Atmel launches new family of wireless transceivers for smart energy applications

With European Utility Week 2014 in full swing, Atmel has unveiled a new family of wireless transceivers including the AT86RF215, AT86RF215M, and AT86RF215IQ. Expanding upon the Atmel | SMART metering portfolio, the new solutions address the industry’s low-cost, multi-protocol connectivity requirements for smart metering, smart lighting, home energy gateways and other industrial and automation equipment.

The first sampling device, AT86RF215, is the industry’s first dual-band sub-1GHz / 2.4GHz transceiver compliant to IEEE 802.15.4g-2012 and ETSI TS 102 887-1. Additionally, AT86RF215M is asingle band sub-1GHz transceiver, while the AT86RF215IQ is a dual-band I/Q radio. All three deliver an output power of up to 14dBm. With receiver sensitivities down to -123dBm, an outstanding link budget of 137dB can be achieved.

The AT86RF215 offers superior flexibility by supporting a variety of data rates with three modulation schemes: multi-rate and multi-regional frequency shift keying (MR-FSK), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MR-OFDM), as well as offset quadrature phase-shift keying (MR-O-QPSK). This entails the physical layer used for ZigBee PRO and ZigBee IP. Simultaneous operation at sub-1GHz and 2.4GHz enables new capabilities and the right cost structure in smart metering, smart lighting, home energy gateways and other industrial and automation equipment.

Some of the family’s key features include:

• Fully integrated radio transceiver covering 389.5-510 MHz, 779-1020 MHz, and 2400-2483.5 MHz
  • European bands at 863-870 MHz, 870-876 MHz, and 915-921 MHz
  • Chinese bands at 470-510 MHz and 779-787 MHz
  • North American band at 902-928 MHz
  • Korean band at 917-923.5 MHz
  • Japanese band at 920-928 MHz
  • Worldwide ISM band at 2400-2483.5 MHz
• Supported PHYs (IEEE 802.15.4g-2012, IEEE 802.15.4- 2011, and proprietary modes)
  • MR-FSK: 50…400 kbit/s with optional forward error correction and interleaving
  • MR-OFDM: 50…2400 kbit/s
  • MR-O-QPSK: 6.25…1000 kbit/s, 100…2000 kchip/s
  • O-QPSK: 250…1000 kbit/s, 1000 and 2000 kchip/s
• Simultaneous operation at sub-1 GHz and 2.4 GHz
• Bi-directional differential RF signal ports, one for sub-1 GHz and one for 2.4 GHz
• SPI interface to access registers and frame buffers
  • LVDS interface to access 13-bit I/Q data
  • IEEE 802.15.4 MAC support • Frame filter
  • FCS handling
  • Automatic acknowledgement
  • CCA with automatic transmit
• Industry-leading link budget
  • Programmable TX output power up to +14 dBm
  • Receiver sensitivity down to -123 dBm
• Low power supply voltage from 1.8V to 3.6V
• Low current consumption
  • 30 nA in SLEEP mode
  • 28 mA in RX mode
  • 65 mA in TX mode @ 14 dBm output power
• Industrial temperature range from -40°C to +85°C
• 48-pin low-profile lead-free plastic QFN package

“We are excited to see the widespread adoption of standards-based connectivity solutions for the utility industry worldwide,” said Kourosh Boutorabi, Atmel Senior Director of Smart Energy Products. “Expanding our portfolio of smart metering solutions to include new wireless transceivers reinforces our commitment to serve this growing market. We are continuing to deliver new platform solutions for the smart energy market, including powerline carrier connectivity and industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of metering system-on-chip solutions.”

While initial samples and evaluation kits for the AT86RF215 are available now to lead customers, mass sampling is planned for Q1 2015 and volume production for Q3 2015.

MAID Oven suggests meals based on your cooking habits

Room by room, appliance by appliance, it’s clearer than ever that our homes are becoming increasingly smarter. Ranging from talking fridges to embedded utensils, one area in particular experiencing an emergence of connected devices is the kitchen. In an effort to make cooking simple, social and fun for everyone, Palo Alto-based startup SectorQube has introduced the latest intelligent machine: the MAID Oven.

