Delphi's Low-g Sensor Wins Silver 'Best-of-Show' Award at Sensors Expo

TROY, Mich., May 24 -- Delphi Corp.'s new all- silicon Low-g sensor was named the silver award winner in the "Best-of-Show" competition at the 2002 Sensors Expo in San Jose, Calif., this week. The INTELLEK® brand Low-g sensor won the show honors for its broad range of applications and design.

Delphi's Low-g (as in g-force -- the force of gravity) accelerometer measures linear acceleration. Greater sensitivity and a programmable range from as low as plus or minus 0.75g up to plus or minus 3.0g helped to distinguish the Low-g accelerometer from its competition. The sensor also comes with a wide bandwidth and comes in a standard low-profile package. Other special features of the sensor include an enhanced self-test and diagnostics.

The sensor is applicable for use in vehicle stability systems, rollover detection, inclination or theft detection, as well as industrial controls, robotics technologies, medical diagnostics and several consumer electronics applications.

"We are very pleased that the Low-g sensor was selected for this great honor," said Bill Gray, Delphi Delco Electronics Systems business line executive. "This marks the third year straight that a Delphi INTELLEK® brand sensor has won the honors. My thanks and congratulations go out to the Delphi team that worked on this project."

The criteria for the Sensors Expo "Best-of-Show" award included the product addressing a real market need and purpose. In addition, the product had to be distinctive with market-differentiating characteristics. And it had to have the potential to significantly impact the way people do work. It also had to be on display at the 2002 Sensors Expo.

"The Low-g is just packed with market potential," Gray said. "This very small sensor can provide huge benefits for any device that requires vibration measurement, motion detection or tilt sensing."

The Low-g accelerometer module combines a sensor and integrated circuit (IC) in an industry-standard, small-outline 20-pin package. The capacitive sensing element in the Low-g accelerometer is produced by micro-electro- mechanical systems (MEMS) technology. The signal-conditioning IC is produced with a high-voltage complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process.

Operating from a single 5.0-volt power supply, the Low-g features a self- test diagnostic that simulates actual acceleration when the power is first applied or requested by the system controller. It has low-noise discrimination to help eliminate invalid signals and is extremely robust, making it well suited for tough environments.

Delphi is one of the largest producers of automotive sensor technology and is aiming to expand the technology outside the automotive industry.