Yamaha Announces Compass Chip

Yamaha Corp. announced that it has developed the YAS529 Three-Axis Geomagnetic Sensor IC Chip, the world’s smallest class of three-axis geomagnetic sensor for applications related to mobile phones and compact navigation systems. Most phones with GPS functions show the user’s current location on a map, but the services are thought to be difficult to use because the maps provided do not rotate in response to the user’s movements nor do they indicate the direction in which the users is moving. End users have expressed a growing desire for a geomagnetic sensor with an electronic compass function that keeps the map oriented in the direction of their movement. Plans call for beginning to market the chip in October 2006.

Since 2005, Yamaha has been mass producing and shipping such products as the YAS525 two-axis geomagnetic sensor and the YAS526 three-axis geomagnetic sensor, both of which are suitable for mobile phones and similar applications. The newly developed YAS529 three-axis geomagnetic sensor features the performance characteristics of the YAS526 sensor but employs newly developed processing technologies to increase compactness. In addition, because some mobile phones are incorporating acceleration sensors to realize new kinds of game interface applications, the YAS529 features an interface for connections with acceleration sensors. It is thus designed in response to growth in demand associated with GPS and new game interface applications. The sample price is quoted at 1,050 JPY (including tax). Continue>>