TDK announced two second-generation MEMS sensors for automotive uses on the eve of the Electronica trade event in Germany on Monday. Both are 6-axis Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) for advanced driver assistance and auto safety, compared to the multiple 3-axis sensors now in wide use.
“Most safety applications today rely on a limited number of axes, rendering current solutions partially blind and unable to gather all the vehicle dynamics,” said Alberto Marinoni, senior direct of auto product marketing for InvenSense, a TDK Group company. “Transitioning to a 6-axis solution ensures no motion information is missed, unlocking broader application possibilities for developers.”
The two InvenSense SmartAutomotive MEMS sensors are in mass production with samples already available. Pricing was not announced. They are the IAM-20685HP and IAM-20689, and the latter is focused on safety for critical auto applications such as electronic/roll stability control and drive-by-wire. Both enable real-time monitoring. Both are much smaller than current MEMS, coming in at 4.5 x 4.5 x 1.1 mm3.
Applications both sensors support include ADAS systems, automated parking, vision systems, adaptive front-lighting and actives suspension. The six axes are a 3-axis accelerometer and a 3-axis gyroscope. Both include two embedded temperature sensors and operate at up to 125 degrees C. The products are small enough to be placed inside a camera module for lidar and radar. Embedded sensor diagnostics mean there is no need to use an external software library for functional levels.
TDK’s first-generation MEMS sensors launched three years ago. Marinoni said the biggest difference TDK offers over competitors is the use of 6-axis sensing, while others offer up to 5-axes. In all, the latest generation is smaller and more accurate. The broader MEMS sensors market for automotive includes Bosch, STMicroelectronics, Analog Devices, General Electric, Denso, Murata and Infineon.
Yole Intelligence said TDK had 21% of the inertial sensors market in 2023, valued at $575 million.
The TDK sensor announcement comes on the heels of a multi-year partnership TDK announced in October with McLaren Racing to develop EV innovations for the Formula E motorsport platform and gaming. Their work will include development of passives, sensors, charging and battery tech.