Ultra Low Noise, Low offset Drift 1 g Dual Axis Accelerometer with Digital Outputs

MXD2020E/F

FEATURES
Resolution better than 1 mg at 1 Hz Dual axis accelerometer fabricated on a monolithic CMOS IC RoHS compliant
On-chip mixed mode signal processing 50,000 g shock survival rating 17 Hz bandwidth
3.00V to 5.25V single supply operation Small (5mm x 5mm x 2mm) surface mount package Continuous self-test Independent axis programmability (special order) APPLICATIONS Automotive – Vehicle Security/Active Suspension/ABS Headlight Angle Control/Tilt Sensing Security – Gas Line/Elevator/Fatigue Sensing Office Equipment – Computer Peripherals/PDA’s/Cell Phones Gaming – Joystick/RF Interface/Menu Selection/Tilt Sensing Projectors - Leveling and Keystoning White Goods – Spin/Vibration Control
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The MXD2020E/F is an ultra low noise and low cost, dual axis accelerometer built on a standard, submicron CMOS process. The MXD2020E/F measures acceleration with a full-scale range of 1 g and a sensitivity of 20%/g @5V at 25C. It can measure both dynamic acceleration (e.g., vibration) and static acceleration (e.g., gravity). The MXD2020E/F design is based on heat convection and requires no solid proof mass. This eliminates stiction and particle problems associated with competitive devices and provides shock survival up to 50,000 g, leading to significantly lower failure rates and lower losses due to handling during assembly.
The MXD2020E/F provides two digital outputs. The outputs are digital signals with duty cycles (ratio of pulse width to period) that are proportional to acceleration. The duty cycles outputs can be directly interfaced to a microprocessor.

Sck (optional)

Internal Oscillator

Temperature Sensor

Voltage

CLK

Reference

Heater Control

Continous Self Test

X axis

Low Pass Filter

Factory Adjust Offset & Gain

Y axis

2-AXIS SENSOR

V
DD

Gnd

Low Pass Filter
VDA

TOUT V
REF
D
OUTX
DOUTY

MXD2020E/F FUNCTIONAL BLOCK DIAGRAM

The typical noise floor is 0.2mg / Hz allowing signals below 1mg to be resolved at 1 Hz bandwidth. The MXD2020E/F is available in a LCC surface mount package (5mm x 5mm x 2mm height). It is hermetically sealed and operational over a -40 C to +105 C temperature range.
Due to the standard CMOS structure of the MXD2020E/F, additional circuitry can easily be incorporated into custom versions for high volume applications. Contact the factory for more information.

Information furnished by MEMSIC is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, no responsibility is assumed by MEMSIC for its use, nor for any infringements of patents or other rights of third parties, which may result from its use. No license is granted by implication or otherwise under any patent or patent rights of MEMSIC

   www.memsic.com

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MXD2020E/F SPECIFICATIONS (Measurements @ 25C, Acceleration = 0g unless otherwise noted, VDD=, VDA
5.0V unless otherwise specified)

