IP+software builds low-power sensor processing blocks for wearable-tech SoCs
Hillcrest’s MotionEngine software is now optimised to run on Synopsys’ DesignWare Sensor and Control IP Subsystem. The IP Subsystem includes ARC EM processors and integrated hardware accelerators for sensor-specific functions that are claimed to boost performance and reduce power consumption by up to 85% compared to discrete solutions. A power-efficient hardware/software sensor solution is appropriate for a range of mobile and IoT applications including activity tracking, intelligent context awareness, intuitive gesture recognition and accurate navigation functions, Synopsys adds.
Hillcrest’s MotionEngine software transforms sensor data into high quality, contextual information that powers sensor enabled features on a wide range of devices. Synopsys’ Sensor and Control IP Subsystem offers designers a pre-verified, system on chip (SoC) ready IP platform optimised to meet sensor and control processing requirements common in “always on” Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The combination of Hillcrest’s intelligent sensor processing software stack and Synopsys’ energy efficient DesignWare Sensor and Control IP Subsystem enables developers of sensor enabled devices to implement high quality, always on sensor processing functionality with extremely low power consumption.
Hillcrest’s Freespace MotionEngine technology provides ultra low power sensor processing to enable always-on sensing. The software can dramatically extend battery life through context aware power savings, enabling greater use of a variety of new applications including advanced activity tracking, intuitive gesture recognition and pedestrian navigation. The MotionEngine software intelligently combines data from an array of motion, environmental and biometric sensors to provide a cost effective way to deploy sensor hubs and enhance mobile, wearable and IoT devices with advanced sensor features.
The highly integrated DesignWare Sensor and Control IP Subsystem processes data from digital and analogue sensors and always-on audio sources. Hillcrest’s software has been optimised to take advantage of the subsystem’s low power capabilities to provide always on sensing without compromising accuracy, reliability or functionality. The configurable subsystem includes a choice of ARC EM processors for varied performance needs, and tightly integrated pulse width modulation (PWM), serial peripheral interface (SPI), Inter Integrated Circuit (I²C) and Analogue to Digital Converter (ADC) and Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC) interfaces for a wide range of off-chip sensor and actuator connections. Hillcrest’s MotionEngine software utilises the Sensor and Control IP Subsystem’s optional IEEE 754 2008 compliant floating point unit (FPU) to support applications requiring single or double precision floating point operations. The combined hardware software sensor hub solution is optimised for sensor fusion applications in which an extensive amount of raw sensor input must be processed and transformed into application ready data while consuming as little energy as possible.
“The proliferation of motion sensing capabilities in IoT devices requires a new breed of SoCs that deliver extensive processing capabilities, while maintaining low power consumption and a small footprint,” said John Koeter, vice president of marketing for IP and prototyping at Synopsys. “We are pleased that Hillcrest ported their MotionEngine software to Synopsys’ DesignWare Sensor and Control IP Subsystem. The combined solution provides designers with a power efficient, pre integrated sensor hub solution that can be rapidly deployed into SoCs for always on applications.”
Synopsys; www.synopsys.com
Hillcrest Labs; www.HillcrestLabs.com
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