MMA5148KW - ±480g Z-Axis PSI5 Satellite Accelerometer | NXP
MPN: MMA5148KW ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18.5 | $18.50 |
| 10 | $16.2 | $162.00 |
| 100 | $13.85 | $1,385.00 |
| 500 | $12.1 | $6,050.00 |
| 1,000 | $10.5 | $10,500.00 |
| 3,000 | $9.2 | $27,600.00 |
MMA5148KW Overview
An accelerometer is a micro-electromechanical (MEMS) sensor that measures proper acceleration along one or more axes. In automotive safety systems, satellite accelerometers like the MMA5148KW reside in peripheral nodes (crash zones, doors, pillars) and transmit inertial data to a central airbag control unit (ACU). The PSI5 protocol is an open standard for point-to-point sensor interfaces widely used in airbag, seatbelt pretensioner, and pedestrian protection systems.
Key features include ±480g full-scale measurement range, overdamped mechanical response for accurate pulse detection, 16-QFN small outline package, and a wide operating temperature range suitable for under-hood and crash-zone deployment. The device is part of the NXP SafeAssure functional-safety program (FMEDA and safety manuals available), supporting ISO 26262 ASIL ratings when integrated properly.
Architecturally, the MMA5148KW integrates a MEMS g-cell with a CMOS ASIC that provides signal conditioning, temperature compensation, and a digital PSI5 interface. The overdamped sensor element reduces mechanical ringing after high-g events, enabling the central ECU to discriminate multiple crash pulses that occur within milliseconds.
Typical applications include front and side airbag satellite sensors, crash detection modules, seatbelt pretensioner sensors, and pedestrian protection accelerometer nodes. Its PSI5 compatibility allows direct connection to NXP, Infineon, Renesas, and other automotive-grade airbag controllers.
When designing with this device, follow NXP's reference layout in the datasheet, place decoupling capacitors within 2 mm of the supply pins, and validate the PSI5 bus timing against the v1.3 specification to ensure interoperability with the target ECU. The device is qualified to AEC-Q100, making it suitable for automotive production.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives within the MMA51xx family, and practical design notes not found in a single manufacturer page, giving engineers a consolidated reference for satellite accelerometer selection.
Drop-in alternatives for MMA5148KW — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with MMA5148KW (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Functional Safety, Sensor Type, Package, Acceleration Range, Axis.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
MMA5124KW
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.75 / Unit
View Datasheet →MMA5155KW
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MMA5112KW
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →MMA51xxWR2
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
MMA5148KW
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.2 / Unit
View Datasheet →MMA5148KW Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Sensor Type | Accelerometer, Z-axis (single-axis vertical) |
| Measurement Axis | Z (vertical / through-plane) |
| Acceleration Range | ±480 g |
| Output Interface | PSI5 v1.3, AK-LV27 compatible, SPI |
| Supply Voltage | 4.2 V to 17 V |
| Output Type | Digital (PCM / SPI) |
| Mechanical Response | Overdamped (low ringing, designed for crash pulses) |
| Package | 16-QFN (6x6 mm) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 °C to +125 °C (automotive) |
| Temperature Grade | Automotive (AEC-Q100) |
| Functional Safety | SafeAssure, FMEDA available, supports ISO 26262 |
| Protocol Compatibility | PSI5 v1.3, AK-LV27 |
| Family | Xtrinsic MMA51xxKW |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Sensor Mechanical Type | MEMS g-cell with CMOS ASIC |
MMA5148KW Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | PSI5_DATA — PSI5 data line (current sink/source) |
| Pin 2 | PSI5_SUPPLY — PSI5 supply / sync line |
| Pin 3 | VDD — Power supply 4.2 V to 17 V |
| Pin 4 | GND — Ground reference |
| Pin 5 | CS — SPI chip select (factory/diagnostic) |
| Pin 6 | SCLK — SPI clock (factory/diagnostic) |
| Pin 7 | MOSI — SPI data input (factory/diagnostic) |
| Pin 8 | MISO — SPI data output (factory/diagnostic) |
| Pin 9 | TEST — Test mode enable |
| Pin 10 | RESET — Reset input |
| Pin 11 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 12 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 13 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 14 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 15 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 16 | NC — Not connected (per datasheet) |
Typical Applications
MMA5148KW is suitable for 6 applications: Front Airbag Satellite Sensor, Side-Impact / Door Satellite Sensor, Pedestrian Protection Acceleration Sensor, Seatbelt Pretensioner Trigger Sensor, Roll-Over Detection Sensor, Battery-Impact / EV Underbody Sensor.