MXD2020E/F

Parameter

Conditions

Min

Typ

Max

Units

SENSOR INPUT

Each Axis

Measurement Range1

1.0

g

Nonlinearity Alignment Error2 Transverse Sensitivity3

Best fit straight line

0.5

1.0

% of FS

1.0

degrees

2.0

%

SENSITIVITY

Each Axis

DOUTX and DOUTY Change over Temperature (uncompensated)4

@5.0V supply from 25C, at –40C

19.0

20.0

21.0 % Duty

Cycle/g

+120

%

from 25C, at +105C

-55

%

Change over Temperature (compensated) 4 from 25C, –40C to +105C

<3.0

%

ZERO g BIAS LEVEL 0 g Offset5 0 g Duty Cycle5

Each Axis

-0.1

0.00

+0.1

g

48

50

52 % Duty Cycle

0 g Offset over Temperature

from 25C

0.4

mg/C

based on 20%/g

0.008

% / C

PWM output Frequency

For MXD2020EL only

97

100

103

Hz

MXD2020E

95

100

105

Hz

MXD2020F

380

400

420

Hz

NOISE PERFORMANCE Noise Density, rms

0.2

0.4 mg/ Hz

FREQUENCY RESPONSE

3dB Bandwidth

15

17

19

Hz

TEMPERATURE OUTPUT

Tout Voltage Sensitivity

1.15

1.25

1.35

V

4.6

5.0

5.4

mV/K

VOLTAGE REFERENCE OUTPUT

VRef output Change over Temperature

@3.0V-5.25V supply

2.4

2.5

2.65

V

0.1

mV/C

Current Drive Capability

Source

100

A

SELF TEST

Continuous Voltage at DOUTX, DOUTY under @5.0V Supply, output rails to

Failure

supply voltage

5.0

V

Continuous Voltage at DOUTX, DOUTY under @3.0V Supply, output rails to

Failure

supply voltage

3.0

V

DOUTX and DOUTY OUTPUTS

Normal Output Range

Output High

4.8

V

Output Low

0.2

V

Current

Source or sink, @ 3.0V-5.25V supply

100

A

Rise/Fall Time

3.0 to 5.0V Supply

90

100

110

nS

Turn-on Time

@5.0V Supply

160

mS

@3.0V Supply

300

mS

POWER SUPPLY

Operating Voltage Range

3.0

5.25

V

Supply Current

@ 5.0V

2.7

3.3

4.1

mA

Supply Current

@ 3.0V

3.2

4.0

4.8

mA

TEMPERATURE RANGE

Operating Range

-40

+105

C

NOTES
1 Guaranteed by measurement of initial offset and sensitivity. 2 Alignment error is specified as the angle between the true and indicated axis of sensitivity. 3 Transverse sensitivity is the algebraic sum of the alignment and the inherent sensitivity errors 4 The sensitivity change over temperature for thermal accelerometers is based on variations in heat transfer that are governed by the laws of physics and it is highly consistent from device to device. Please refer to the section in this data sheet titled “Compensation for the Change of Sensitivity over Temperature” for more information.

5 The device operates over a 3.0V to 5.25V supply range. Please note that sensitivity and zero g bias level will be slightly different at 3.0V operation. For devices to be operated at 3.0V in production they can be trimmed at the factory specifically for this lower supply voltage operation, in which case the sensitivity and zero g bias level specifications on this page will be met. Please contact the factory for specially trimmed devices for low supply voltage operation. 6 Output settled to within 17mg.

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ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM RATINGS* Supply Voltage (VDD, VDA) ………………...-0.5 to +7.0V Storage Temperature ……….…………-65C to +150C Acceleration ……………………………………..50,000 g

*Stresses above those listed under Absolute Maximum Ratings may cause permanent damage to the device. This is a stress rating only; the functional operation of the device at these or any other conditions above those indicated in the operational sections of this specification is not implied. Exposure to absolute maximum rating conditions for extended periods may affect device reliability.

Package Characteristics

Package

JA

JC

LCC-8 110C/W 22C/W

Device Weight < 1 gram

Ordering Guide

Model

Package Style

MXD2020EL MXD2020EF
MXD2020FL MXD2020FF

LCC8 RoHS compliant LCC8, Pb-free RoHS compliant LCC8 RoHS compliant LCC8, Pb-free RoHS compliant

Digital Output 100 Hz 100Hz
400 Hz 400Hz

All parts are shipped in tape and reel packaging. Caution ESD (electrostatic discharge) sensitive device.

8

1

7

X +g

2

6

3

5

4

Y +g Top View

Note: The MEMSIC logo’s arrow indicates the +X sensing direction of the device. The +Y sensing direction is rotated 90°away from the +X direction. Small circle indicates pin one (1).

THEORY OF OPERATION The MEMSIC device is a complete dual-axis acceleration measurement system fabricated on a monolithic CMOS IC process. The device operation is based on heat transfer by natural convection and operates like other accelerometers having a proof mass except it is a gas in the MEMSIC sensor.
A single heat source, centered in the silicon chip is suspended across a cavity. Equally spaced aluminum/polysilicon thermopiles (groups of thermocouples) are located equidistantly on all four sides of the heat source (dual axis). Under zero acceleration, a temperature gradient is symmetrical about the heat source, so that the temperature is the same at all four thermopiles, causing them to output the same voltage.
Acceleration in any direction will disturb the temperature profile, due to free convection heat transfer, causing it to be asymmetrical. The temperature, and hence voltage output of the four thermopiles will then be different. The differential voltage at the thermopile outputs is directly proportional to the acceleration. There are two identical acceleration signal paths on the accelerometer, one to measure acceleration in the x-axis and one to measure acceleration in the y-axis. Please visit the MEMSIC website at www.memsic.com for a picture/graphic description of the free convection heat transfer principle.