Powered by an Atmel ATmega32L, the MAID (Make All Incredible Dishes) Oven is an all-in-one device that can learn your eating habits, like daily caloric intake, and then suggest new recipes for you based on its pre-programmed optimization algorithms — which are driven by an ARM processor. The appliance functions as a microwave, convection oven and top-heater, meaning that it can whip up anything from a bag of popcorn or Eggo waffles to a birthday cake for a family celebration.

MAID boasts touch, voice and gesture controls, as well as 6-inch capacitive touchscreen. However, for those times your hands are messy, wet or simply full, just tell MAID what to do next via voice commands or gestures.

With its Internet connectivity, a user can access countless crowdsourced recipes from chefs and cooking enthusiasts from across the world. Not sure what you feel like for dinner? You can search for recipes based on a variety of ingredients, type of dish or just ask MAID to recommend a dish.

MAID can even improve a recipe you cook over and over again, in order for the end product to better suit your taste. As its creators note, every time, temperature and ingredient quantity adjustment you make to suit your taste is recorded and then added as input to the optimization algorithm.

For those on a diet and/or monitoring food intake, the smart device can track your calorie requirements, cooking habits and daily activities all from your phone and smartwatch, thereby playing the role of a personal dietician recommending a healthy balanced diet for you.

“The MAID app is an integral part of the MAID ecosystem. The app shows notifications when the dish is ready. Also, MAID app has activity tracking feature that tracks what the user is doing. It helps MAID to calculate how much calories has the user burnt and then based on that, suggest a healthy diet for the user. MAID app can be used to remotely operate MAID – preheat MAID for cooking, create a recipe from MAID app and cook from MAID oven and more,” a company rep writes.

Think this smart appliance would be the perfect addition to your kitchen? Recently launched on Kickstarter, MAID Oven is currently seeking $50,000. Pending all goes well, the SectorQube team hopes its backers will be able to enjoy some delicious holiday dishes come late 2015.

Electronica 2014 may be the ‘smartest’ show yet!

As we prepare to head off to Munich, Germany for perhaps one of the ’smartest’ shows of the year, Electronica 2014 attendees are in for a treat! Over the next couple of days, we will be unveiling a number of new solutions to further enable smart, connected and secure devices for the ever-growing Internet of Things (IoT) — ranging from consumer and industrial to automotive and Maker applications.

During the week of November 11-14, head over to Messe München where you will find a plethora of IoT solutions in the Atmel booth — located in Hall A5, Booth 542 — including:

Low-power embedded processing

• Industry’s lowest power ARM Cortex-M0+ MCU for the Internet of Things
• A new QTouch safety platform for home appliance user interfaces
• Next-generation 8-bit AVR MCUs accelerating development of low-power applications

Secure connectivity

• Industry’s first FCC-certified Wi-Fi and MCU integrated module
• Atmel’s new CAN transceiver family
• A next-generation LIN system basis chip portfolio for in-vehicle networking

Easy-to-use software and tool

• IAR Systems supports Atmel’s complete microcontroller portfolio, expanding Atmel’s IoT software and tools ecosystem
• An ultra-low cost Xplained mini development platform available for only $8.88 USD that is compatible with any Atmel 8-bit megaAVR MCUs
• Xplained Ultra evaluation kit for fast prototyping and evaluation of Atmel | SMART SAMA5D4 Cortex-A5 based MPUs
• A security module compatible with all Xplained boards that supports SHA256, AES128 and ECC256 hardware authentication for IoT nodes

Our broad portfolio of next-gen tech powering the Internet of Things will be showcased at Electronica in various pods, such as the smart home, industrial, automotive, and of course, Maker areas.

Atmel’s SMART HOME ZONE brings more intelligent, connected devices together.