Front Airbag Satellite Sensor
The MMA5148KW's ±480 g full-scale range and overdamped mechanical response make it a primary choice for frontal airbag satellite accelerometers in passenger vehicles. Placed in the front crumple zone, the device converts the high-g crash pulse into a digital PSI5 frame that is transmitted to the central airbag ECU over the two-wire PSI5 bus, with < 100 µs end-to-end latency. The overdamped architecture eliminates mechanical ringing so the ECU can distinguish a primary crash from secondary bounce events, critical for airbag discrimination algorithms. The 4.2-17 V supply range tolerates cold-crank and load-dump transients on the 12 V battery rail. AEC-Q100 + SafeAssure + ISO 26262 FMEDA support enable ASIL B/D integration per OEM safety case requirements.
Recommended
Side-Impact / Door Satellite Sensor
Side-impact crash pulses require fast, accurate acceleration measurement at the B-pillar or door location, where the MMA5148KW's vertical Z-axis sensitivity captures lateral intrusion acceleration components. Its overdamped response and PSI5 v1.3 compatibility allow multiple sensors to share a single satellite bus, simplifying wiring harness from door modules to the central ECU. The 16-QFN (6x6 mm) footprint fits space-constrained door-edge PCBAs while the 4.2-17 V supply covers the body-controller rail. AEC-Q100 qualification and SafeAssure documentation allow the part to participate in ISO 26262 ASIL B side-impact discrimination algorithms.
Recommended
Pedestrian Protection Acceleration Sensor
Pop-up hood and active bumper pedestrian-protection systems rely on distributed Z-axis satellite accelerometers that detect the low-to-mid-frequency impacts of a pedestrian strike. The MMA5148KW's PSI5 v1.3 compliance enables daisy-chainable sensor placement along the bumper, transmitting impact pulses to the safety ECU within milliseconds. The 4.2-17 V supply tolerance and -40 °C to +125 °C operating range suit under-bumper mounting where temperatures reach +85 °C ambient + solar soak. The 16-QFN (6x6) footprint enables SMD placement with standard 0402/0603 supporting passives.
Recommended
Seatbelt Pretensioner Trigger Sensor
The MMA5148KW's high-g vertical-axis sensitivity suits seatbelt pretensioner sensors mounted in the seat rail or B-pillar. The overdamped g-cell ensures that pretensioner firing decisions are based on the primary crash pulse rather than mechanical ringing. The 16-QFN (6x6 mm) package minimizes PCB area, while the PSI5 v1.3 protocol enables synchronous sampling with the rest of the airbag satellite network. AEC-Q100 and SafeAssure documentation supports OEM-level ASIL B/D safety targets. Supply voltage tolerance to 17 V simplifies integration with body-control modules.
Recommended
Roll-Over Detection Sensor
Rollover sensing requires Z-axis acceleration measurement combined with angular rate, but a dedicated vertical-axis accelerometer like the MMA5148KW serves as a key input to rollover discrimination firmware. The ±480 g full-scale is far above the typical 4-5 g rollover threshold but provides headroom for combined crash + rollover events. The PSI5 v1.3 link feeds vertical acceleration into the central ECU's sensor-fusion algorithm alongside yaw-rate sensors. The 4.2-17 V supply covers body-supply rails, and the 16-QFN (6x6 mm) package fits roof- or pillar-mounted satellite modules.
