Alps Electric Developed 3-Axis Electronic Compass: The World's Smallest Compass with Angle Compensation Functions

To contribute to equipping compact mobile devices with navigationfunctions, Alps Electric became the world's first company to load acompass with three magnetic sensors, leading to the development of theworld's smallest (3.5mm width x 3.5mm depth x 1.0mm height) three-axiselectronic compass with angle compensation functions. Alps Electricleveraged its unique high-precision, high-density mounting technologyin order to enable the loading of the new compasses into mobile phonesand other compact devices. While minute, this electronic compass alsomakes use of an advanced magnetic sensor for high-precision sensingfunctions.

The three magnetic sensors on the compass incorporate Alps'proprietary algorithms for maximum performance, as well as Alps'proprietary Giant Magneto Resistive (GMR) materials that trackthree-dimensional directions. Through these, the compass offers anglecompensation functions, magnetic field correction functions andautomatic terrestrial magnetism compensation functions.

Users of these navigation systems do not usually hold theirdevices level, but hold them naturally in their hands with the devicesat an angle. Accordingly, angle compensation functions are used toaccurately detect the direction in which the user is headed.

In terms of magnetic field correction, when the compass is loadedinside a device with multiple components, effects on its magneticfield due to magnetic noise from other parts is avoided. This assuresits high performance as a part, and contributes to better deviceengineering.

Principal Applications

Mobile phones, PDAs, car navigation systems and other compactmobile devices

Development Plan

Development: Business Development Headquarters, ProcessEngineering Center (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan)

Specifications

Product name Three-axis Electronic Compass
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Dimensions (W x D x H) 3.5mm x 3.5mm x 1.0mm
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Automatic angle compensation 0 degrees to 99 degrees
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Magnetic field correction +/-5 Gauss
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Interface I2C Inter Integrated Circuit
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