• Showcasing hardware security with wireless connectivity to a variety of edge nodes applications, the well-received Atmel WINC1500 will demonstrate a video camera, temperature sensor and LED control highlighting ease-of-use connectivity to mobile handsets and cloud architecture. Strong key protection is provided by the ATEC108 Elliptic Curve security chip.
• For the intelligent home, this demonstration highlights Atmel’s popular AVR architecture using a mega168PB, AT86RF212, XMEGA128A1U and MXT143. The demo showcases an AVR with a wireless connection running on a battery with a graphical display.
• The QTouch safety robustness demonstration showcases Atmel’s SAM D20 with the company’s new QTouch safety library, displaying the superior capacitive touch performance of the peripheral touch controller while achieving best-in-class noise immunity and moisture tolerance required in home appliances. Attendees can enter to win one of the QTouch safety evaluation kits by viewing the demonstration.
• Demonstrating security for the connected world, this three-light switch demo communicates via ZigBee to a remote panel with 3 LEDs. The switches and LEDs include an Atmel ATSHA204 device with stored crypto keys. When the switch is flipped, only the LEDs with the corresponding key will light—demonstrating symmetric authentication.
• Showcasing the latest lighting solutions, the Philips Hue LED colormix bulb, the Philips Lux dimmable bulb and the Philips Tap switch highlights how users can create their own personal wireless lighting environment with the tap of a switch or through an app on the users’ mobile device.

Atmel’s INDUSTRIAL ZONE enables smart, machine-to-machine connections.

• Demonstrating a smart fridge, this home automation demonstration powered by Atmel | SMART SAMA5D4 includes a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen that includes a 720p video playback showcasing the processors performance and data processing in a secure environment.
• Powered by Atmel’s maXTouch mXT1666T2 and maXStylus, this rugged Inari10 tablet demonstrates support of a glove, moisture rejection and support for maXStylus.
• Through a Sigfox base station, this demo utilizes Atmel’s ATA8520 and ATA8510 to demonstrate the company’s IoT connectivity solution.
• Highlighting Atmel’s support of capacitive touch buttons, sliders and wheels using the company’s QTouch technologies, Atmel will showcase two QTouch demos. The first is powered by the Atmel | SMART SAM D21 MCU on an Xplained Pro board demonstrating mutual capacitance and the intelligent peripheral touch controller—all enabled by Atmel QTouch. The second demo, powered by the Atmel | SMART SAM D11 MCU, is supported by the QTouch Library enabling capacitive touch button sliders and wheels on smaller, lower cost Atmel MCUs using the Peripheral Touch Controller.

Atmel’s AUTOMOTIVE ZONE brings IoT to the connected car with simple, touch-enabled human-machine interface.

• Showcasing a smart, connected car, Atmel will be highlighting the well-received AvantCar demo, a next-generation automotive center console concept with curved touchscreens highlighting Atmel’s XSense, maXTouch, QTouch, and 8-bit AVR MCU technologies.
• Highlighting car access, this demo will enable passive entry and passive start for automobiles through capacitive touch and proximity detection technology controlled by a tablet PC using Atmel’s maXTouch technologies. This demo is powered by Atmel’s automotive devices including the ATA5791, ATA5831, ATA5702, ATA5790N, ATA5833 and Atmel | SMART SAM D21.
• Several other automotive demos are also featured in this zone, including a door handle powered by Atmel’s fourth generation LIN device that includes a curved touch-enabled glass display, providing excellent multi-touch performance for future automotive applications, and utilizing Atmel’s XSense and the maXTouch 2952T.

Atmel’s MAKER ZONE showcases IoT inventions, enabling unlimited possibilities.

• Being at the core of the Maker Movement, Atmel will be showcasing a number of Maker demonstrations including a remote-controlled Maker Robot powered by the Atmel | SMART SAM D21. “Mr. Abot” will be controlled through an Andriod app and the communications will be driven through Atmel’s recently announced new WINC1500 Wi-Fi solution.
• Atmel will also be showcasing a Skittles sorting machine for the candy lover. This Atmel | SMART powered sorter uses the SAM D21 device and will sort the Skittles into individual containers by color using an RGB light sensor.

Wait, there’s more!