Pin Description: LCC-8 Package

Pin Name Description

I/O

1 TOUT

Temperature (Analog Voltage) O

2 DOUTY

Y-Axis Acceleration Digital Signal O

3 Gnd

Ground

I

4 VDA

Analog Supply Voltage

I

5 DOUTX

X-Axis Acceleration Digital Signal O

6 Vref

2.5V Reference Output

O

7 Sck

Optional External Clock

I

8 VDD

Digital Supply Voltage

I

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PIN DESCRIPTIONS VDD – This is the supply input for the digital circuits and the sensor heater in the accelerometer. The DC voltage should be between 3.00 and 5.25 volts. Refer to the section on PCB layout and fabrication suggestions for guidance on external parts and connections recommended.
VDA – This is the power supply input for the analog amplifiers in the accelerometer. Refer to the section on PCB layout and fabrication suggestions for guidance on external parts and connections recommended.
Gnd – This is the ground pin for the accelerometer.

COMPENSATION FOR THE CHANGE IN SENSITIVITY OVER TEMPERATURE All thermal accelerometers display the same sensitivity change with temperature. The sensitivity change depends on variations in heat transfer that are governed by the laws of physics. Manufacturing variations do not influence the sensitivity change, so there are no unit-to-unit differences in sensitivity change. The sensitivity change is governed by the following equation (and shown in Figure 1 in C):
Si x Ti 2.90 = Sf x Tf 2.90 where Si is the sensitivity at any initial temperatuire T , and Sf is the sensitivity at any other final temperatufre T with the temperature values in K.

DOUTX – This pin is the digital output of the x-axis acceleration sensor. It is factory programmable to 100 Hz or 400 Hz. The user should ensure the load impedance is sufficiently high as to not source/sink >100A typical. While the sensitivity of this axis has been programmed at the factory to be the same as the sensitivity for the y-axis, the accelerometer can be programmed for non-equal sensitivities on the x- and y-axes. Contact the factory for additional information.

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

Temperature (C)

80

100

DOUTY – This pin is the digital output of the y-axis acceleration sensor. It is factory programmable to 100 Hz or 400 Hz. The user should ensure the load impedance is sufficiently high as to not source/sink >100A typical. While the sensitivity of this axis has been programmed at the factory to be the same as the sensitivity for the x-axis, the accelerometer can be programmed for non-equal sensitivities on the x- and y-axes. Contact the factory for additional information.

TseOnUsTo–r.TThhisepainnaislotghveobltuafgfeeraetdToOuUTtpiustaonf

the temperature indication of the

die temperature. This voltage is useful as a differential

measurement of temperature from ambient and not as an

absolute measurement of temperature. After correlating the

voltage at TOUT to 25C ambient, the change in this

voltage due to changes in the ambient temperature can be

used to compensate for the change over temperature of the

accelerometer offset and sensitivity. Please refer to the

section on Compensation for the Change in Sensitivity

Over Temperature for more information.

Sck – The standard product is delivered with an internal clock option (800kHz). This pin should be grounded when operating with the internal clock. An external clock option can be special ordered from the factory allowing the user to input a clock signal between 400kHz And 1.6MHz

V
ref

–

This

pin

is

the

output

of

a

reference

voltage.

It

is

set

at 2.50V typical and has 100A of drive capability.

Figure 1: Thermal Accelerometer Sensitivity
In gaming applications where the game or controller is typically used in a constant temperature environment, sensitivity might not need to be compensated in hardware or software. The compensation for this effect could be done instinctively by the game player.
For applications where sensitivity changes of a few percent are acceptable, the above equation can be approximated with a linear function. Using a linear approximation, an external circuit that provides a gain adjustment of –0.9%/C would keep the sensitivity within 10% of its room temperature value over a 0C to +50C range.
For applications that demand high performance, a low cost micro-controller can be used to implement the above equation. A reference design using a Microchip MCU (p/n 16F873/04-SO) and MEMSIC developed firmware is available by contacting the factory. With this reference design, the sensitivity variation over the full temperature range (-40C to +105C) can be kept below 3%. Please visit the MEMSIC web site at www.memsic.com for reference design information on circuits and programs including look up tables for easily incorporating sensitivity compensation.
DISCUSSION OF TILT APPLICATIONS AND RESOLUTION Tilt Applications: One of the most popular applications of the MEMSIC accelerometer product line is in tilt/inclination measurement. An accelerometer uses the

MEMSIC MXD2020E/F Rev H

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force of gravity as an input to determine the inclination angle of an object.

resolution of the measurement. With a simple RC low pass filter, the rms noise is calculated as follows:

A MEMSIC accelerometer is most sensitive to changes in position, or tilt, when the accelerometer’s sensitive axis is perpendicular to the force of gravity, or parallel to the Earth’s surface. Similarly, when the accelerometer’s axis is parallel to the force of gravity (perpendicular to the Earth’s surface), it is least sensitive to changes in tilt.

