Movea’s SmartMotion tech ported to Atmel’s SAM G53

Movea recently ported its flagship SmartMotion technology to Atmel’s SAM G53 microcontroller, a 32-bit MCU based on ARM’s high-performance 32-bit Cortex-M4 RISC processor.

 Targeting mobile consumer devices such as smartphones and tablets, Movea’s SmartMotion technology enhances the user experience by delivering advanced motion driven applications including activity monitoring, context awareness, pedestrian dead-reckoning and mobile gestures – effectively turning sensor data into meaningful, personal information.

“Sensor hub architectures enabling always-on capabilities while maintaining ultra-low power consumption have become vital to deliver the context aware applications consumers are asking for,” explained Movea CEO Sam Guilaumé.

“Adding Atmel to our supported platforms allows industry OEMs to benefit from leading solutions to quickly and easily deploy the next generation of smart apps while offloading the main application processor; saving battery life, which is so precious to mobile users.”

Adrian Woolley, Director of Strategy, Microcontroller Business Unit, Atmel, expressed similar sentiments.

“The combination of our ultra-low power sensor hub microcontroller with Movea’s SmartMotion technology optimized for mobile devices and wearables meets the constraints of low power, high accuracy and flexibility,” he said. “This market-leading solution will feed the need for advanced capabilities and extended battery.”

As we’ve previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, Atmel’s SAM G53 operates at a maximum speed of 48 MHz and features up to 512 Kbytes of Flash and 96 Kbytes of SRAM. The peripheral set includes one USART, two UARTs, three I2C-bus interfaces (TWI), up to two SPIs, two three-channel general-purpose 16- bit timers, two I2S controllers with two-way, one-channel pulse density modulation, one real-time timer (RTT) and one 8-channel 12-bit ADC. The device operates from 1.62V to 3.6V and is available in a 49-ball WLCSP package and a 100-pin LQFP package.

Interested in learning more about Atmel’s SAM G53? You can check out our detailed data sheet here.

Video: ARM interviews Atmel’s Ingar Fredriksen

Earlier this week, Atmel kicked off Embedded World 2014 by expanding its low-power ARM Cortex M0+-based MCU portfolio with three new families: the SAM D21, D10 and D11. The trio of entry-level, low-power MCUs are packed with a number of high-end features including Atmel’s Event System, SERCOM module, peripheral touch controller and a full-speed USB interface.

During the show, ARM’s Andy Frame interviewed Atmel’s MCU Marketing Director Ingar Fredriksen about the company’s ARM-based SAM D family of products.

“The original SAM D20 lineup has been a tremendous success for Atmel,” Fredriksen told Frame. “We see a lot of opportunities for the series over the next five years.”

Commenting on the new additions to the SAM D series, Fredriksen highlighted Atmel’s integrated peripheral touch controller (PTC) which supports buttons, sliders, wheels and proximity with up to 256 channels. This configuration allows developers to migrate from a two-chip (one MCU + one touch) solution to a one-chip platform.

Indeed, the PTC supports mutual and self capacitive touch, while offering optimized sensitivity and noise tolerance as well as self-calibration. Simply put, the PTC eliminates the need for external components and minimizes CPU overhead. More specifically, implementing one button takes one channel, while wheels and sliders occupy three.

As we’ve previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, Atmel’s SAM D portfolio is architected beyond the core, leveraging over two decades of MCU experience to create unique, connected peripherals that are easy-to-use, while providing scalability and performance.

To help accelerate the design process and eliminate the need for additional components, Atmel’s new SAM D lineup integrates additional functionality, including full-speed crystal-less USB, DMA, I2S, timers/counters for control applications, along with several other new features. Atmel’s SAM D devices are also code- and pin-compatible, making it easy for designers to migrate up and down the family.

Interested in learning more? You can check out Atmel’s ARM-based solutions here and “Think Beyond the Core,” a free white paper [PDF] about Atmel’s scalable SAM D lineup here.

Video: ARM interviews Atmel’s Jacko Wilbrink

Earlier today, the ARM crew interviewed Atmel exec Jacko Wilbrink on the sidelines of Embedded World 2014 in Nuremberg, Germany.