Recommended
Battery-Impact / EV Underbody Sensor
In electric vehicles, the MMA5148KW can serve as an underbody acceleration sensor that detects battery-pack intrusion events that may trigger thermal-runaway mitigation logic. Its 4.2-17 V supply tolerance is compatible with 12 V auxiliary rails, while the 16-QFN (6x6 mm) package with exposed pad provides mechanical robustness for high-vibration underbody environments. The PSI5 v1.3 link can be wired alongside high-voltage disconnect sensors for synchronized reporting. AEC-Q100 + -40 to +125 °C operating range suits underbody operating conditions including road splash and gravel impingement.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for MMA5148KW — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | MMA5124KW | MMA5155KW | MMA5112KW | MMA51xxWR2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 16-QFN (6x6 mm) | 16-QFN (6x6 mm) - same | 16-QFN (6x6 mm) - same | 16-QFN (6x6 mm) - same | 16-QFN (6x6 mm) - same |
| Brand | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors | NXP Semiconductors |
| Acceleration Range | ±480 g | lower g (±60-120 g) | different g-range (family variant) | ±60 g | various family ranges |
| Supply Voltage | 4.2 V to 17 V | 4.2 V to 17 V | 4.2 V to 17 V | 4.2 V to 17 V | 4.2 V to 17 V |
| PSI5 Protocol | v1.3 / AK-LV27 | v1.3 / AK-LV27 | v1.3 / AK-LV27 | v1.3 / AK-LV27 | v1.3 / AK-LV27 |
| Sensor Axis | Z (vertical) | Z (vertical) | Z (vertical) | Z (vertical) | Z (vertical) |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +125 °C | -40 °C to +125 °C | -40 °C to +125 °C | -40 °C to +125 °C | -40 °C to +125 °C |
| Mechanical Response | Overdamped | Overdamped | Overdamped | Overdamped | Overdamped |
| AEC-Q100 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- ±480 g full-scale range with overdamped response (vs MMA5124KW)
- PSI5 v1.3 + AK-LV27 dual-protocol support (vs MMA5155KW)
- SafeAssure + AEC-Q100 + ISO 26262 FMEDA coverage (vs MMA5112KW)
Design Notes
Place the input supply decoupling capacitor (typically 100 nF X7R + 1 µF X7R) within 2 mm of the VDD and GND pins. The exposed pad of the 16-QFN must be soldered to a continuous ground plane with thermal vias (typical 4-9 vias at 0.3 mm drill) to meet AEC-Q100 mechanical shock and vibration requirements. Keep high-speed PSI5 traces away from switching power inductors to maintain EMC margins; reference the MMA51xxWR2 datasheet land-pattern recommendation for exact pad geometry.
Do not use the SPI/diagnostic interface in production traffic - it is intended only for end-of-line calibration and factory test. The PSI5 v1.3 link must carry all in-vehicle data. Confirm PSI5 timing parameters (sync period, slot length) and frame format with the ECU vendor before board bring-up, since conflicting slot assignments can cause silent data corruption. Validate reverse-battery and load-dump protection circuitry upstream of the VDD pin per ISO 7637-2.
Use a star-ground topology for the sensor module PCB, with the MMA5148KW ground via the exposed pad directly to the chassis ground of the satellite node. Mechanical isolation of the sensor from the PCBA housing is critical for accurate high-frequency acceleration measurement; refer to NXP application notes for housing stack-up guidance. Place the sensor at the geometric center of mounting symmetry to minimize cross-axis artifacts from package stress.
Compliance Information
AEC-Q100 qualified per NXP MMA51xxWR2 datasheet. SafeAssure functional-safety program; FMEDA available. RoHS and REACH compliant; conflict-minerals statement available from NXP. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in the verified data - flagged as unknown.