Kionix, Inc. Launches High-Performance Single and Dual Axis MEMS Accelerometers

ITHACA, N.Y., Aug. 19, 2003 -- Kionix, Inc., a global leader in high-performance MEMS inertial sensors, today announced general availability of its KXB01 single-axis and KXG11 dual-axis, low-g accelerometers following their selection by several major customers.

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The KXB01 and KXG11 high-performance accelerometers were specifically developed to address the most challenging automotive applications, such as vehicle stability management, active ride control, inertial navigation, vehicle roll control, and vehicle roll detection. These competitively-priced sensors are capable of static and dynamic acceleration, inclination, tilt sensing, and vibration detection, and provide engineers with a high-performance sensor solution to a diverse set of motion-based applications.

Both accelerometers are pin compatible, and are packaged in a surface-mountable, small form factor, 16-pin SOIC. Kionix sensors are fully featured and include built-in self-test and user-defined bandwidth adjustment. The sensors provide an analog output signal proportional to acceleration. Devices can be factory programmed to operate over a range of 1 to 10 g. Full scale, non-linearity typically runs at +/- 0.1 percent. Noise levels are typically under 60 micro-g/root Hz. The specified performance over temperature (-40 degrees to 125 degrees C) is designed to meet the most challenging automotive requirements. Each device is 100 percent factory calibrated and tested for sensitivity and offset over temperature to assure the highest performance levels.

Over the last decade, Kionix has been developing and producing MEMS products with its highly-versatile, patented, deep-silicon, reactive ion etching technology. This next-generation, plasma-micromachining technology was originally developed at Cornell University, and has enabled Kionix to create a broad accelerometer offering to meet the stringent requirements of the high-volume automotive and consumer electronics markets.

"Our sensors provide an unmatched combination of reliability, stability, endurance, and value. The Kionix accelerometers provide levels of adaptability and operation that are critical to the ever-widening array of challenging automotive and consumer electronics applications. The precision performance offered in these devices has caught the attention of many leading global companies, and we are rapidly developing partnerships to satisfy their needs," said Bruce Finke, Vice President for Sales and Marketing.

About Kionix

Kionix, Inc., founded in 1993, is a privately-held company in Ithaca, New York. The Company enjoys a worldwide reputation for MEMS product design, process engineering, and quality manufacturing. Product innovations developed by Kionix include inertial sensors, microfluidic systems, microrelays, and micromirror arrays. The Company offers the industry's broadest family of MEMS inertial sensors including single-, dual-, and tri-axis accelerometers, gyroscopes, and unique combination sensors. Kionix's MEMS products are used in diverse industries such as automotive, consumer electronics, and biotechnology. Kionix is ISO9000:2000 registered.

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