Wilbrink discussed Atmel’s popular ARM-based SAMA5D3 microprocessor, confirming that the MPU has been a “tremendous success for Atmel.”

Wilbrink also said Atmel will continue to offer scalable ARM-based MPUs, with an eye on introducing more dual-core implementations in the future. 

Last, but certainly not least, Wilbrink showcased Newark’s (element14) new $79 Atmel SAMA5D3 Xplained evaluation kit – a low-cost, fast prototyping and evaluation platform for microprocessor-based design.

The board, which is powered by Atmel’s SAMA5D3 ARM Cortex-A5 processor-based MPU, is packed with a rich set of ready-to-use connectivity and storage peripherals, along with Arduino shield-compatible expansion headers for easy customization. In addition, the platform is a perfect target for headless Android projects, while a Linux distribution and software package facilitates rapid software development.

As we’ve previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, the SAMA5D3 series is ideal for wearable computing and mobile applications where low power and a small footprint are critical. Key SAMA5D3 Xplained features include:

• Fully documented and readily available Cortex-A5 based MPU solution
• Rich set of peripherals, specifically on connectivity
• USB power (no need for power adaptor)
• Flexibility – Arduino-compatible connectors, enabling the user to leverage the extensive Arduino shields ecosystem
• Open Source hardware – All design files available; easy to reuse in customer projects
Software package with drivers and examples for bare metal developers
• Qt developers kit and Linux distribution free of charge

The new SAMA5D3 Xplained evaluation kit – priced at $79 – is slated to ship in mid-March 2014 from Farnell element14 in Europe, Newark element14 in North America and element14 in APAC. You can pre-register for the board here.

Atmel’s SAM4Cx clinches ACE awards nomination

Atmel’s ARM-based SAM4Cx platform had been nominated as one of the 2014 ACE award finalists in the category of energy technology.

The 2014 ACE Awards, presented by EE Times and EDN, showcases the best of the best in today’s electronics industry, including the hottest new products, start-up companies, design teams, executives and more. Winners will be announced April 1 at the ACE Awards event held in conjunction with EE Live.

“One of the many joys of working with ARM Partners is to witness their technologies and teams recognized for their hard work,” an ARM rep told Bits & Pieces.

“We look forward to reviewing the ACE Awards each year to see which Partners have been nominated as a finalist. It makes us proud each year to see the pervasiveness of the ARM technology in so many categories.”

As we’ve previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, Atmel’s ARM-based SAM4Cx is a comprehensive smart energy platform designed specifically for next-gen grid communications, electricity, gas and water metering systems and energy measurement applications.

The Atmel SAM4Cx platform includes several system-on-chip (SoC) devices built around a dual-core ARM Cortex-M4 architecture with advanced security, metrology, wireless and power-line communications (PLC) options.

Key features of Atmel’s smart energy platform include best-in-class metrology with class 0.2 accuracy and dynamic range of up to 6000:1 for single and poly-phase applications; low-power PRIME PLC connectivity with integrated line driver; advanced cryptography; the ability to integrate application, communication and metrology; up to 2Mbytes of embedded Flash and 304Kbytes of SRAM with external memory expansion option.

Additional specs include low-power RTC, LCD and anti-tamper feature sets designed to reduce smart meter BOM by as much as 40 percent.

Interested in learning more about Atmel’s new and comprehensive smart energy platform? Be sure to check out our official product page here and Atmel’s SAM4Cx deep dive here.

Atmel Studio 6.2 goes live in Nuremberg (EW 2014)

Atmel has rolled out Studio 6.2 for its ARM-based and AVR-powered MCUs. The latest version of the popular integrated development environment (IDE) boasts a number of new features, including support for the Atmel-ICE probe, which provides advanced programming and debug connectivity, as well as the ability to capture data trace information.

As Steve Pancoast, Atmel’s VP of Software & Tools notes, Atmel-ICE allows engineers and designers to more easily develop and debug applications in a single, integrated environment.

