Development platform for use in designing low-power wearable devices

Lattice Semiconductor has unveiled a new development platform for use in designing low-power wearable devices for consumers. Based on the iCE40 Ultra FPGA, the platform features a large number of sensors and peripherals, making it a compelling platform for the design of a wide array of wearable devices.

The iCE40 Ultra FPGA uses a package that is 60 percent smaller than alternative microcontrollers. The iCE40 Ultra FPGA also supports a low power standby mode for always-on functionality, making it an ideal choice for consumer wearables that need to operate for days between charges.

Hardware features and sensors supported by the iCE40 Ultra Wearable Development Platform include a 1.54-inch display, MEMS microphone, high-brightness LED, IR LED, BLE module and 32MB of flash memory. The platform also supports sensors capable of measuring heart rate/SpO2, skin temperature, and pressure as well as an accelerometer and gyroscope. The platform comes in a wrist watch form factor (1.5 inches wide x 1.57 inches long x 0.87 inches high) with a wrist strap and a built in battery.

“One of the more popular applications to emerge from the growing Internet of Things market are wearable devices. However, with so many potential applications for wearables and their strict power requirements, it’s a challenge to find a semiconductor platform that features the right combination of low power operation and peripheral support,” said Ying Chen, product marketing manager at Lattice Semiconductor. “Our iCE40 Ultra Wearable Development Platform’s power usage and feature set make it an ideal choice for nearly any wearable application our customers can dream of.”

Included with the platform are a detailed user guide and several demos to showcase parallel RGB to MIPI DSI bridging, health monitor, pedometer, IR transmitter or flashlight functions.