TDK has made its InvenSense PositionSense two-chip, nine-axis sensor solution available through distributors worldwide. The solution combines motion and magnetic sensing with on-chip software for orientation tracking and position detection.
PositionSense integrates a six-axis SmartMotion IMU, a three-axis magnetometer based on tunnel magneto resistance (TMR) technology, and sensor fusion and calibration software. TDK attributes the system’s absolute orientation detection to the integration of these components.
“When your device uses PositionSense, users are always on track and never lost – even in a city, field, factory, or location without a satellite connection,” said Joseph Bousaba, CEO of InvenSense, a TDK group company. “Whether for people using their smart glasses, watches, or phone for directions, or for a humanoid navigating a warehouse floor, our PositionSense sensor solution ensures highly accurate and reliable navigation for physical AI devices.”
Four Hardware Configurations
All four PositionSense configurations include on-chip sensor fusion and gyro-assisted calibration for always-on sensing:
- ICM-45608 + ICT-15318 – I2C, SPI and I3C support at 1.8 V VDDIO, with accelerometer and gyroscope full-scale ranges of 16 g and 2,000 degrees per second. TDK positions this configuration for IoT applications.
- ICM-45608 + ICT-15312 – I2C and SPI support at 1.2 V VDDIO, with accelerometer and gyroscope full-scale ranges of 16 g and 2,000 degrees per second. TDK positions this configuration for battery-powered and power-sensitive applications.
- ICM-45689 + ICT-15318 – Extended accelerometer and gyroscope full-scale ranges of ±32 g and ±4,000 degrees per second, with I2C, SPI and I3C support at 1.8 V VDDIO.
- ICM-45689 + ICT-15312 – Extended accelerometer and gyroscope full-scale ranges of ±32 g and ±4,000 degrees per second, with I2C and SPI support at 1.2 V VDDIO.
According to TDK, the extended ranges of the ICM-45689 configurations provide more measurement headroom for high-dynamic motion.
Sensing and Calibration Features
The IMU uses MEMS technology and includes a vibration-resistant gyroscope with BalancedGyro technology and a low-noise accelerometer. TDK describes the TMR magnetometer as offering high sensitivity, high accuracy, low noise, a wide measurement range and resistance to magnetic field shocks.
According to TDK, the on-chip sensor fusion software synchronizes sensor data for processing at the moment of motion. It also provides nine-axis sensor calibration, gyroscope and magnetometer cross-calibration, and automatic magnetic shock recovery.
TDK lists applications including:
- Wearables, including smart glasses and AR/VR devices.
- Hearables, including TWS earbuds.
- Smartphones and other mobile devices.
- Assistive technology, including smart canes.
- Drones.
- Robotics.
Source: TDK
About TDK Corporation
TDK Corporation, founded in 1935 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a global technology company and supplier of electronic components and systems. The company’s portfolio includes components such as capacitors, inductors, and filters, as well as sensors, power supplies, magnetics, batteries, magnetic heads, and enterprise software solutions. Its products are marketed under brands including TDK, EPCOS, InvenSense, Micronas, Tronics, TDK-Lambda, TDK SensEI, and ATL. TDK serves industries such as telecommunications, automotive, industrial equipment, data centers, consumer electronics, and energy systems. Over its 90-year history, TDK has contributed to technologies ranging from ferrite cores and cassette tapes to components that support smartphones, electric vehicles, gaming, and renewable energy systems.
About InvenSense
InvenSense, founded in 2003 and headquartered in San Jose, CA, designs and produces micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and magnetic sensors integrated into SoC solutions. The company’s products include inertial measurement units (IMUs) for motion detection, MEMS microphones, ultrasonic sensors, pressure sensors, and automotive-specific sensors, supported by software solutions such as machine learning frameworks and sensor-fusion algorithms. Its technology serves markets including consumer electronics (smartphones, wearables, wireless earbuds), automotive applications, robotics, industrial IoT, gaming devices, drones, and smart home products. InvenSense was acquired by TDK in 2017 and currently operates as a subsidiary.
