developed YAS529 three-axis geomagnetic sensor features the performance characteristics of the YAS526 sensor but employs newly developed processing technologies to increase compactness. In addition, because some mobile phones are incorporating acceleration sensors to realize new kinds of game interface applications, the YAS529 features an interface for connections with acceleration sensors. It is thus designed in response to growth in demand associated with GPS and new game interface applications.
Special Characteristics
The YAS529 combines a buffer amp, an A/D converter, a clock generator, and a serial interface circuit (I2c bus compatable) on a single three-axis geomagnetic sensor IC chip.When used with portable GPS systems and mobile phones, the YAS529 chip offers high-sensitivity, low-power, and compact electronic compass functions.

Single-chip integration: The use of high-precision manufacturing processes to create a geomagnetic sensor on a silicon substrate has made it possible to combine peripheral circuits on a single chip.

High sensitivity: The geomagnetic sensor and low-noise amp are integrated, and high geomagnetic sensitivity has been achieved.

Improved noise resistance: Noise resistance has been improved through the digitization of output data.

External interface: It is compatable with I2C buses (100kbps/400kbps, slave mode).

It is a geomagnetic sensor that offers superior mounting efficiency and low electric power consumption.

It has an internal automatic power-down control mode for reducing power consumption once geomagnetic bearings have been determined.

It has three internal terminals for A/D inputting of tilt sensor signals.

The sensor's general-use output terminal (GPO) enables the power-down control of tilt sensors with stand-by pins.
Other Main Specifications
Manufacturing process
CMOS process + geomagnetic sensor
Package
Lead-free 10-pin WLCSP package(2.0mm x 2.0mm x 1.0mm)
Core-use power source voltage
2.5V ~ 3.6V
Interface-use power source voltage
1.65V ~ VDD
Operating temperature range
-20° ~ +85° C
Operating-time power consumption
4mA (when VDD=3.0V) (when making geosensor measurements)
Geomagneetic sensor portion
Measured magnetic field
Measurement resolution limit
±300T
0.6T/count or less (X, Y)1.2T/count or less (Z)
Measurement time period
Geomagnetic sensor measurement
Tilt sensor A/D
Within 10ms (measuring all three axes simultaneously)
Within 10ms (measuring all three axes simultaneously)
Notes:
*1.
Based on Yamaha's survey.
*2.
In brief, geomagnetic sensors are "electronic compasses." For such applications as those related to maps, the sensor detects the direction in which the electronic device is pointed and calculates compass directions. Operating in tandem with the user's map application, it enables the rotation of the map itself to consistently reflect the user's orientation. Specifically, the direction in which the user is moving will always be at the top of the electronic device's display. In addition, in applications unrelated to maps, it can simply be used as a compass.
For further information, please contactYAMAHA CORPORATIONPublic & Investor Relations Group,Public Relations DivisionMr. Mike TanakaTEL +81-3-5488-6601FAX +81-3-5488-5060
Visit Yamaha's website at http://www.global.yamaha.com/index.html