In the wake of recent incidents, it is becoming increasingly clear that embedded system insecurity affects everyone and every company. On a personal level, these vulnerabilities can lead to a breach in unprivileged financial and medical data. For a company, the impact can be quite profound. Products can be cloned, software copied, systems tampered with and spied on, and many other things that can lead to revenue loss, increased liability, and diminished brand equity.

Atmel’s resident security expert Kerry Maletsky will be address these growing concerns in his session, “IoT Security Should Be Hard, By Definition.” Join Maletsky on Thursday, November 13 at 2:00pm CET in Hall A6 / A6.353 at the Embedded Forum as he explores the basics of hardened security in every designer’s IoT device.

This smart shaker helps you mix the perfect cocktail

Not equipped to be a bartender? Luckily, this new gizmo is.

Designed by the Magnified Self crew, B4RM4N is a smart cocktail shaker powered by an Atmel microcontroller (MCU) and connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth, allowing you to mix and pour the perfect drink every time.

To start, a user connects B4RM4N to their mobile device by placing the shaker onto a nearby table or bar, immediately launching the accompanying mobile app (available on both iOS and Android). Then, simply select a recipe from the vast library loaded onto the app, as well as the desired number of drinks (up to three glasses at a time for any given recipe).

Once a recipe is chosen, a user will be instructed by the app to go ahead and round up each of the necessary ingredients, and start adding. Accompanied by instant sound feedback, the LEDs located along the side of the shaker will indicate when to stop. When completed with one ingredient, B4RM4N shows you what to do next, which can also be monitored on the smartphone’s screen. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Who knew the shaking process could be made smarter? B4RM4N can simplify the process even more by telling an aspiring drink-maker when to stop thanks to its embedded accelerometer.

Throwing a last-minute shindig? With its real-time capabilities, the connected cocktail shaker can suggest what drinks you can make based on the ingredients on-hand or in the fridge. Think you’ve made quite the decadent drink and want the world to know? B4RM4N also enables you to share the creation across Facebook, Twitter and other social communities.

Recently launched on Kickstarter, its team is seeking $100,000 to assist in production. Can you see yourself using this smart contraption at your next party? Magnified Self hopes to have its first batch of shipments ready for next summer… just in time for that 4th of July extravaganza!

Turning playgrounds into video games with ATmega328P

In today’s age of non-stop stimulation, it seems old schoolyard mainstays like the see-saw and jungle gym may not get as much love as they used to. In a way to reinvigorate these activities, the Hybrid Play system — which recently made its Indiegogo debut — uses an Atmel powered, clip-on sensor to transform any playground into an interactive virtual game.

Making setup super easy and intuitive, the Hybrid Play clip can easily be affixed to nearly any feature on a playset. The sturdy, weather-resistant “clothespin” features a collaboration of an ATmega328P MCU, IR sensors, gyroscopes, and accelerometers that precisely track motion data and transmit it back to a paired smartphone application via Bluetooth LE.

“A wireless sensor transforms the playground elements into physical interfaces controlling video games on Android or iOS devices (such as smartphones and tablets). Hybrid Play is specifically designed for recreational equipment that rotates around an axis, such as swings or seesaws, or static elements such a slides,” the team writes.

Once clipped to the play set, the Arduino-based sensor registers movement while a custom software transforms this data into actions in the digital game, such as walking, jumping, running or turning. Hybrid Play bridges the gap between the physical and digital worlds to create open-air fun experiences, and comes equipped with pre-installed entertainment like Puzzle City and Space Kids. However, since it’s open source, everyone can design their own games as well!

According to its creators, the actual functionality of the Hybrid Play is designed to promote communication, collaboration and group-play with children and parents. Usually, a parent or friend will operate the smartphone, as kids work together to solve the smartphone applications tasks and objectives. The phone could assign kids to swing in a pattern that collects space trash to clean the galaxy or to navigate the playscape in a reworked version of the arcade classics Pac-Man and TRON.

“You can also try hybrid version of classic games. Give a new life to old games on the playground or even better: you can create your own games. Your creations, your rules!” Given its open-source nature, the fun possibilities are endless.

