Sensors
4 Freescale Semiconductor
MMA6331L
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The Freescale accelerometer is a surface-micromachined
integrated-circuit accelerometer.
The device consists of a surface micromachined
capacitive sensing cell (g-cell) and a signal conditioning ASIC
contained in a single package. The sensing element is sealed
hermetically at the wafer level using a bulk micromachined
cap wafer.
The g-cell is a mechanical structure formed from
semiconductor materials (polysilicon) using semiconductor
processes (masking and etching). It can be modeled as a set
of beams attached to a movable central mass that move
between fixed beams. The movable beams can be deflected
from their rest position by subjecting the system to an
acceleration (Figure 3).
As the beams attached to the central mass move, the
distance from them to the fixed beams on one side will
increase by the same amount that the distance to the fixed
beams on the other side decreases. The change in distance
is a measure of acceleration.
The g-cell beams form two back-to-back capacitors
(Figure 3). As the center beam moves with acceleration, the
distance between the beams changes and each capacitor's
value will change, (C = Aε/D). Where A is the area of the
beam, ε is the dielectric constant, and D is the distance
between the beams.
The ASIC uses switched capacitor techniques to measure
the g-cell capacitors and extract the acceleration data from
the difference between the two capacitors. The ASIC also
signal conditions and filters (switched capacitor) the signal,
providing a high level output voltage that is ratiometric and
proportional to acceleration.
Figure 3. Simplified Transducer Physical Model
SPECIAL FEATURES
g-Select
The g-Select feature allows for the selection between two
sensitivities. Depending on the logic input placed on pin 10,
the device internal gain will be changed allowing it to function
with a 4g or 9g sensitivity (Table 3). This feature is ideal when
a product has applications requiring two different sensitivities
for optimum performance. The sensitivity can be changed at
anytime during the operation of the product. The g-Select pin
can be left unconnected for applications requiring only a 4g
sensitivity as the device has an internal pull-down to keep it
at that sensitivity (308 mV/g).
Sleep Mode
The 2 axis accelerometer provides a Sleep Mode that is
ideal for battery operated products. When Sleep Mode is
active, the device outputs are turned off, providing significant
reduction of operating current. A low input signal on pin 7
(Sleep Mode) will place the device in this mode and reduce
the current to 3 μA typ. For lower power consumption, it is
recommended to set g-Select to 4g mode. By placing a high
input signal on pin 7, the device will resume to normal mode
of operation.
Filtering
The 2 axis accelerometer contains an onboard single-pole
switched capacitor filter. Because the filter is realized using
switched capacitor techniques, there is no requirement for
external passive components (resistors and capacitors) to set
the cut-off frequency.
Ratiometricity
Ratiometricity simply means the output offset voltage and
sensitivity will scale linearly with applied supply voltage. That
is, as supply voltage is increased, the sensitivity and offset
increase linearly; as supply voltage decreases, offset and
sensitivity decrease linearly. This is a key feature when
interfacing to a microcontroller or an A/D converter because
it provides system level cancellation of supply induced errors
in the analog to digital conversion process.
Table 3. g-Select Pin Description
g-Select g-Range Sensitivity
0 4g 308 mV/g
1 9g 83.6 mV/g
