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Bosch Sensortec Launches MEMS Sensors With Integrated Microcontroller for Android Smart Phones
BHI160 and BHA250 integrate lowest power sensor hub and sensors / Less power consumption for always-on sensor applications such as fitness tracking, indoor navigation and gesture recognition
STUTTGART, Germany, March 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
- Implementing the full Android Lollipop sensor stack with lowest power sensor and
sensor hub combination
- Significantly reduces power consumption by up to 95 % for always-on applications in
mobile devices by handling sensor processing and data batching
- The functionality can be easily extended through externally attached sensors and new
software features
Bosch Sensortec today announced the BHI160 and BHA250, two sensor devices with
integrated sensor hub. Today's smart phones rely on always-on sensors for applications
such as fitness tracking, step counting, indoor navigation and gesture recognition. By
offloading sensor processing to the BHI160 or BHA250, as well as buffering sensor data
locally on the devices, system designers can ensure the main application processor is
never woken up just to process sensor data. This significantly reduces system power
consumption, and thus extends battery life - a major competitive advantage for phone
manufacturers.
(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150310/734820-a )
(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150310/734820-b )
The new devices integrate a best-in-class 3- or 6-axis MEMS sensor with the new Bosch
Sensortec DSP "Fuser Core". The BHI160 and BHA250 are specifically designed for
applications in Android smart phones - implementing the full Android Lollipop sensor stack
inside the devices where they provide a flexible, low power solution for motion sensing
and sensor data processing.
The new devices implement the full Android Lollipop sensor stack and can be updated
with new software features to support future releases. The BHI160 is the industry's
lowest-power solution that is fully compatible with Lollipop, using less than 1.55 mA for
a complete 9-axis solution including the Fuser Core, the integrated accelerometer and
gyroscope and an external magnetometer.
"In modern smart phones, sensors are a key component, and are often switched on all or
most of the time for motion-sensitive applications," says Dr. Stefan Finkbeiner, CEO of
Bosch Sensortec. "By handling all sensor data processing, these new devices can make a
substantial difference to overall battery life."
The sensor hub devices are a full turnkey solution, reducing integration work and
hence cutting time-to-market for OEMs.
Power-efficient core
The Fuser Core is a 32-bit microcontroller that is optimized to execute Bosch
Sensortec's sensor fusion and activity-recognition algorithms with ultra-low power
consumption. It uses significantly less power than standard microcontrollers, with a
saving of up to 95 percent compared to Cortex M0 and up to 90 percent compared to Cortex
M4 based devices.
The BHI160 and BHA250 both offer identical functionality except that the BHI160
integrates a 6-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU), consisting of a 3-axis gyroscope and
3-axis accelerometer, while the BHA250 omits the gyroscope. This makes it a smaller and
lower-cost device, and gives OEMs the flexibility to use it in eCompass applications where
a gyroscope is not required.
Compact package
The BHI160 is available in a 3.0 x 3.0 x 0.95 mmcubed LGA package, while the BHA250 is
provided in a 2.2 x 2.2 x 0.95 mmcubed LGA package. These packages are the same size as
competitive sensor-only devices without an integrated DSP. Integrating the sensor hub
reduces the bill of material, and saves on valuable PCB space compared to solutions based
on standard microcontrollers.
Both new devices are fully pin- and footprint-compatible with Bosch's sensor-only
variants from Bosch Sensortec, giving OEMs the flexibility to support multiple different
smart phone devices on one platform, and to make decisions later in the design cycle.
Availability
Samples are scheduled to be available to selected customers in the second quarter of
2015.
Press photo: 1-BST-20813; 1-BST-20814
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQhTHugW9wo
Trademarks
Android is a trademark of Google Inc.
Bosch Sensortec GmbH is a fully owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH, dedicated to
the consumer electronics world offering a complete portfolio of micro-electro mechanical
systems (MEMS) sensors and solutions that enable mobile devices to feel and sense the
world around them. Bosch Sensortec develops and markets a wide portfolio of MEMS sensors
and solutions for smart phones, tablets, wearable devices and IoT (Internet of Things)
applications.