The accessible iOS and Android platform even allows for kids and families to design their own games to be acted out and solved upon the playground. Hybrid Play’s intersection of physical activity, virtual stimulation, and relationship building makes it an ideal tool for the modern-day, on-the-go family.

Currently seeking $140,000 in its recently-launched crowdfunding campaign, the team hopes to use the pledges for hardware production, as well as software and gaming development. Shipments are expected to begin April 2015 — perfect time for some spring!

Do you have children between the ages of 6 and 12 and want to learn more about Hybrid Play?  You can explore the wide range of possibilities on its official site and back the team on its Indiegogo page here.

Microsoft reportedly set to launch a wearable device in weeks

After rumors of a Microsoft smartwatch first surfaced back in July, Forbes has reported that the company is indeed getting ready to launch a wearable device within the next few weeks.

(Source: USPTO; CNN Money)

If you recall, Tom’s Hardware hinted that the smartwatch would be equipped with 11 sensors and feature a 1.5-inch display that would actually be located inside the user’s wrist, as it possesses a more natural look and feel.

The gadget will be a smartwatch that will “passively track a wearer’s heart rate and work across different mobile platforms,” Forbes writes. Supposedly, the device will also boast a battery life of more than two days of regular use — a frequently cited factor in the consumer purchase decision process.

“Motorola’s [Atmel MXT112S powered] Moto 360 smartwatch also has a continuous heart rate monitor and has been praised for its stylish design, but the battery tends to last for just 24 hours based on various reviews. Some wearables like the Pebble and Jawbone Up24 boast batteries that last for days or even weeks at a time, but that becomes impossible when a device features a color display like the Apple Watch or Gear,” Forbes notes.

The recent Forbes report also emphasized that the device will work across different platforms, which is consistent with CEO Satya Nadella’s attempt to widen the company’s product offerings “across all devices.” This meaning that the new wearable will not only be compatible with Windows Phone devices, but Android and iOS handsets as well. When announced, the gadget will mark the company’s first attempt in the category under Nadella.

It’s no surprise Microsoft is looking towards wearable computing; after all, analysts predict the market to be worth $12.6 billion in 2018, with an anticipated 100 million smartwatches to be in use worldwide by 2019. Furthermore, businesses will look to integrate more than 13 million wearable devices with embedded wireless connectivity into their wellness plans over this time period.

“Microsoft’s legacy in machine learning through Microsoft Research could also point to a future business model for a health-tracking device — that is, if it chooses to exploit its close ties with enterprise customers.”

The Tom’s Hardware report in July added that Microsoft’s smartwatch will have a resemblance to a thinner, flatter version of the Nike Fuelband. We guess we’ll just have to stay tuned until its launch to find out more!

 

Kuna’s smart light fixture doubles as digital doorman and security guard

Led by Makers Sai-Wai Fu and Haomiao Huang, the Kuna team has launched the first effective break-in prevention solution: a smart Wi-Fi camera with an intercom built into an outdoor light fixture. In other words, think of it as your digital doorman that detects those approaching your door and allows you to interact with them via smartphone.

The early-stage company is no stranger to the Maker Movement and crowdfunding world, bringing years of experience as domain experts in digital video, drones and robotics. Moreover, the startup is further validation to Gartner’s recent claim that by 2017, over half of the Internet of Things (IoT) solutions on the market will originate from companies less than three years old.

Meanwhile, the convergence of outdoor lights and home security is certainly not a brand new concept; however, Kuna has upped the playing field by streaming live video that a homeowner can watch and interact with from a distance. In addition to the camera and intercom, Kuna can act as an alarm siren and serve as a full-featured smart light.

The light — which comes in traditional, contemporary and craftsmen designs to adorn any style home — empowers a user to turn it on and off remotely, set a schedule, or automatically turn on in dusk-to-dawn mode. And, since it’s a light, the app can be programmed to respond to motion when something or someone trips its sensor.

“Kuna provides peace of mind and convenience with an always-on device that distinguishes between people coming, going, and staying at the door through patent-protected technology to minimize unwanted alerts,” the team adds.

