With its innovative biosensing technology, STMicroelectronics facilitates the design of a new generation of wearable devices for healthcare and fitness
- The new high-integration biosensor combines an input pathway for heart rate and neurological activity detection with movement tracking and an on-board AI core.
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A demonstration will take place at the Electronica 2024 exhibition which will take place in Munich
from November 12 to 15.
Geneva (Switzerland), October 28, 2024 — STMicroelectronics (NYSE : STM)a global semiconductor leader whose customers span the full range of electronic applications, has introduced a new biosensor aimed at new generations of wearable devices (wearables) health such as smart watches, sports bracelets, connected rings or smart glasses. The component ST1VAFE3BX combines high-precision dual analog input with ST’s inertial sensor and artificial intelligence core that performs in-chip activity detection to ensure faster performance with lower power consumption.
« Wearable electronic devices represent the essential technology in the face of individuals’ growing awareness in the areas of health and fitness. Today, everyone can wear heart rate monitoring, activity tracking and geolocation on their wrist“, says Simone Ferri, APMS group vice president and general manager of the MEMS sub-group of STMicroelectronics. “ Our latest biosensor is taking the wearable electronics industry to the next level by detecting motion and body signals in an ultra-compact format and with minimal power consumption. . »
Yole Development analysts see opportunities for wearable monitoring devices beyond the general wellness market, including consumer products approved by health organizations and available over-the-counter1. By creating a precise and complete sensing input into the integrated circuit, ST’s chip design experts facilitate innovation across all segments, with advanced capabilities such as heart rate variability, cognitive functions and mental state.
The ST1VAFE3BX biosensor helps extend the use of wearable devices beyond the wrist to other parts of the body, such as smart patches for lifestyle tracking or medical monitoring. BM Innovations GmbH (BMI) and Pison, two ST customers, work at the frontiers of this sector and quickly adopted this new sensor to develop new products.
BMI is an electronic design company specializing in the field of wireless sensing. It has an extensive project portfolio, including several heart rate and performance monitoring systems. “ ST’s new biosensor has enabled us to develop the next generation of high-precision athlete performance monitoring systems, including ECG analysis in a chest strap or small patch“, explains Richard Mayerhofer, Managing Director of BM innovations GmbH. “Combining the analog signal transmitted by the vertical analog front end (vAFE) with the motion data from the acceleration sensor in a single compact package facilitates precise and contextual data analysis. Add direct support for our AI algorithms to the sensor and we get exactly what we were looking for. »
David Cipoletta, CTO of Pison, a company specializing in the development of advanced technologies to improve health and human potential, added: “ST’s new biosensor provides an excellent solution for gesture recognition for smartwatches, cognitive performance tracking and neurological health monitoring. By leveraging this advancement, we have significantly improved the functionality and user experience of our wearable devices ».
The biosensor ST1VAFE3BX is currently in production in a 12-input 2mm x 2mm LGA package and is available oneSTore (free samples available) and from distributors starting at $1.50 for orders of 1,000 units.
Visitors to Electronica 2024, the meeting place for electronics professionals taking place in Munich from November 12 to 15, will be able to discover the ST1VAFE3BX as part of a demonstration of detection technologies on the ST stand (Hall C3 101). For more information, visit the website www.st.com/biosensors
Additional technical information
Analog Front-end (AFE) circuits used in biosensors are characterized by their complex design and are subject to unpredictable effects such as skin preparation and the position of electrodes attached to the body. The ST1VAFE3BX biosensor features a comprehensive vertical analog interface (vAFE) that simplifies the detection of different types of vital signs that can indicate emotional or physical states.
Wellness and health device manufacturers can thus expand their product range to include features such as electrocardiography (ECG), electroencephalography (EEG), seismocardiography (SCG) or electroneurography ( ENG). This possibility favors the emergence of new devices that are affordable and easy to use and which reliably indicate the state of health or physiological reactions to events such as stress or excitement. In the future, a wider range of wearable devices could contribute to improved healthcare, fitness and self-awareness.
With this precision analog input, the ST1VAFE3BX biosensor capitalizes on ST’s established skills in the field of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) by integrating an accelerometer for inertial sensing. This accelerometer provides information on its owner’s movements, which is synchronized with the detection of biopotential signals to help the application infer any relationship between the measured signals and physical activity.
The ST1VAFE3BX also integrates ST’s Machine Learning Core (MLC) and Finite State Machine (FSM) with which product designers can implement simple decision trees for neural processing on-chip. These AI skills allow the sensor to handle functions such as activity detection autonomously, taking pressure off the main host processor (CPU) to speed up system responses and minimize power consumption. With ST sensors, smart devices offer more sophisticated functions and can operate longer between battery recharges, resulting in increased ease of use. ST also provides software tools such as MEMS Studio within the ST Edge AI suite to help designers maximize the performance of the ST1VAFE3BX biosensor, as well as decision tree configuration tools within the machine learning core.
The biosensing signal channel of the ST1VAFE3BX sensor includes the vAFE vertical analog input with programmable gain and 12-bit analog-to-digital conversion resolution. The maximum output data rate (3200 Hz) is suitable for a wide variety of biopotential measurements to quantify heart, brain and muscle activity. The device operates at a supply voltage between 1.62 V and 3.6 V for a typical operating current of only 50 µA; this current can be lowered to just 2.2 µA in low power mode.
The low-noise, integrated accelerometer operates in a full-scale programmable range of ±2 g to ±16 g. In addition to the machine learning core and programmable finite state machine that can provide features such as activity detection, the ST1VAFE3BX biosensor implements advanced pedometer, step detection and step counting functions.
About STMicroelectronics
At ST, we are more than 50,000 creators and manufacturers of microelectronic technologies. We control the entire semiconductor supply chain with our state-of-the-art production sites. As an integrated component manufacturer, we work with more than 200,000 customers and thousands of partners. With them, we design and create products, solutions and ecosystems that respond to their challenges and opportunities, and the need to contribute to a more sustainable world. Our technologies enable smarter mobility, more efficient energy and power management, and the large-scale deployment of autonomous, cloud-connected objects. We are committed to achieving our goal of becoming carbon neutral across scopes 1 and 2, and part of scope 3, by 2027. For more information, visit www.st.com.
Contact presse :
Nelly Dimey
Mobile : 06.75.00.73.39
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1 Report “Sensors and Actuators for Wearables 2023” www.yolegroup.com
- FR_P4654D — Biosensor_FINAL FOR PUBLICATION
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