The product portfolio includes 3-axis acceleration, gyroscope and geomagnetic sensors,
integrated 6- and 9-axis as well as environmental sensors and a comprehensive software
portfolio. Since its foundation in 2005 Bosch Sensortec emerged as the technology leader
in the addressed markets. The Bosch Group has been the global market leader for MEMS
sensors since 1998 and has to date sold more than 5 billion MEMS sensors.
For more information, go to http://www.bosch-sensortec.com
The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. According to
preliminary figures, its roughly 290,000 associates generated sales of 48.9 billion euros
in 2014.Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions,
Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology.The Bosch Group
comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its more than 360 subsidiaries and regional companies in
some 50 countries. If its sales and service partners are included, then Bosch is
represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales
network is the foundation for further growth. In 2014, Bosch applied for some 4,600
patents worldwide. The Bosch Group's strategic goal is to deliver innovations for
connected life. Bosch improves quality of life worldwide with products and services that
are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is "Invented
for life."
The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as "Workshop
for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering. "The special ownership structure of
Robert Bosch GmbH guarantees the entrepreneurial freedom of the Bosch Group, making it
possible for the company to plan over the long term and to undertake significant up-front
investments in the safeguarding of its future. Ninety-two percent of the share capital of
Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a charitable foundation. The
majority of voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG, an industrial
trust. The entrepreneurial ownership functions are carried out by the trust. The remaining
shares are held by the Bosch family and by Robert Bosch GmbH.
Additional information is available online at http://www.bosch.com,
http://www.bosch-press.com, http://twitter.com/BoschPresse
Contact:
Tina Horstmann
phone: +49-7121-35-35924
Contact person for press inquiries:
Christian Hoenicke
phone: +49-71-811-6285
Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150310/734820-a
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150310/734820-b
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150310/734820-a
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150310/734820-b
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Bosch Sensortec
Bosch Sensortec Launches MEMS Sensors With Integrated Microcontroller for Android Smart Phones
BHI160 and BHA250 integrate lowest power sensor hub and sensors / Less power consumption for always-on sensor applications such as fitness tracking, indoor navigation and gesture recognition
STUTTGART, Germany, March 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
- Implementing the full Android Lollipop sensor stack with lowest power sensor and
sensor hub combination
- Significantly reduces power consumption by up to 95 % for always-on applications in
mobile devices by handling sensor processing and data batching
- The functionality can be easily extended through externally attached sensors and new
software features
Bosch Sensortec today announced the BHI160 and BHA250, two sensor devices with
integrated sensor hub. Today's smart phones rely on always-on sensors for applications
such as fitness tracking, step counting, indoor navigation and gesture recognition. By
offloading sensor processing to the BHI160 or BHA250, as well as buffering sensor data
locally on the devices, system designers can ensure the main application processor is
never woken up just to process sensor data. This significantly reduces system power
consumption, and thus extends battery life - a major competitive advantage for phone
manufacturers.
(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150310/734820-a )
(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150310/734820-b )
The new devices integrate a best-in-class 3- or 6-axis MEMS sensor with the new Bosch
Sensortec DSP "Fuser Core". The BHI160 and BHA250 are specifically designed for
applications in Android smart phones - implementing the full Android Lollipop sensor stack
inside the devices where they provide a flexible, low power solution for motion sensing
and sensor data processing.
The new devices implement the full Android Lollipop sensor stack and can be updated
with new software features to support future releases. The BHI160 is the industry's
lowest-power solution that is fully compatible with Lollipop, using less than 1.55 mA for
a complete 9-axis solution including the Fuser Core, the integrated accelerometer and
gyroscope and an external magnetometer.
"In modern smart phones, sensors are a key component, and are often switched on all or
most of the time for motion-sensitive applications," says Dr. Stefan Finkbeiner, CEO of
Bosch Sensortec. "By handling all sensor data processing, these new devices can make a
substantial difference to overall battery life."