“Burglars are looking for easy targets, which means empty homes or someone alone at home. They move through a neighborhood knocking at doors and seeing who answers. If no one answers, that’s when they decided to break in. With Kuna, you can speak to a potential burglar and let them know that someone sees them. They will move on to an easier target, one where no one knows they’re there.”

Live in a woodsy area? Luckily, Kuna combines high-tech computer imaging with IR motion sensing to filter out false alarms such as swaying trees and small creatures. In addition, it can decipher between someone coming home, leaving or waiting at the doorstep.

Key features of the camera include 720p HD video and a 116-degree field-of-view wide lens, whose footage is streamed to the smartphone through Kuna’s secure web servers. Instead of relying on battery power, it draws from the 120VAC via the mounted light fixture, and connects to the Internet over Wi-Fi and to your smartphone by Bluetooth LE.

In an attempt to build a community of beta testers and early adopters, Kuna has launched an Indiegogo campaign offering special pre-order pricing starting at $99. Those interested in backing the smart device can expect their shipments come Spring 2015.

The Atmel powered DrinkMate has your BAC

Developed by the team at Edge Tech Labs, DrinkMate is a lipstick-sized breathalyzer that plugs directly into your smartphone. The project recently completed a successful Kickstarter campaign having exceeded its original $40,000 goal by nearly $60,000.

Unlike others of the past, the world’s smallest breathalyzer — which measures 1.8″ long x 0.62″ in diameter — works in conjunction with the Android phone’s app and displays his or her blood alcohol content (BAC) results instantly with no calibration, no mouthpiece and no battery.

How does it work? One end of the DrinkMate simply plugs into the phone’s microUSB port; a user blows into the other end; BAC results are then displayed instantly. However, keep in mind that like with any breathalyzer, users can’t eat or drink anything for 15-20 minutes prior to using the device in order to get an accurate reading.

DrinkMate has a low-cost advanced stability semiconductor-based sensor, which will get you results within 0.01%. Though the sensor’s limit is 0.20%, as the creators mention, if you’re past 0.20% then you would “probably need help standing anyway!”

Led by Shaun Masavage and Mack Redding, the team devised the portable, lightweight (only weights 0.2 oz) yet powerful breathalyzer entirely from scratch, along with an Atmel microcontroller (MCU), of course.

“DrinkMate was designed entirely from scratch. We knew that to make a new breakthrough in size reduction, we couldn’t have any bias from existing larger designs,” a company rep noted on its site.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 33,561 people died in traffic crashes in 2012 in the U.S. alone with an estimated 10,322 as a result of drunk driving, accounting for nearly one-third of all traffic deaths that year. With its latest innovation, DrinkMate hopes to heavily reduce the number of drunk driving incidents and corresponding fatalities.

When discussing the goal of the pocket-sized breathalyzer, Masavage shares, “By making DrinkMate more accessible and cheaper ($25), we’re hoping users will use it publicly, and that it will take away some of the stigma of checking on your BAC.”

Interested in a DrinkMate of your own before heading out for a night on the town? They are now available for pre-order on the team’s official website, and are expected to begin shipping in December.

Atmel expands metering platform for advanced smart energy apps

Atmel has expanded its Atmel | SMART portfolio of energy metering products with the recent introduction of the SAM4C32 dual-core secure MCU, along with the SAM4CMS32 and SAM4CMP32 for residential, commercial and industrial metering applications. The new system-on-chip (SoC) solutions have 2MB of cache-enabled dual-bank flash, are pin-pin compatible with existing 512KB and 1MB devices in the portfolio, and allow unparalleled scalability and design-reuse for next-generation smart metering platforms.

The SAM4Cx series is built on a dual-core 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4 architecture with flexible firmware metrology capability up to a class 0.2 accuracy designed to meet WELMEC requirements for the separation of legal metrology, applications and communications. All devices include advanced security features, low-power real-time clock and LCD driver, and multiple serial interfaces resulting in a best-in-class level of integration, performance and lower bill of material (BOM) cost.