Atmel’s Studio 6.2 also seamlessly integrates Percepio Trace, providing optimized insight into the run-time of embedded software with advanced trace visualization.

More specifically, Percepio Trace for Atmel Studio features control-flow trace (tasks and interrupts), custom data plots, application debug output, statistical code profiling, support for viewing MCU event counters and real-time operating system (RTOS) awareness. In addition to Percepio Trace, Atmel Studio 6.2 adds data breakpoints and live watch.

“With time-to-market pressures constantly increasing in today’s competitive market, advanced visualization support is a necessity,” explained Dr. Johan Kraft, CEO, Percepio AB.

“The integration of our Percepio Trace allows Atmel MCU designers to produce higher quality software in a shorter time and at a lower price point.”

Atmel’s Steve Pancoast expressed similar sentiments.

“With the increased complexity in today’s embedded designs, developers are differentiating their products through software and advanced peripherals. With Atmel’s latest Studio 6.2 version, we combine all the tools in a seamless, simple-to-use platform,” he said.

“As a leading provider of MCUs, we are committed to bringing an extensive and sophisticated eco-system to our software developers to ensure they have all the right tools to differentiate their products in this highly competitive market.”

Atmel 

Studio 6.2 can be downloaded here, free of charge.

Open Yooquik: Home automation the Atmel and ARM way

Open Yooquik – a home automation system powered by Acme’s Acqua A5 System on Module (SoM) – is built around Atmel’s ARM-based SAMA5D3 microprocessor (MPU).

Aside from the SAMA5D3 MPU, key hardware features include:

• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (AP or client mode)
• 868MHz RF transceiver module FSK modulation
• One USB host port
• Three filtered inputs (24V max)
• 
Two opto isolated outputs (open drain)
• Relay output
• Tamper switch
• MEMS sensors: temperature/humidity, barometer, three-axis accelerometer
• On board buzzer
• LiPo 1C battery charger
• 9-24V DC input power supply
• 6 expansion connectors for additional modules: UMTS, XBee, MBus radio, RS232, RS485, RS422, NFC/RFID, audio, industrial I/O, A/D converter, custom modules (UART / I2C / SPI)

“Other automation systems connect remote devices [via] wires or WiFi connection,” an Open Yooquik rep explained on the product’s official page.

“[However], we have chosen a different way: the main controller behaves as an access point or as a WiFi client connected to your home network, whereas all remote devices are connected to the main controller with a RF radio. About 700 meters are covered without repeaters.”

On the software-server side, the Yooquik crew has deployed Node.js, while the RF modules arrive preloaded with firmware to facilitate a true plug-and-play experience. Yooquik also offers easy access to cloud, allowing users to manage multiple devices with a simple API.

“To develop your iOS or Android native app, you can use our Javascript libraries and the amazing Cordova/PhoneGap project,” the rep added. 

”Nothing could be easier to control your home automation system from your smartphone. Forget router NAT configurations: connect your app to our cloud and you manage all your Yooquik devices.”

Interested in learning more about Open Yooquik? You can check out the product’s official page here.

Atmel expands SAM D Cortex M0+ MCU portfolio

Atmel has expanded its low-power ARM Cortex M0+-based MCU portfolio with three new families: the SAM D21, D10 and D11. These entry-level, low-power MCUs are packed with high-end features including Atmel’s Event System, SERCOM module, peripheral touch controller and a full-speed USB interface.

“As more devices are becoming smarter and connected in this era of the Internet of Things (IoT), designers are looking for MCUs with additional connectivity and communication options to scale their applications in the consumer, industrial and medical markets,” explained Patrick Sullivan, Vice President of Marketing, Microcontroller Business Unit, Atmel Corporation.

“Atmel’s new SAM D21, D10 and  D11 families of Cortex M0+-based MCUs deliver low-power consumption, connectivity and small footprint, providing designers just the right price-to-performance ratio. These new families expand the company’s growing line of Atmel Smart microcontrollers with new pin and memory combinations, along with new features such as DMA and crystal-less USB.”

