Freescale acceleration sensors adopted by Fujitsu for PC data protection

3-axis accelerometers offer reliable, cost-effective solution to help protect data stored on laptop hard disks

AUSTIN, Texas and TOKYO – Freescale Semiconductor is providing advanced acceleration sensor technology to Fujitsu Ltd., a major player in Japan’s PC market. Fujitsu is using Freescale accelerometers to help protect business-critical data stored on hard disks (HDDs) in mobile PCs. Robust, energy-efficient HDD data protection is required for a wide range of mobile PCs, from entry-level to high-end laptops used in business and commerce.

Freescale’s 3-axis, low-g MMA7341L acceleration sensor helps safeguard data stored on HDDs used in Fujitsu’s FMV BIBLO LOOX R series PCs. Featuring a lightweight, robust design and exceptional mobile performance, the LOOX R series PCs are designed to store data on HDDs for a variety of business needs in various locations. Users of business laptop PCs regard HDD data protection to be a vitally important function.

When used in HDD designs, the power-efficient MMA7341L sensor is designed to quickly detect an abnormal condition, such as a freefall, and retract the magnetic heads used for data read/write operation. This capability helps to protect data by preventing the HDD disk surface from being damaged. The MMA7341L sensor also features +/- 2 mg/degree (max.) for 0g offset voltage and 0.0075%/degree (max.) for sensitivity. These excellent temperature characteristics can significantly reduce the potential for error in HDD applications.

Freescale integrates its acceleration sensors, which are widely used in automotive applications such as tire pressure monitoring systems, into small plastic packages to enhance reliability and help reduce overall system cost. The cost effectiveness and dependability of these sensors will help accelerate the adoption of HDD protection technologies into laptop PC models.

“The LOOX R series mobile PCs are designed to satisfy consumer demand for lightweight, low-power and robust laptops,” said Kazuhiro Igarashi, corporate vice president, Personal Systems Business Unit, Fujitsu Ltd. “We believe that Freescale’s acceleration sensors, which have proven to provide reliable solutions in automotive designs, will enhance the development of data protection features in our laptop products, now and in the future.”

“The LOOX R products from Fujitsu Ltd. provide PC users with lightweight laptops that are easy to use, sophisticated and secure from a data protection standpoint,” said Demetre Kondylis, vice president and general manager of Freescale’s Sensor & Actuator Solutions Division. “Fujitsu has chosen our acceleration sensors for use in their laptops because they provide a reliable, cost-efficient solution for protecting important user data stored on HDDs. Freescale plans to continue to develop advanced 3-axis motion-sensing solutions for the next generation of mobile PCs.”

MMA7341L sensor features

* Small land grid array (LGA) 3x5x1mm package
* Low current consumption at 400 microamps
* Battery operation time in sleep mode extended by 3 microamps
* Temperature compensation offset
* Low-voltage operation at 2.2 V - 3.6 V
* 3-axis (XYZ) detection implemented by one device
* User-selectable acceleration range: 3g/11g
* Fast turn on time of 1 ms (enable response time of 0.5 ms)
* Self test for freefall detect diagnosis
* Zero-g detect for freefall protection

For more details about Fujitsu’s FMV BIBLO LOOX R series PCs (Japanese language information only), visit http://www.fmworld.net/fmv/pcpm0808/biblo_loox/lr/index.html.

For more details about Freescale’s acceleration sensors, visit www.freescale.com/files/pr/xyz.html.

About Freescale Semiconductor
Freescale Semiconductor is a global leader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors for the automotive, consumer, industrial, networking and wireless markets. The privately held company is based in Austin, Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturing or sales operations in more than 30 countries. Freescale is one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies with 2007 sales of $5.7 billion (USD). www.freescale.com