Technology in motion targets TVs and media devices
The Freespace Motion Engine is a software stack used to interface to MEMS-based sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers, to create 3-, 6- and 9-axis sensor configurations. While the software has been available for some time, this is the first time it has been presented as a modular solution that can be ported to a wide range of microcontrollers or microprocessors.
This productised version also supports a wider range of sensors and RF protocols, as well as being easier to port to host processors. The company says its software engine is sensor-agnostic, as well as not favouring any particular RF interface. As the company provides neither MEMS sensors or RF transceivers, this is not only essential but also promotes wider market acceptance.
The bulk of the company’s revenue comes from licensing its software to OEMs and it has been active in the ‘natural user interface’ market for around 10 years. This is where the Motion Engine was born, initially embedded within the remote control, but with the new modular approach customers are free to integrate the stack in to the remote control, the TV or even a USB dongle.
Also newly announced is a range of sensor modules, offered either with or without an embedded microcontroller running the Motion Engine stack. They use off-the-shelf MEMS sensors from leading suppliers including STMicroelectronics and Freescale, and are aimed at making it simpler to use MEMS sensors in other consumer devices. Hillcrest has also announced the second generation of its in-air mouse with 6-axis motion control, which is compatible with any USB HID-enabled device, along with the latest version of its Kylo Browser.
Based on the Mozilla browser, Kylo has been developed specifically for TV viewing and is, for the first time, available for OEMs to customise, as well as a downloadable version for end-users. Together these latest developments are aimed at consumer electronic device manufacturers who want to take advantage of the trend building around innovative user interfaces, increasingly found in tablet PCs and gaming devices. The growing number of internet-enabled TVs now coming on to the market, along with the momentum building for RF4CE technology and MEMS sensors in general, will also likely play a key role in the wider acceptance of natural user interfaces.
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