FEATURE BIOMETRICS & WEARABLES WEARABLES: AN INTELLIGENT INSIGHT
Smart wearable devices are gaining ground as we adopt this technology into our everyday lives and work environment. Here Acal BFilooks at some of the latest trends in this advancing technology space
location intelligence from an integrated GPS receiver to your design. Chip- based solutions – System in Package (SiP) and System on Chip (SoC) - are the most effective way of saving board space to either reduce the overall size of the device or provide capacity to add more technology within an existing footprint. The BM-GP-BR-65 from USI, for example, can add Bluetooth low energy functionality in a package that measures just 16.5 x 10.0 x 1.9mm. OriginGPS produce some of the smallest GPS and GNSS solutions available in the market today. These provide superior location intelligence to a design, but still small enough to fit into a smart watch.
W
e are all moving to a future where the fast, continuing innovation in
wearable technology is allowing humans to converge with the environment around them, driving a more interactive, intuitive and optimised experience. Wearable technology is often associated
with smart watches and fitness devices, but we are also seeing many emerging markets using wearable technology to gather intelligent insight, including smart apparel, digital healthcare, personal safety and more. While consumers are focused on
increased convenience and health, industrial applications for smart wearable devices have different drivers. For example, the connected shoe that uses a small cellular solution improves the safety of remote workers. With an integrated GPS device in the sole, these shoes have potentially lifesaving benefits for workers in harsh or difficult environments, as personnel can monitor the location, health and safety of employees working remotely.
THE RIGHT BALANCE The growth opportunities in the wearable market bring evolving design challenges to meet the requirements for wearable technology. Devices are expected to be small (in some cases discreet), lightweight and have long battery life – for many, a key factor when choosing a
40 JULY/AUGUST 2018 | ELECTRONICS
wearable device. In some instances, the technology needs to be robust, sensitive to pressure, temperature and humidity. The great news for application
designers is that there are flexible components that enable intelligent design. For example, where a preferred GPS module may be too large to fit into a wearable device, a flexible PCB may solve the size and weight issue. This design feature also has the added benefit of enhancing performance of the chip by reducing EMI from surrounding components.
THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND THE DEVICE Combined technology solutions are becoming more prevalent to meet the compact needs of application designers. Technology standards, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, have been combined by manufacturers for some time now to meet the ever-increasing demands and expansion of the wearable market, but they are now going beyond this by mixing other technologies to meet designers’ needs. For example, Airoha, the IoT solutions
subsidiary of global technology giant MediaTek, produce a highly integrated chip which includes both dual-mode Bluetooth and GNSS location intelligence, within one compact solution. The Airoha MT2523G can add Bluetooth with
Figure 1:
The growth opportunities in the wearable market bring evolving design challenges to meet requirements
GET MORE FROM YOUR DESIGN One common misconception is that a Front End Module (FEM) is only used to extend the range of a wireless solution, but it can also boost the total performance of the chosen SoC. Adding a FEM to a design can lower power consumption, allowing the SoC to operate more efficiently within nominal tasks or boosted to deliver more performance. Increased efficiency reduces power consumption, enabling battery-powered devices to operate for longer on a single charge. As FEMs are multi-chip modules, they can also be used in place of multiple components, reducing the overall BOM and simplifying the design.
THE EVOLUTION OF WEARABLES The rapid and continued growth of wearable technology is not diminishing anytime soon. Manufacturers have already shown that they are combining technologies to support designers in creating smaller, lighter, faster and low power applications. This continued miniaturisation in wearable technology will be fuelled by increased economic and social demand. There has never been a better time for innovative application designers. Manufacturers, suppliers and OEMs are creating the technology needed to drive this wearable tech revolution. The question is, are you ready?
Acal BFi
www.acalbfi.co.uk T: 01189 788 878
/ ELECTRONICS
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