Project: SensoNor Inertial Measurement Unit - System-in-Package

The CO objective of the SIMU-SiP project is to develop complete (System-in-Package or SiP) integrated gyro modules for stabilization and inertial navigation (Inertial Navigation Systems – INS). The products will be marketed towards identified professional players primarily within the application areas down-hole logging, surveying, positioning and guiding of machinery for agriculture and road construction, navigation and platform stabilization and maritime positioning and stabilization._x000D__x000D_The development of these new products will be based on the project Ps´ previous work on the SAR10 angular-rate gyro chip which was developed for automotive applications and delivered to our customer Autoliv (see Fig. 1 in the Annex), the world’s largest automotive safety company, for a number of years. By further development and furnishing this sensor element with advanced analog and digital signal conditioning electronics (see Fig. 2) and suitable packaging (see Figs. 3 and 4), we have demonstrated that it has the potential of performing competitively with gyros based on expensive, heavy and space / power-consuming technology such as ring laser and fiber optic gyros (see Fig. 5). _x000D__x000D_Ongoing background and sideground projects led by SenTech are developing the MEMS gyro chips as well as analog and digital signal conditioning ASICs that will be included in the system. The aim of the present project, however, is to integrate the sensor with electronics and new software algorithms in a complete "System-in-Package", and test and qualify this as a product for a set of professional applications (see Fig. 6)._x000D__x000D_Introducing MEMS technology into this product area gives the users the following advantages:_x000D_- Replaces expensive, heavy and space-consuming technology (mechanical gyro / ring laser gyro / fiberoptic gyro) with low-cost, reliable, compact and robust technology (MEMS-based)_x000D_- Enables new systems solutions - primarily because of smaller and less expensive systems_x000D_- Considerably lower power consumption_x000D_- Significantly reduced need for COtenance._x000D__x000D_Expected results of this development are gyro modules with high precision and accuracy (100 ppm) and bias stability better than 0.1 °/h (in comparison, the rate of rotation of the earth is 15 °/h)._x000D__x000D_The project consortium consists of a Norwegian R&D-performing SME and a Swedish research institute. These Ps possess complementary skills and know-how, and will together perform the majority of the project tasks, but will in addition use a few selected subcontractors for specialized tasks such as simulations using FEM-tools and design and construction of dedicated test equipment.

Acronym	SIMU-SiP (Reference Number: 4736)
Duration	01/07/2009 - 03/12/2012
Project Topic	SensoNor Technologies will develop a novel series of complete Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) as microsystems-in-package for a set of applications within down-hole surveying and instrumentation for land surveying, road construction, agriculture etc., maritime positioning and stabilization.
Project Results (after finalisation)	The goal of this project has to develop complete (System-in-Package or SiP) integrated modules for stabilization and inertial navigation (Inertial Navigation Systems – INS). More specifically, the project has introduced a novel method for mounting MEMS sensor element, which has extreme performance in terms of isolating the sensor element from external forces ("package stress"), connects thermally well, and is symmetric. The methodology is tested and implemented in our production facilities. Secondly, the project has developed digital algorithms controlling the gyro running in closed-loop. The signal processing includes filtering, compensation and calibration methodologies. _x000D__x000D_Prototypes, consisting of packages, MEMS gyro sensor element, analog ASIC, and an FPGA, have been produced and tested. The MEMS gyro sensor element and the analog ASIC is not part of this project as such, but needed to test and evaluate performance of the system and . However they are integral parts of the final product. During the project, several issues have been identified and corrected. Due to current performance limitations in the sensor element (due to non-optimal processing), the performance of the system is limited to a noise figure 10 times larger than specified. Nevertheless, testing, characterization and (part-) qualification performed so far indicate that the performance of the developed parts and algorithms in this project performs in a manner consistent with the specification of the system. _x000D__x000D_The project progress has been delayed. The gyro sensor element has been developed concurrently. At early stages, the limited performance of the gyro sensor element did impose limitation on testing (and understanding) of system. Issues related to noise and interference in ASIC and package led to a full re-design of both ASICs and package. This led to a significant delay. Finally, Sensonor Technologies AS announced bankruptcy in February 2012. Soon after, March 2012, Sensonor AS was established, effectively being a re-organized Sensonor Technologies AS. However, this caused significant delay._x000D__x000D_The cooperation with the P, Imego AB, has met all expectations._x000D_
Network	Eurostars
Call	Eurostars Cut-Off 2

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
2	Imego AB	Partner	Sweden
2	SensoNor Technology AS	Coordinator	Norway