November 11, 2008: Kionix has expanded its digital-output, tri-axis accelerometer product line with the KXTE9 product series. With embedded algorithms for orientation and activity monitoring, the KXTE9 simplifies the adoption of motion-based functionality in consumer electronics while reducing operating power consumption for such feature-rich products.

“The typical operating current for a fully operational KXTE9 is 30μA,” said Eric Eisenhut, VP for sales and marketing. “Kionix has proven to be a leader in enabling applications in mobile products that rely on inertial sensors. This newest innovation takes the current consumption from 200-300μA down to 30μA.”

The orientation-detection feature of the KXTE9 reports changes in landscape, portrait, face-up, and face-down conditions. This embedded algorithm eliminates the need for continuous data collection and complex calculations by a microprocessor. Accordingly, the KXTE9 enables the implementation of screen rotation — such as that found on some high-end mobile phones — into any handheld device. The KXTE9 also features an activity-monitoring function that reports changes in a device’s motion state, either moving (active) or not moving (inactive). By providing this information to the device, the KXTE9 enables power management, a critical function in today’s mobile devices for prolonging battery life, and other novel motion-based applications.