MEMS upgrade supports Android KitKat
KitKat, besides being a chocolate bar, is the upgrade to Android versions 4.1 through 4.3, which were known collectively as Jelly Bean.
The MPU6515 from InvenSense Inc. (San Jose, Calif.) includes an enhanced version of its Digital Motion Processor to offload motion protocols and algorithms from the application processor as required by Android KitKat for low-power inertial location tracking and contextual awareness.
The MPU6515 integrates tri-axis accelerometer and tri-axis gyroscope along with the motion processor in a package that measures 3mm by 3mm by 0.9mm. It is intended for use in wearables equipment, smartphones and tablet computers that run the Android 4.4 operating system.
Android 4.4 defines several sensor functions including Significant Motion Interrupt, Pedometer, Step Event and Event Batching. The MPU6515 performs these functions on-chip, only waking the Application Processor when critical motion events require attention from other parts of the system.
"InvenSense is singularly positioned to enable this market with our fully integrated sensor SoC platforms while our competitors must use a separate microcontroller to process the new Android Kit Kat features, increasing OEM system cost, power consumption and overall board footprint," said Ali Foughi, vice president of marketing and business development at InvenSense, in a statement.
The MPU6515 is footprint- and pin-compatible with the MPU6500, which means that existing smartphone and tablet computer designs running Android Jelly Bean can be easily upgraded to the MPU6515 and associated MotionApps software for Android KitKat.
The chip is already designed in with early products running Android Kitkat.
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