MagnaChip Semiconductor Corporation, a Korean semiconductor company with a broad portfolio of analog and mixed-signal products and technologies, announced a new e-Compass sensor product, the MXG1300, based on MagnaChip's low noise 0.18 micron technology. The MXG1300 targets the growing market for smartphones, tablets and other handheld devices.

The e-Compass is an important sensor for smartphones and tablets as it maintains alignment of the display with the user's orientation. As smartphones and tablets increasingly utilize navigation and augmented reality features, the e-Compass market is expected to grow in measure with the growth of smartphone and tablet production. A recent report from the Gartner Group shows smartphone production having grown by a CAGR of 61.6% from 2009 to 2012. By introducing the MXG1300, MagnaChip enters this emerging and growing market equipped with its own high-volume 8-inch wafer manufacturing capability combined with a Korea-based "end-to-end" ecosystem.

The MXG1300 e-Compass offers an attractive design solution featuring an Android OS driver, compass algorithms, and magnetic field scanning support. Field scanning support helps determine an optimum location for the MXG1300 chip placement within a cellphone, since the e-compass operation is subject to magnetic interference from a vibration motor and speakers. MXG1300 provides an industry-competitive wide dynamic range of magnetic field strength and cost-effectiveness. Additional features of the MXG1300 are its low noise mixed signal and analog process technology as well as a 16-bit sigma-delta ADC (analog-digital converter).

In addition, the MXG1300 has a low-power mode which reduces operating current by 40% in situations where it is possible to operate the device at a slower, but acceptable, heading speed. This mode creates wider power management flexibility by extending the battery life of mobile devices.

"We believe the timing is right to launch the MXG1300 e-Compass sensor series as the market is demanding a more cost effective solution," said YJ Kim, Executive Vice President and General Manager of MagnaChip's Display Solutions Division. "With the advantage of our own proprietary 0.18 micron process technology and available capacity at our cost competitive fab, MagnaChip will continue to provide the consumer with constantly evolving e-Compass solutions, a key element of MagnaChip's expanding technology and product roadmap."