iPhone 4 gyroscope X-rayed, likely to be added to future iPad
Two new looks at the gyroscope found in Apple's iPhone 4 offer a closer examination of the technology behind the motion sensor, as well as an indication that the feature will be added to a future revision of the iPad.
Empty iPad slot hints at future gyroscope
UBMTechInsights took a look inside Apple's new iPhone 4 and found it was made by STMicroelectronics. The three-axis MEMS gyroscope is made by the same company that produces the accelerometer found both the iPhone and iPad.
Steve Bitton, senior analyst with TechInsights, noted that there is an empty slot on the iPad motherboard, perfectly sized to fit the gyroscope found in the iPhone 4. It is also located next to the accelerometer, and within proximity of the application processor.
The discovery suggests that Apple originally planned to have a gyroscope in the iPad, released in April in the U.S., but ultimately decided to leave the sensor out of the first-generation hardware.
But the pin out on the iPad motherboard doesn't match the STMicroelectronics gyroscope found in the iPhone 4 -- instead, Bitton said, it resembles a competing three-axis sensor made by InvenSense.
"When Apple's iPad first came out, the InvenSense gyro was the only three-axis digital gyro on the market, so Apple may have designed its board with that component in mind," the report said. "Indeed, Apple may have included it in the iPad initially, but may have ultimately decided against using it in either device."
iFixit offers a look inside the iPhone 4 gyroscope
iFixit has also conducted a closer look at the iPhone 4 gyroscope, with the help of Chipworks. It also revealed that the gyroscope is made by STMicroelectronics, labeled AGD1 2022 FP6AQ. The microelectromechanical system (MEMS) integrates electronic and mechanical components at a very small scale to measure the orientation of the device.
X-ray photos of the gyroscope found that it is nearly identifcal to the off-the-shelf STMicroelectronics L3G4200D model. It includes a "proof mass" that is displaced in X, Y and Z directions by Coriolis forces when a user rotates the phone. Another die found inside converts those capacitive signals into a digital form that can be interpreted by the iPhone 4.
The gyroscope allows for far more precise movements with the device. One of the first App Store offerings to demonstrate this capability is the game Eliminate:GunRange (iTunes link), a $0.99 title from ngmoco, Inc. The software allows users to conduct virtual target practice by aiming their onscreen gun with precise movements of the device, something that is only capable with the gyroscope found in the iPhone 4.
iFixit and Chiwporks also included a number of photos of other MEMS gyroscopes not found in the iPhone 4, in the interest of showing off their incredible microscopic designs.
Empty iPad slot hints at future gyroscope
UBMTechInsights took a look inside Apple's new iPhone 4 and found it was made by STMicroelectronics. The three-axis MEMS gyroscope is made by the same company that produces the accelerometer found both the iPhone and iPad.
Steve Bitton, senior analyst with TechInsights, noted that there is an empty slot on the iPad motherboard, perfectly sized to fit the gyroscope found in the iPhone 4. It is also located next to the accelerometer, and within proximity of the application processor.
The discovery suggests that Apple originally planned to have a gyroscope in the iPad, released in April in the U.S., but ultimately decided to leave the sensor out of the first-generation hardware.
But the pin out on the iPad motherboard doesn't match the STMicroelectronics gyroscope found in the iPhone 4 -- instead, Bitton said, it resembles a competing three-axis sensor made by InvenSense.
"When Apple's iPad first came out, the InvenSense gyro was the only three-axis digital gyro on the market, so Apple may have designed its board with that component in mind," the report said. "Indeed, Apple may have included it in the iPad initially, but may have ultimately decided against using it in either device."
iFixit offers a look inside the iPhone 4 gyroscope
iFixit has also conducted a closer look at the iPhone 4 gyroscope, with the help of Chipworks. It also revealed that the gyroscope is made by STMicroelectronics, labeled AGD1 2022 FP6AQ. The microelectromechanical system (MEMS) integrates electronic and mechanical components at a very small scale to measure the orientation of the device.
X-ray photos of the gyroscope found that it is nearly identifcal to the off-the-shelf STMicroelectronics L3G4200D model. It includes a "proof mass" that is displaced in X, Y and Z directions by Coriolis forces when a user rotates the phone. Another die found inside converts those capacitive signals into a digital form that can be interpreted by the iPhone 4.
The gyroscope allows for far more precise movements with the device. One of the first App Store offerings to demonstrate this capability is the game Eliminate:GunRange (iTunes link), a $0.99 title from ngmoco, Inc. The software allows users to conduct virtual target practice by aiming their onscreen gun with precise movements of the device, something that is only capable with the gyroscope found in the iPhone 4.
iFixit and Chiwporks also included a number of photos of other MEMS gyroscopes not found in the iPhone 4, in the interest of showing off their incredible microscopic designs.
Comments
I know it's not 100% related to the topic here, but I just came back from the Apple store on Regent street and held the iPad in my hand for the first tim - fantastic machine! However, I also held the iPhone 4 in my hand - so I am postponing my purchase of the iPad 'cause: when's the Retina display coming to the iPad? I will buy one then instantly!
You probably have a long wait. I doubt it will be next revision. So your looking at at least two years, and probably more.
