STMicroelectronics’ innovative biosensing
technology enables next-generation wearables for
individual healthcare and fitness
Highly integrated biosensor device combines input
channel for cardio and neurological sensing with motion tracking
and embedded AI core
Demonstration to take place at Electronica 2024,
Munich, November 12-15
Geneva, Switzerland, October 28, 2024 –
STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor
leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics
applications, has introduced a new bio-sensing chip for the next
generations of healthcare wearables like smart watches, sports
bands, connected rings, or smart glasses. The ST1VAFE3BX chip
combines a high-accuracy biopotential input with ST’s proven
inertial sensing and AI core, which performs activity detection in
the chip to ensure faster performance with lower power
consumption.
“Wearable electronics is the critical enabling technology for
the upsurge in individual health awareness and fitness. Today,
everyone can have heart-rate monitoring, activity tracking, and
geographical location on their wrist,” said Simone Ferri, APMS
Group VP, MEMS Sub-Group General Manager at STMicroelectronics.
“Our latest biosensor chip now raises the game in wearables,
delivering motion and body-signal sensing in an ultra-compact
form-factor with frugal power budget.”
Analysts at Yole Development see opportunities for wearable
monitors transcending the general wellness market, including
consumer healthcare devices that are approved by health
organizations and available over the counter1. By creating a
complete precision sensor input in silicon, ST’s chip-design
experts are facilitating innovation in all segments, with advanced
capabilities such as heart-rate variability, cognitive function,
and mental state.
The ST1VAFE3BX provides opportunities to extend wearable
applications beyond the wrist to other locations on the body, such
as intelligent patches for lifestyle or medical monitoring
purposes. ST customers BM Innovations GmbH (BMI) and Pison are
working at the frontiers in this sector and have quickly adopted
the new sensor to drive new-product development.
BMI is an electronic design contracting company experienced in
wireless sensing and with an extensive portfolio of projects
including several leading-edge heart rate and performance
monitoring systems. “ST’s new biosensor has enabled us to develop
the next generation of precise athlete performance monitoring
systems including ECG analysis in a chest band or a small patch,”
said Richard Mayerhofer, Managing Director BM innovations GmbH.
“Combining the analog signal from the vAFE with motion data from
the acceleration sensor within a compact single package facilitates
precise and context-aware data analysis. And with additional
support for our AI algorithms directly on the sensor, this is
exactly what we have been looking for.”
David Cipoletta, CTO of Pison, a developer focusing on advanced
technologies to enhance health and human potential, added, “ST’s
new biosensor stands out as a great solution for smartwatch gesture
recognition, cognitive performance, and neurological health.
Leveraging this advancement, we have significantly enhanced the
functionality and user experience of our wearable devices."
The ST1VAFE3BX is in production now in a 2mm x 2mm 12-lead LGA
package and available from the eSTore (free samples available) and
distributors from $1.50 for orders of 1000 units.
Visitors to Electronica 2024, the major industry trade event
happening in Munich November 12-15, can see the ST1VAFE3BX in a
sensing technologies demonstration at the ST booth, Hall C3 101.
More information is available online at www.st.com/biosensors
Further technical informationThe analog
front-end circuits for biopotential sensors are difficult to design
and subject to unpredictable effects such as skin preparation and
the position of electrodes attached to the body. The ST1VAFE3BX
provides a complete vertical analog front end (vAFE) that
simplifies the detection of different types of vital signs that can
indicate physical or emotional state.
Manufacturers of wellness and healthcare devices can thus extend
their product ranges to include functionality such as
electrocardiography (ECG), electroencephalography (EEG),
seismocardiography (SCG), and electroneurography (ENG). This can
drive the emergence of new devices that are affordable, easy to
use, and reliably indicate health status or physiological responses
to events such as stress or excitement. The future could contain a
greater diversity of wearable devices that can contribute towards
enhanced healthcare, fitness, and self-awareness.
Bringing this precision front end on-chip, the ST1VAFE3BX is
building on ST’s established competencies in MEMS
(microelectromechanical systems) devices by integrating an
accelerometer for inertial sensing. The accelerometer provides
information about the wearer’s movement, which is synchronized with
the biopotential sensing to help the application infer any link
between measured signals and physical activity.
The ST1VAFE3BX also integrates ST’s machine-learning core (MLC)
and finite state machine (FSM) that enable product designers to
implement simple decision trees for neural processing on the chip.
These AI skills let the sensor handle functions such as activity
detection autonomously, offloading the main host CPU to accelerate
system responses and minimize power consumption. In this way, ST’s
sensors let smart devices provide more sophisticated functions and
operate for longer between battery charging, enhancing usability.
ST also provides software tools like MEMS Studio in the ST Edge AI
Suite dedicated to helping designers unleash the maximum
performance from the ST1VAFE3BX, including tools for configuring
decision trees in the MLC.
The ST1VAFE3BX’s bio-detection signal channel comprises the vAFE
with programmable gain and 12-bit ADC resolution. The maximum
output data rate of 3200Hz is suitable for a wide variety of
biopotential measurements to quantify heart, brain, and muscular
activity.The device is powered from a supply voltage in the range
1.62V to 3.6V and has typical operating current of just 50µA, which
can be cut to just 2.2µA in power-saving mode.
The integrated low-noise accelerometer has programmable
full-scale range from ±2g to ±16g.In addition to the
machine-learning core and programmable finite state machine, which
can provide functionality such as activity detection, the
ST1VAFE3BX implements advanced pedometer, step detector, and step
counting functions.
About STMicroelectronicsAt ST, we are over
50,000 creators and makers of semiconductor technologies mastering
the semiconductor supply chain with state-of-the-art manufacturing
facilities. An integrated device manufacturer, we work with more
than 200,000 customers and thousands of partners to design and
build products, solutions, and ecosystems that address their
challenges and opportunities, and the need to support a more
sustainable world. Our technologies enable smarter mobility, more
efficient power and energy management, and the wide-scale
deployment of cloud-connected autonomous things. We are committed
to achieving our goal to become carbon neutral on scope 1 and 2 and
partially scope 3 by 2027. Further information can be found at
www.st.com.
For Press Information Contact:
Alexis
Breton Corporate
External CommunicationsTel:
+33.6.59.16.79.08alexis.breton@st.com
1 Report “Sensors and Actuators for Wearables 2023”
(www.yolegroup.com)
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