As we’ve previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, Atmel’s SAM D portfolio is architected beyond the core, leveraging over two decades of MCU experience to create unique, connected peripherals that are easy-to-use, while providing scalability and performance. Indeed, to help simplify the design process and eliminate the need for additional components, Atmel’s new SAM D lineup integrates additional functionality, including full-speed crystal-less USB, DMA, I2S, timers/counters for control applications, along with several other new features. Atmel’s SAM D devices are also code- and pin-compatible making it easy for designers to migrate up and down the family.

“Atmel’s expanded portfolio of low-power SAM D family ARM Cortex-M0+-based devices enables more designers to deliver smart devices in this increasingly connected world,” said Noel Hurley, Deputy General Manager, CPU Group, ARM.

“The ARM Cortex-M0+ processor is a highly area- and energy-efficient core which enables partners, such as Atmel, to provide the right peripheral set, intelligence, communication and memory for their customers’ needs.”

Key  SAM D21 features include:

• 48MHz operation
2.14 Coremark/MHz
• Single-cycle IO access
• 
6- to 12-channel Event System
• 
6- to 12-channel DMA
• Up to six SERCOM modules configurable as UART/USART, SPI, I2C
• 12Mbps USB 2.0 device with an embedded host and device
• 
Two-channel I2S with 96MHz fractional PLL for audio streaming
• Up to five 16-bit timers, up to three 16-bit times optimized for control applications
• Peripheral touch controller supports up to 256 touch channels for capacitive touch buttons, sliders, wheels and proximity sensing
• 
Down to 70uA/MHz in active mode
• 4uA RAM retention
• Real-time clock and calendar
• 
Option to choose between internal and external oscillators, on-the-fly clock switching
• 
Sleepwalking

To help accelerate the design process, the $39 SAM D21 Xplained Pro is equipped with an embedded debugger/programmer and offers support for a wide range of compatible extensions boards. Standalone programmer debugger solutions supporting the SAM D family are also available from both Atmel and third parties, with the Atmel SAM D MCUs fully supported by Atmel Studio and Atmel Software Framework.

The SAM D21 is the first family in this expanded portfolio, and samples and tools are available today with volume production in May 2014. The SAM D21 is offered in 32KB to 256KB of Flash and in 32-, 48- and 64-pin packages. Meanwhile, the SAM D10 and D11 families will be available in 14- and 20-pin SOIC and 24-pin QFN packages with up to 16KB of Flash. Both memory options feature 4KB of SRAM. All package options minimize the number of power pins to maximize the amount of IO available for the application. Engineering samples and tools are slated to go live in Q2 2014.

Atmel’s AT91SAM9X25 powers iPAC-9X25 SBC

EMAC has debuted the iPAC-9X25, an embedded single board computer (SBC) powered by Atmel’s ARM-based AT91SAM9X25 microprocessor (MPU).

The iPAC-9X25 is targeted at a number of applications, including industrial temperature operations, embedded data acquisition and control.

Key specs include an industrial temperature range of -40C to 85C, 4GB of eMMC Flash, 16MB of serial data Flash (for boot) and 128 MB of DDR RAM.

“The iPac-9X25 is a web enabled [platform] with the ability to run an embedded server and display the current monitored or logged data,” an EMAC rep explained in a recent blog post.

“The web connection is available via two 10/100 Base T Ethernet ports, or 802.11 wireless WiFi networking when using [specific] Linux modules and adapters. All connectors [are] brought out as headers on [the] board, [with] the same footprint of a standard PC/104 module at 3.77″ x 3.54″.”

Additional features include:

• One RS232 serial port with full handshake (RTS/CTS/DTR/DSR/RI)
• 
Two RS232 serial ports (TX and RX only)
• One RS232/422/485 serial port with RTS/CTS handshake
• Two 10/100 Base T Ethernet ports
• Two USB 2.0 Host ports
• One USB device port
• 7 channels of 12 bit A/D (0-3.3 volt)
• 
Internal real time clock/calendar with battery backup
• 21 GPIO (3.3 V) lines on header
• 
8 high drive open collector dedicated digital output lines with configurable voltage tolerance
• 
16 GPIO (3.3V) on header
• 2 PWM I/O lines with additional 4 PWN lines shared with A/D
• 
5 Synchronous Serial I/O lines (I2S)
• 
5 SPI lines (2 SPI CS), I2C Bus and CAN Bus
• Micro SD socket and an external reset button
• Red power and green status LEDs

The iPac-9X25 is currently priced at $198, while additional information about the product is available here.

