ST Unveils iNEMO Engine Sensor Fusion Suite

GENEVA, Sept. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications and the leading supplier of MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) for consumer and portable applications(1), today introduced its iNEMO Engine Sensor Fusion Suite, a new family of advanced filtering and predictive software that uses sophisticated algorithms to integrate outputs from multiple MEMS sensors. Real-time on-board motion-sensor data fusion is set to dramatically improve the user experience, increasing accuracy, resolution, stability and response time in advanced motion-based applications in consumer, computer,  industrial and medical fields.

The iNEMO Engine can be combined with ST's iNEMO Inertial Modules to create the industry's first complete and customizable hardware/software multi-axis MEMS sensor solutions for enhanced motion and accurate heading recognition. Equipment manufacturers across different market segments can now easily and quickly deploy robust and reliable high-performance motion-detection systems with up to 10 degrees of freedom, comprising 3-axis sensing of linear, angular, and magnetic motion with barometer/altitude readings from a pressure sensor, enabling true augmented-reality applications.

Based on the Kalman Filter(2) theory, ST's iNEMO Engine software employs a set of adaptive prediction and filtering algorithms that make sense of all the complex information coming from multiple sensing devices, including accelerometers, gyroscopes, compasses, and pressure sensors. The software automatically corrects measurement distortions, inaccuracies and interference among the sensors, taking motion-sensing realism to levels previously unseen.

"The iNEMO Engine's sensor-fusion capabilities unleash the full capabilities of ST's MEMS sensors and multi-axis inertial modules," said Benedetto Vigna, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of ST's Analog, MEMS and Sensor Group. "Unparalleled integration of motion-sensing software and hardware in customizable system solutions keeps ST ahead of the competition and accelerates the Company's mission to make MEMS ubiquitous in all facets of life."

ST's iNEMO Engine Sensor Fusion Suite includes the iNEMO Engine Lite, a free software library for motion-detection system evaluation, and the iNEMO Engine Pro, a compiled software library with data-fusion algorithms for multiple sensor output processing, customizable for different operating systems and hardware platforms.

For further information on ST's complete MEMS portfolio see www.st.com/mems.

(1) IHS iSuppli: H1 2011 Consumer and Mobile MEMS Market Tracker, August 2011

(2) Kalman filter is an algorithm that predicts the current state of the system from its previous state and current measurement

About STMicroelectronics

STMicroelectronics is a global leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications with innovative semiconductor solutions. ST aims to be the undisputed leader in multimedia convergence and power applications leveraging its vast array of technologies, design expertise and combination of intellectual property portfolio, strategic partnerships and manufacturing strength. In 2010, the Company's net revenues were $10.35 billion. Further information on ST can be found at www.st.com. 

SOURCE STMicroelectronics