STMicroelectronics Smart Object technology powers the PIQ multi-functional motion wearable sensor

     STMicroelectronics announced that its sensors, controllers and communication technologies have been adopted by PIQ for a lightweight, low-power wearable performance testing and training device introduced by PIQ in 2015 for the golf and tennis markets.

     By tracking the multi-axis movement of the hand and wrist to perform 3D analysis of the hitting motion, the PIQ multi-sport sensor helps improve performance and playing technique. The new product measures 44mm x 39mm x 5mm and weighs only 10g. It is easy to wear whether it is in a sports bracelet, clipped on a golf glove or embedded in a belt.

     In tennis-related applications, through a partnership with French racquet company Babolat, the handheld display displays statistics such as swing speed and lift power, and the data generated from each shot can be shared via a mobile app for detailed analysis by coaches. In conjunction with Mobitee golf accessories and a digital course map, the PIQ multi-function motion sensor shows the distance to the green and shares the data to instantly play back shots. To add a ski resort feature, PIQ has partnered with ski equipment company Rossignol to launch a smart belt and a mobile app that allows users to record ski distances and analyze jumps and turns, allowing skiers to challenge each other.

     Cedric Mangaud, CEO of PIQ, said: "Our goal is to use every applicable measurement to make exercise more exciting and give users the best possible experience. St has best-in-class controllers, sensors, communication technologies and power management solutions that help us achieve our goals. That's why we chose ST as a one-stop shop and are working towards our future goal of adding 24 sports and competitions to our applications and partner products."

     The PIQ team chose ST's energy-efficient, high-performance STM32F4 microcontroller to design the master controller for the multi-motion sensor, achieving the top performance required for complex sensor data processing tasks. The STM32F4's rich power management capabilities help reduce power consumption to minimum absolute values and maximize battery life, making ultra-low power consumption essential for wearable devices.

     PIQ's Bluetooth wireless subsystem is used to connect the user's mobile phone. The subsystem uses ST's lowest power consumption BlueNRG smart Bluetooth wireless controller, which is used in combination with the radio frequency antenna interface chip BALF-NRG, which can save circuit board space. BALF-NRG uses ST's Integrated Passive Devices (IPD) technology, occupying only 1.19mm2 on the circuit board, while improving wireless communication performance.

     The PIQ design team also integrated the LPS25HB pressure sensor using ST's market-leading MEMS[1] technology. According to the IHS report, ST is the largest MEMS and sensor manufacturer in the wearable products market, with a market share of more than 25% and nearly 1,000 MEMS-related patents and patent applications worldwide. In addition, the new multi-functional motion sensor features ST's high-performance and energy-efficient STBC02 lithium charge controller, which manages power to maximize battery life, and STM6600 smart button controller, which is used for power switches and reset buttons.

     In addition, ST also provides the main components of the PIQ sensor charger, utilizing the STBCFG01 energy-efficient charger chip with intelligent charging function and the LD39130S ultra-small high-precision regulator, using the low-cost energy-efficient STM32F0 as the charging system microcontroller.

     The STM32F4, STM32F0 and BlueNRG Bluetooth chips are all powered by ARM® Cortex®-M core processors. St is the world's largest manufacturer of ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers with a portfolio of cores including M0, M0+, M3, M4 and the latest M7.

     Philip Lolies, Vice president of Market Applications for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at ST, said: "The PIQ Multi-motion sensor is a compelling development that takes wearable devices to the next level. The selection of several ST products for this project demonstrates how our highly miniaturized, energy-efficient products and associated design support tools can provide a powerful solution for the next generation of smart objects."