Atmel talks ARM, IoT and sensors on Google+

On Tuesday, February 18, ARM hosted a live Google+ Hangout panel with executives from Atmel, Freescale and Sensor Platforms.

Participating panelists included:

• 

Will Tu – Director of Embedded Segment Marketing at ARM
• Diya Soubra – CPU Product Marketing Manager for Cortex-M ARM Processors at ARM
• 
Adrian Woolley – Director of Strategy and Business Development at Atmel’s Microcontroller Business Unit
• Mike Stanley – Manager of Freescale’s Sensor Solutions Division
• Kevin A. Shaw – CTO of Sensor Platforms

As you can see in the video above, the panelists discussed various software and hardware design techniques to help IoT developers achieve a precise balance between low power sipping and high software complexity for sensor-enabled devices.

“When Atmel designs its microcontrollers, we make sure we have a very good understanding [of particular] applications. [We] optimize the hardware and peripherals [accordingly], developing ICs around the software and [specific] implementations,” Wooley explained.

“[We] understand how software algorithms work, how sensors work and optimize our microcontrollers to operate at extremely low power levels. Atmel puts a lot of intelligence around peripherals in both mobile and IoT, so we don’t need to wake them up anymore than is absolutely necessary. When activated, our MCUs efficiently process data with a minimal amount of battery power.”

Interested in learning more about Atmel’s comprehensive ARM-based MCU and MPU portfolios? You can check out our official ARM product page here.

Celebrating 50 billion chips with ARM

ARM – which employs over 2,000 people around the globe – has billions of RISC-based processors in the wild and powers approximately 95% of the world’s smartphones. Recently, the British company marked a major milestone: 50 billion ARM-powered chips shipped.

As you can see in the infographic above, 20% of the ARM chips are slated for embedded applications, including automotive, touch-screen controllers, industrial equipment, connectivity and smartcards.

As we’ve previously discussed on Bits & Pieces, Atmel offers an extensive portfolio of microcontrollers (MCUs) and microprocessors (MPUs) based on the world’s most popular 8- and 32-bit architectures: Atmel AVR and ARM. Indeed, Atmel’s two decades of microcontroller leadership and innovation include many industry-firsts:

• The first Flash microcontroller, the first ARM7-based 32-bit Flash microcontroller
• The first 100nA microcontroller with RAM retention
• The first ARM9-based Flash microcontroller

“In order to simplify the embedded design process, we’ve meticulously built a robust ecosystem around our ARM microcontrollers,” an Atmel engineering rep told Bits & Pieces. ”Meaning, Atmel offers a wide range of software tools and embedded software that support leading operating systems, along with low-cost evaluation kits.”

In addition, Atmel’s flexible and highly integrated ARM-based MCUs are designed to optimize system control, user interface (UI) management and ease of use. That’s why our ARM Cortex-M3 and M4 based architectures share a single integrated development platform (IDP): Atmel Studio 6. This platform offers time-saving source code with more than 1,600 example projects, access to debuggers/simulators, integration with Atmel QTouchtools for capacitive touch applications and the Atmel Gallery online apps store where embedded software extensions can be downloaded.

Meanwhile, Atmel ARM-based MPUs range from entry-level devices to advanced highly-integrated devices with extensive connectivity, refined interfaces and ironclad security.

“Whether you are working on new, existing or legacy designs, a wide range of Atmel ARM-based devices provides the latest features and functionality. These devices also feature the lowest power consumption, a comprehensive set of integrated peripherals and high-speed connectivity,” the engineering rep added.

Interested in learning more about Atmel’s extensive ARM portfolio? You can check out our ARM MCUs here and our ARM MPUs here.