“As the rate of smart meter deployments continue to rise in several European and Asian regions, our customers demand an unprecedented level of integration and scalability to maximize their R&D investment and to address multiple utility markets more quickly at lower cost points,” explained Kourosh Boutorabi, Atmel’s Senior Director of Smart Metering. “We are committed to offering next-generation smart metering system architects a broad portfolio of solutions based on the same core platform architecture, software and tools.”

As we’ve previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, the Atmel | SMART SAM4Cx is a comprehensive smart energy platform designed specifically for grid communications, electricity, gas and water metering systems, and energy measurement applications.

Key features of the SAM4CMS32 and SAM4CMP32 include:

• Application / Master Core
  • ARM Cortex-M4 running at up to 120MHz
  • Memory Protection Unit (MPU)
  • DSP Instruction
  • Thumb®-2 instruction set
  • Instruction and Data Cache Controller with 2 Kbytes Cache Memory
  • 2Mbytes of flash, 256Kbytes of SRAM, 8Kbytes of ROM
• Coprocessor (provides ability to separate application, communication or metrology functions)
  • ARM Cortex-M4F
  • IEEE 754 Compliant, Single precision Floating-Point Unit (FPU)
  • DSP Instruction
  • Thumb-2 instruction set
  • Instruction and Data Cache Controller with 2 Kbytes Cache Memory
  • 32K+16K bytes of SRAM
• Symmetrical/Asynchronous Dual Core Architecture
  • Interrupt-based Inter-processor Communication
  • Asynchronous Clocking
  • One Interrupt Controller (NVIC) for each core
  • Each Peripheral IRQs routed to each NVIC Inputs
• Cryptography
  • High performance AES 128 to 256 with various modes (GCM, CBC, ECB, CFB, CBC-MAC, CTR)
  • TRNG (up to 38 Mbit/s stream, with tested Diehard and FIPS)
  • Public Key Crypto accelerator and associated ROM library for RSA, ECC, DSA, ECDSA
  • Integrity Check Module (ICM) based on Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA1, SHA224, SHA256), DMA assisted
• Safety
  • Two (ATSAM4CMS32) / one (ATSAM4CMP32) physical Anti-Tamper Detection I/Os with Time Stamping and Immediate Clear of General Backup Registers
  • Security Bit for Device Protection from JTAG Accesses
• Shared System Controller
  • Embedded Core and LCD Voltage Regulator for single supply operation
  • Power-on-Reset (POR), Brownout Detector (BOD) and Dual Watchdog for safe operation
  • Ultra-low-power Backup mode (< 0.5 µA Typical @ 25°C)
  • Optional 3 to 20 MHz quartz or ceramic resonator oscillators with clock failure detection
  • Ultra-low-power 32.768 kHz crystal oscillator for RTC with frequency monitoring
  • High-precision 4/8/12 MHz factory-trimmed internal RC oscillator with on-the-fly trimming capability
  • One high-frequency PLL up to 240 MHz, one 8 MHz PLL with internal 32 kHz input
  • Low-power slow clock internal RC oscillator as permanent clock
  • Power Supply
  • Clock
  • Ultra-low-power RTC with Gregorian and Persian Calendar, Waveform Generation and Clock Calibration
  • Up to 23 Peripheral DMA (PDC) Channels
• Shared Peripherals
  • One Segmented LCD Controller
    • Display capacity of 38 segments and 6 common terminals
    • Software-selectable LCD output voltage (Contrast)
    • Can be used in Backup mode
  • Four USARTs (ATSAM4CMS32) or three USARTs (ATSAM4CMP32) with ISO7816, IrDA®, RS-485, SPI and Manchester Mode /
  • Two 2-wire UARTs
  • Up to two 400 kHz Master/Slave and Multi-Master Two-wire Interfaces (I2C compatible)
  • Up to five Serial Peripheral Interfaces (SPI)
  • Two 3-channel 16-bit Timer/Counters with Capture, Waveform, Compare and PWM modes
  • Quadrature Decoder Logic and 2-bit Gray Up/Down Counter for Stepper Motor
  • 3-channel 16-bit Pulse Width Modulator
  • 32-bit Real-time Timer
• Energy Metering Analog-Front-End Module
  • Works with Atmel’s MCU Metrology library
  • Compliant with Class 0.2 standards (ANSI C12.20-2002 and IEC 62053-22)
  • Four Sigma-Delta ADC measurement channels, 20-bit resolution, 102 dB dynamic range
• Analog Conversion Block
  • 6-channel, 500 kS/s, Low-power, 10-bit SAR ADC with Digital averager providing 12-bit resolution at 30 kS/s
  • Software Controlled On-chip Reference ranging from 1.6V to 3.4V
  • Temperature Sensor and Backup Battery Voltage Measurement Channel
• I/O
  • Up to 57 I/O lines (ATSAM4CMS32) or up to 52 I/O lines (ATSAM4CMP32) with External Interrupt Capability (edge or level sensitivity), Schmitt Trigger, Internal Pull-up/pull-down, Debouncing, Glitch Filtering and On-die Series Resistor Termination
• Package
  • 100-lead LQFP, 14 x 14 mm, pitch 0.5 mm