Table 1 and Figure 2 to help illustrate the output changes in the X- and Y-axes as the unit is tilted from +90to 0. Notice that when one axis has a small change in output per degree of tilt (in mg), the second axis has a large change in output per degree of tilt. The complementary nature of these two signals permits low cost accurate tilt sensing to be achieved with the MEMSIC device (reference application note AN-00MX-007).

X +900
00

gravity

Noise (mg rms) = Noise(mg/ Hz ) *(Bandwidth(Hz)*1.6)
The peak-to-peak noise is approximately equal to 6.6 times the rms value (for an average uncertainty of 0.1%).
DIGITAL INTERFACE The MXD2020E/F is easily interfaced with low cost microcontroller. For the digital output accelerometer, one digital input port is required to read one accelerometer output. For the analog output accelerometer, many low cost microcontroller are available today that feature integrated a/d (analog to digital converters) with resolutions ranging from 8 to 12 bits.
In many applications the microcontroller provides an effective approach for the temperature compensation of the sensitivity and the zero g offset. Specific code set, reference designs, and applications notes are available from the factory. The following parameters must be considered in a digital interface:

Y Top View
Figure 2: Accelerometer Position Relative to Gravity

X-Axis

Y-Axis

X-Axis

Orientation

Change

Change

To Earth’s X Output per deg. Y Output per deg.

Surface

(g)

of tilt

(g)

of tilt

(deg.)

(mg)

(mg)

90

1.000

0.15

0.000

17.45

85

0.996

1.37

0.087

17.37

80

0.985

2.88

0.174

17.16

70

0.940

5.86

0.342

16.35

60

0.866

8.59

0.500

15.04

45

0.707

12.23

0.707

12.23

30

0.500

15.04

0.866

8.59

20

0.342

16.35

0.940

5.86

10

0.174

17.16

0.985

2.88

5

0.087

17.37

0.996

1.37

0

0.000

17.45

1.000

0.15

Table 1: Changes in Tilt for X- and Y-Axes

Resolution: Accelerometers can be used in a wide variety of low g applications such as tilt and orientation. The device noise floor will vary with the measurement bandwidth. With the reduction of the bandwidth the noise floor drops. This will improve the signal to noise ratio of the measurement and resolution. The output noise scales directly with the square root of the measurement bandwidth. The maximum amplitude of the noise, its peakto- peak value, approximately defines the worst case

Resolution: smallest detectable change in input acceleration Bandwidth: detectable accelerations in a given period of time Acquisition Time: the duration of the measurement of the acceleration signal

DUTY CYCLE DEFINITION The MXD2020E/F has two PWM duty cycle outputs (x,y). The acceleration is proportional to the ratio T1/T2. The zero g output is set to 50% duty cycle and the sensitivity scale factor is set to 20% duty cycle change per g. These nominal values are affected by the initial tolerance of the device including zero g offset error and sensitivity error. This device is offered from the factory programmed to either a 10ms period (100 Hz) or a 2.5ms period (400Hz).

T1 T2 (Period) Duty Cycle
Pulse width

Length of the “on” portion of the cycle. Length of the total cycle. Ratio of the “0n” time (T1) of the cycle to the total cycle (T2). Defined as T1/T2. Time period of the “on” pulse. Defined as T1.

T2

T1
A (g)= (T1/T2 - 0.5)/0.2 At 0g T1=T2
T2= 2.5ms or 10ms (factory programmable) Figure 3: Typical output Duty Cycle

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For a more detail discussion of temperature compensation

CHOOSING T2 AND COUNTER FREQUENCY

reference MEMSIC application note #AN-00MX-002

DESIGN TRADE-OFFS

The noise level is one determinant of accelerometer

resolution. The second relates to the measurement resolution of the counter when decoding the duty cycle output. The actual resolution of the acceleration signal is limited by the time resolution of the counting devices used

Ax

MEMSIC Accel

Ay

T

to decode the duty cycle. The faster the counter clock, the

Microcontroller
I/O I/O A/D

higher the resolution of the duty cycle and the shorter the

T2 period can be for a given resolution. Table 2 shows

Figure 4: Zero g Offset Temperature Compensation Circuit

some of the trade-offs. It is important to note that this is the

resolution due to the microprocessors’ counter. It is probable that the accelerometer’s noise floor may set the lower limit on the resolution.