I know it's not 100% related to the topic here, but I just came back from the Apple store on Regent street and held the iPad in my hand for the first tim - fantastic machine! However, I also held the iPhone 4 in my hand - so I am postponing my purchase of the iPad 'cause: when's the Retina display coming to the iPad? I will buy one then instantly!
A Retina display for the iPad would be too expensive at this time. On a more fundamental level, it's doubtful that the display manufacturers could provide enough parts for Apple's iPad production quantities.
Apple's partners struggled to provide enough of the IPS displays (I believe they had already second sourced the display and qualed a third supplier after the initial launch), so much so that they delayed the international release.
My guess is that a Retina display on the iPad may be two, three, even four years away.
Ideas anyone? (See my edit comments - I got answers by reading the URL ref'd article.)
My guess is that a Retina display on the iPad may be two, three, even four years away.
LOL...thanks for your guess. I guess it's 10 years away...maybe 20.
...I doubt it will be next revision. So your looking at at least two years...
Probably correct, but I hope not.
Maybe a smaller iPad but with a retina display that could do at least 720p if not 1080p. Quick calcs make it appear that a 7" diagonal would fit really well and give you potentially a much higher resolution device. Image size would be zoomable so you could have the rumored in between size. I don't think I would personally ever want one but I can see a use for them. Just a thought.
Personally I (guess I) can wait (if I have too) for the Retina display at ~10" diagonal for a couple yrs.
WOW, this looks pretty amazing. Too bad monetary system is holding technology back. Nano technology is such a dream.
These things are amazing. I've worked in semiconductor manufacture for the past 15 years, and I continue to be amazed by SEM pictures.
1. An X-rayed Gyroscope? Hold the presses, alert MSNBC & FOX News. This is huge!
2. Gyroscope, eh? With an X-ray can you see the tziki sauce, tomatoes, and pita?
These things are amazing. I've worked in semiconductor manufacture for the past 15 years, and I continue to be amazed by SEM pictures.
I work for a semiconductor tool manufacturer that makes the machines that are used to create these chips. off-course I am little bit proud that our machines are used to manufacture Apple chips.;-)
The development of these machines and their (future) capabilities is what makes Moore's law 'clock' tick. These machines can create structures with the thickness of 1/1500 of an human hair.
But with the rest of the electronics they allow US to do the positioning
A Retina display for the iPad would be too expensive at this time. On a more fundamental level, it's doubtful that the display manufacturers could provide enough parts for Apple's iPad production quantities.
Apple's partners struggled to provide enough of the IPS displays (I believe they had already second sourced the display and qualed a third supplier after the initial launch), so much so that they delayed the international release.
My guess is that a Retina display on the iPad may be two, three, even four years away.
I put this into more numerical terms in another thread. The short of it, even if the quadrupled the pixel count like they did with the iPhone 4 over the previous iPhones it still wouldn't be a Retinal Display despite how impressive that display would be.
While that would rock, I don't that will be feasible for several years. That includes having a cost effective "retinal display" that size and making the best use of power for a 10" display with that many more pixels.
It certainly would rock to have an iPad with practically the same resolution as a 30" Cinema Display or a 27" iMac
Bring it on!
An article that doesn't just wax rhapsodic over how much product Apple is shipping. It actually looks at the technologies of Apple. More please!
I agree.
Probably correct, but I hope not.
Maybe a smaller iPad but with a retina display that could do at least 720p if not 1080p. Quick calcs make it appear that a 7" diagonal would fit really well and give you potentially a much higher resolution device. Image size would be zoomable so you could have the rumored in between size. I don't think I would personally ever want one but I can see a use for them. Just a thought.
Personally I (guess I) can wait (if I have too) for the Retina display at ~10" diagonal for a couple yrs.
There may be a cost issue in making a large, high density screen. It may also be an issue of having silicon that can drive the screen. At least with the iOS devices, Apple doesn't have to wait for the affordability of large displays or trying to get developers to support it.
These MEMs units aren't real gyroscopes. Real gyroscopes level and orient with the mass that's spinning at high speeds. These are really positional sensors.
Very true, but I would expect that Apple chose their words to be understood without too much explanation. Magnetometer is more correct than compass, but people understand what a compass is. I expect the same with "gyro" over a more accurate term. Then there is a newer technology that replaces the old, the metaphors and descriptions remain the same. Digital books really don't have pages either, nor is it technically necessary to simulate page turning or the binding and pages of a paper book.
I agree.
Me too.
There may be a cost issue in making a large, high density screen. It may also be an issue of having silicon that can drive the screen. At least with the iOS devices, Apple doesn't have to wait for the affordability of large displays or trying to get developers to support it.
A very high cost. I spoke to someone in NEC about that, the head monitor designer, whom I know. He said that now, a display like that would cost several thousand dollars. In five years it *could* be possible for a thousand, or less.
Very true, but I would expect that Apple chose their words to be understood without too much explanation. Magnetometer is more correct than compass, but people understand what a compass is. I expect the same with "gyro" over a more accurate term. Then there is a newer technology that replaces the old, the metaphors and descriptions remain the same. Digital books really don't have pages either, nor is it technically necessary to simulate page turning or the binding and pages of a paper book.
The industry is calling them gyroscopes, so Apple is as well. I have nothing really against it, but it's wrong.