STMicroelectronics Announces Turn-Key Solution for Freefall Drop Protection of Notebooks
29 September 2008
STMicroelectronics announces that its complete free-fall detection solution that consists of a 3-axis motion sensor and software application has been chosen to protect the user’s data stored on hard disk drives in the new ESPRIMO Mobile family of professional notebooks from Fujitsu Siemens Computers.
According to ST, its MEMS motion sensor instantly detects any abnormal movement of the PC and prompts the system to stop all reading and writing operations and to quickly move the magnetic head on the hard disk drive to a safe position, before the laptop hits the ground.
"We were looking for a motion sensor that is able to respond immediately to any significant changes in direction, speed and acceleration. ST’s MEMS accelerometers clearly represent a best-in-class combination of these elements,” said Barbara D’Introno, Director Product Marketing Fujitsu Siemens Computers. “In addition to that, ST delivers a complete turn-key solution that has significantly reduced time-to-market for advanced hard disk drive data protection in our newest professional notebook family.”
ST says its sensor meets stringent drop test criteria required in portable electronic devices. Its innovative mechanical design provides very high immunity to vibration and a shock resistance up to 10,000g. The sensor provides acceleration values at a very low noise level with minimized power consumption, which is especially critical in battery operated portable systems, such as smart phones, PDAs and laptops.