COMPENSATION FOR EXTENDING THE FREQUENCY RESPONSE The response of the thermal accelerometer is a function of

the internal gas physical properties, the natural convection

mechanism and the sensor electronics. Since the gas

Counter-

MEMSIC Clock Counts

Reso-

Sample

Rate Per T2 Counts lution

T2 (ms) Rate

(MHz) Cycle per g (mg)

10.0

100

1.0

10000 2000

0.5

10.0

100

0.5

5000 1000

1.0

2.5

400

1.0

2500 500

2.0

2.5

400

0.5

1250 250

4.0

Table 2: Trade-Offs Between Microcontroller Counter Rate and

T2 Period.

properties of MEMSIC's mass produced accelerometer are uniform, a digital filter can be used to equally compensate all sensors. The compensating filter does not require adjustment for individual accelerometers. The function of the compensating filter is to apply gain in proportion with the acceleration changes. The faster the acceleration changes occur, the higher the gain that the filter applies. For analog output accelerometers, the compensating filter can be implemented with a circuit involving two op-amps and some resistors and capacitors. For digital output

COMPENSATION FOR ZERO G OFFSET CHANGE

accelerometers, a digital filter is necessary.

OVER TEMPERATURE

The compensation of offset is performed with the following In applications where high frequency accelerations need to

equation: Aoc = A + ( a + b * T + c * T * T)

be measured, a DSP (digital signal processor) may be

where Aoc is the offset compensated acceleration, A is the necessary to implement the digital filter. DSP IC’s and

uncompensated acceleration, T is temperature and a, b, c development tools are readily available from major IC

are constants characteristic to each accelerometer. manufacturers.

Computer programs are used to determine these constants. The constants can be read from and written to the MCU However, if the bandwidth requirement is relatively low EEPROM via the RS-232. The constants a,b,c are normally (i.e. 100Hz), it is possible to implement a digital frequency stored in the MCU EEPROM. To determine the values of compensating filter with an 8 bit microcontroller. The the constants, each accelerometer is taken to three different microcontroller will likely have to be capable of operating temperatures, preferably evenly spread across the desired at relatively high clock frequencies (20MHz).

temperature span. The zero g bias (A0, A1 and A2) and the temperatures (T0, T1 and T2) are recorded at each temperature. The data collected (A0, T0, A1, T1, A2, T2) is used in a quadratic interpolation (or LaGrange polynomial) to determine a, b and c as follows:
r0 = A0 / ( (T0-T1)*(T0-T2) ) r1 = A1 / ( (T1-T0)*(T1-T2) ) r2 = A2 / ( (T2-T0)*(T2-T1) ) a = r0 * T1 * T2 + r1 * T0 * T2 + r2 * T0 * T1

CONVERTING THE DIGITAL OUTPUT TO AN ANALOG OUTPUT The PWM output can be easily converted into an analog output by integration. A simple RC filter can do the conversion. Note that that the impedance of the circuit following the integrator must be much higher than the impedance of the RC filter. Reference figure 5 for an example.

b = - r0 * (T1+T2) – r1 * (T0+T2) – r2 *(T0+T1)

c = r0 + r1 + r2

10K DOUT

AOUT

In many cases a computer is used to control the

temperature, communicate with the MCU, and to calculate MEMSIC

1uF

the constants. After calculating the constants, the computer Accel.

downloads the constants to EEPROM.

Figure 5: Converting the digital output to an analog voltage

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TEMPERATURE OUTPUT NOISE REDUCTION It is recommended that a simple RC low pass filter is used when measuring the temperature output. Temperature output is typically a very slow changing signal, so a very low frequency filter eliminates erroneous readings that may result from the presence of higher frequency noise. A simple filter is shown in Figure 6.

TOUT

8.2K

Filtered TOUT

Power Supply

C1 0.1uF

VDA VDD
MEMSIC Accelerometer

MEMSIC Accel.

0.1uF

Figure 7: Power Supply Noise Rejection

Figure 6: Temperature Output Noise Reduction

PCB LAYOUT AND FABRICATION SUGGESTIONS 1. The Sck pin should be grounded to minimize noise.

POWER SUPPLY NOISE REJECTION

2.

One capacitor is recommended for best rejection of power

supply noise (reference Figure 7 below). The capacitor 3.

should be located as close as possible to the device supply 4.

pin (VDD). The capacitor lead length should be as short as

possible, and surface mount capacitor is preferred. For

typical applications, the capacitor can be ceramic 0.1 μF. 5.

Liberal use of ceramic bypass capacitors is recommended. Robust low inductance ground wiring should be used. Care should be taken to ensure there is “thermal symmetry” on the PCB immediately surrounding the MEMSIC device and that there is no significant heat source nearby. A metal ground plane should be added directly beneath the MEMSIC device. The size of the ground plane should be similar to the MEMSIC device’s footprint

and be as thick as possible.

6. Vias can be added symmetrically around the ground

plane. Vias increase thermal isolation of the device

from the rest of the PCB.

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PACKAGE DRAWING Fig 8: Hermetically Sealed Package Outline

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