Learn more about the newest SAM4C32 MCUs here.

will.i.am launches Puls, a smart cuff

We’ve seen him at Maker Faires. We’ve seen him create 3D printers. We’ve seen him drive futuristic cars. Now, will.i.am is entering the wearable market with a next-gen smartwatch, or cuff as he calls its.

With 19.2 million wearable devices set to ship this year and over 112 million expected be in use by 2018, it’s no wonder will.i.am has decided to embark on his latest venture. With brains and beauty, not only is it a SMART idea, his newfound company I.Am.Plus Electronics LLC hopes to make body-adorned tech more fashionable!

The device, which has officially been named Puls, was first exhibited by will.i.am on Channel 4’s Alan Carr: Chatty Man back in April, and has also made appearances on The Voice in the UK. “I don’t carry my phone anymore, this is my phone. A lot of these smart watches need phones — mine doesn’t need a phone,” will.i.am explained.

On October 15th, the entrepreneur and Grammy Award-winning artist took center stage at Salesforce.com’s Dreamforce 2014 in San Francisco to debut his newest product, which is expected to rival others on the market — such as the Apple Watch and Samsung Gear S. Wearers will be able to use the gadget like a phone, by making calls, using apps and of course, listening to the latest tunes from the Black Eyed Peas.

The smart cuff will be voice-controlled via a Siri-like feature called Aneeda. This meaning that the wearer can tell the digital personal assistant when to play a song, make a call, among number of other tasks. For those who prefer to type than speak, the Puls has a touch keyboard as well.

(Source: WSJ)

With its battery located all around the strap, the gadget delivers about five hours of continuous power, which means you’ll need to charge it daily. Luckily, power-ups should take less than an hour.

Not only will the smartwatch be equipped with Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi capabilities, it doesn’t need to be paired with a phone in order to have full-functionality. The untethered cuff, which boasts 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, even features applications like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as the ability to text, read and write emails, and track your steps.

“This is not a watch, by any means,” will.i.am told the crowd. “Watches don’t have SIM cards. This is a new type of communication.”

And in true will.i.am fashion, he will also stay ahead of the curve… literally… by including curved display. Not only will this make for a better format to watch videos or read lengthy emails, but the “onscreen keyboard overcomes the challenge of small keys with software that accurately guesses words that are being typed within a few taps,” .  

The Puls, which will hit stores before the end of the year, will start at $499 and be offered exclusively with carrier partner AT&T.

will.i.am emphasizes that, “This conversation that we’re having about wearables, the thing on your wrist that talks to your phone, that’s not the future… There’s no reason why the thing on your wrist shouldn’t be able to do everything. There’s no reason for it to talk to a phone at all.”

“Now there’s tools for people that have idea to quickly materialize them, the democratization of everything possible.” As previously reported on Bits & Pieces, the technophile founder of the Black Eyed Peas has offered a ringing endorsement of the Maker Movement — surely not a surprise given his passion for innovation and recent creative roles at a number of tech giants.

“Every young person is going to be inspired to be a Maker from now on. It’s like how everyone used to want to be a vian, an actor, an athlete — but a Maker is what people are going to want to be.”