IDTechEx Wearable Europe brings together a global community of innovators behind the best of wearable technology today. IDTechEx analysts have constructed a two-day agenda assembling key innovators and thought leaders to discuss key aspects of this rapidly evolving industry. Within the broader IDTechEx show, you will see the best of new technology that is already causing disruption today, as well as a glimpse at the materials, components and products of the future.
Sector News
ECG readout chip keeps consistent beat for wearable devices
Imec and Holst Centre have unveiled a time-based electro-cardiogram (ECG) readout chip for wearable applications. The 0.6V ECG readout chip is based on time-domain circuit techniques. It maintains consistent beat detection capabilities, even under movement (around 40mV pp), and paves the way, says the research centre, for a low cost, low power multi-sensor SoC for wearable medical applications. Todayís digital ICs and memory ICs benefit from technology scaling in terms of power and area, yet this has not been achieved for analogue readout electronics. Current analogue circuit techniques do not result in a significantly reduced area in scaled technologies. In addition, the reduced supply voltage (VDD) with scaled technologies, presents challenges in combining a large dynamic range with small size and low power consumption.
Audio jack detector and analogue switch are used in portable applications
Offering a space-saving alternative to miniQFN10 and WCSP devices, the Vishay Siliconix DG2592 audio jack detector and DG2750, low voltage, dual SPDT analogue switch have a slim profile of just 0.35mm and measure 1.4 x 1.8mm. Typical miniQFN10 and WCSP packages feature profiles of 0.55 mm. The thin miniQFN10 package of both devices is 36% thinner, allowing for slimmer handheld healthcare instruments, smartphones, tablets, portable media players, digital cameras, and wearable IoT devices. Compared to WCSP packages, the package is claimed to offer easier surface mounting and is better suited for the flexible PCBs commonly used in portable designs.
End-to-end security architecture for fingerprint authentication
Four companies have joined forces to introduce the first end-to-end security architecture for biometric fingerprint authentication. STMicroelectronics, along with Gemalto, Fingerprint Cards and Precise Biometrics offer OEMs the opportunity to easily deploy this feature in the latest generation of wearable and consumer electronics devices. This proof-of-concept replaces conventional username/password authentication for applications, such as payment, eTicketing, digital access and 2-factor strong authentication with swift and secure fingerprint recognition. The joint effort has resulted in a smartwatch that embeds a fingerprint sensor from Fingerprint Cards, fingerprint software from Precise Biometrics, and Secure NFC solution and low-power microcontrollers from STMicroelectronics. Gemalto provides the UpTeq eSE on which the user’s credentials are stored, and the Match-On-Card application that validates the fingerprint placed on the sensor corresponds to the biometric data of the user. Gemalto also supplies an array of secure applications, and the Allynis Trusted Services Hub responsible for managing the solution over the entire product lifecycle. Fingerprint Cards delivers state-of-the-art touch fingerprint sensors with extreme low power consumption and compact form factor. Precise Biometrics provides fingerprint software based on Precise BioMatch Embedded, an algorithm solution that offers convenient and secure fingerprint recognition for products with small fingerprint sensors on limited platforms, such as smart cards, wearables, cars, locks and personal identification tokens. STMicroelectronics provides its ST54 system-in-package solution, comprising an ST21NFC near-field communication controller and an ST33 embedded Secure Element based on 32-bit ARM SecurCore SC300, hosting the Gemalto Biometrics Match-On-Card. ST also provides an STM32 ARM Cortex-M based low-power microcontroller managing the application. The architecture means no longer having to remember numerous username and password combinations to access essential applications such as payment, secure email and government ID programs. http://www.st.com
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