The sensor hub devices are a full turnkey solution, reducing integration work and
hence cutting time-to-market for OEMs.
Power-efficient core
The Fuser Core is a 32-bit microcontroller that is optimized to execute Bosch
Sensortec's sensor fusion and activity-recognition algorithms with ultra-low power
consumption. It uses significantly less power than standard microcontrollers, with a
saving of up to 95 percent compared to Cortex M0 and up to 90 percent compared to Cortex
M4 based devices.
The BHI160 and BHA250 both offer identical functionality except that the BHI160
integrates a 6-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU), consisting of a 3-axis gyroscope and
3-axis accelerometer, while the BHA250 omits the gyroscope. This makes it a smaller and
lower-cost device, and gives OEMs the flexibility to use it in eCompass applications where
a gyroscope is not required.
Compact package
The BHI160 is available in a 3.0 x 3.0 x 0.95 mmcubed LGA package, while the BHA250 is
provided in a 2.2 x 2.2 x 0.95 mmcubed LGA package. These packages are the same size as
competitive sensor-only devices without an integrated DSP. Integrating the sensor hub
reduces the bill of material, and saves on valuable PCB space compared to solutions based
on standard microcontrollers.
Both new devices are fully pin- and footprint-compatible with Bosch's sensor-only
variants from Bosch Sensortec, giving OEMs the flexibility to support multiple different
smart phone devices on one platform, and to make decisions later in the design cycle.
Availability
Samples are scheduled to be available to selected customers in the second quarter of
2015.
Press photo: 1-BST-20813; 1-BST-20814
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQhTHugW9wo
Trademarks
Android is a trademark of Google Inc.
Bosch Sensortec GmbH is a fully owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH, dedicated to
the consumer electronics world offering a complete portfolio of micro-electro mechanical
systems (MEMS) sensors and solutions that enable mobile devices to feel and sense the
world around them. Bosch Sensortec develops and markets a wide portfolio of MEMS sensors
and solutions for smart phones, tablets, wearable devices and IoT (Internet of Things)
applications.
The product portfolio includes 3-axis acceleration, gyroscope and geomagnetic sensors,
integrated 6- and 9-axis as well as environmental sensors and a comprehensive software
portfolio. Since its foundation in 2005 Bosch Sensortec emerged as the technology leader
in the addressed markets. The Bosch Group has been the global market leader for MEMS
sensors since 1998 and has to date sold more than 5 billion MEMS sensors.
For more information, go to http://www.bosch-sensortec.com
The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. According to
preliminary figures, its roughly 290,000 associates generated sales of 48.9 billion euros
in 2014.Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions,
Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology.The Bosch Group
comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its more than 360 subsidiaries and regional companies in
some 50 countries. If its sales and service partners are included, then Bosch is
represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales
network is the foundation for further growth. In 2014, Bosch applied for some 4,600
patents worldwide. The Bosch Group's strategic goal is to deliver innovations for
connected life. Bosch improves quality of life worldwide with products and services that
are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch creates technology that is "Invented
for life."
The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as "Workshop
for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering. "The special ownership structure of
Robert Bosch GmbH guarantees the entrepreneurial freedom of the Bosch Group, making it
possible for the company to plan over the long term and to undertake significant up-front
investments in the safeguarding of its future. Ninety-two percent of the share capital of
Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a charitable foundation. The
majority of voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG, an industrial
trust. The entrepreneurial ownership functions are carried out by the trust. The remaining
shares are held by the Bosch family and by Robert Bosch GmbH.
Additional information is available online at http://www.bosch.com,
http://www.bosch-press.com, http://twitter.com/BoschPresse
Contact:
Tina Horstmann
phone: +49-7121-35-35924
Contact person for press inquiries:
Christian Hoenicke
phone: +49-71-811-6285
Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150310/734820-a
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150310/734820-b
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150310/734820-a
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150310/734820-b
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Bosch Sensortec