QuickLogic Corporation introduced its new ArcticLink 3 S2 platform, the second CSSP solution in its Sensor Hub roadmap. This next-generation platform delivers double the customer-specific programmable logic capacity, four times the computational performance, four times the on-board algorithm capacity, and eight times the sensor data buffer storage while consuming 40% less power than the previous generation ArcticLink 3 S1.
The demand for sensor-based applications such as health and wellness, indoor navigation/Pedestrian Dead Reckoning (PDR) and gaming is a drain on battery life. The MCU- based approach is based entirely on software, which uses significantly more power than hardware.
Alternatives such as ASSPs do not have the inherent flexibility to adapt sensor hub algorithms to emerging mobile requirements for additional gesture and contextual awareness applications. QuickLogic's hardware-based solution enables greater power efficiency while the programmable fabric offers flexibility to add more sophisticated functions and adapt to design changes.
This unique architecture, coupled with increased memory, performance and capability, makes the ArcticLink 3 S2 platform ideal for a wide range of advanced sensor-based applications for smartphones and wearables.
The ArcticLink 3 S2 is available in CSSP and Catalog CSSP variants. The CSSP variant provides OEMs the opportunity to develop customized versions of the S2, and choose from QuickLogic-developed, 3rd party, and/or OEM-developed sensor algorithms to address specific end product requirements for best-in-class performance.
The first Catalog CSSP variant, called the ArcticLink 3 S2 Gesture and Context Catalog CSSP, provides out-of-the-box support for gestures such as tap-to-wake and rotate-to-wake, along with providing enhanced context and significant motion detection, sensor calibration functions, and enhanced pedometer (including differentiation and step counts of running, jogging, and walking).
"Consumers are demanding more sophisticated, sensor-based applications that don't compromise on battery life," said Brian Faith, VP of worldwide sales and marketing.
"Moreover, OEMs want sensor hub solutions to have hardware and algorithmic flexibility to adapt to future market requirements. Our new ArcticLink 3 S2 sensor hub addresses these demands by offering a solution with ultra-low power consumption, high performance, design flexibility and ease of integration, enabling developers to quickly and easily bring compelling solutions to the market that enhance the end user experience."
Features:
－ Second-generation Flexible Fusion Engine (FFE) -- Four times faster than previous generation, allowing it to process more algorithms, more quickly
－ 95% less active power than typical MCU-based sensor hubs, and 40% less power than the previous generation
－ Dual, hardwired 32-bit multipliers for lowest power sensor algorithm math functions
－ Increased memory stores eight times more batched sensor events for longer periods between processor wake-up, resulting in lower system power
－ Hardwired SPI and I2C interfaces for optimized communication to sensors and to host Application Processors and/or Microcontrollers (MCUs)
－ On-chip oscillators remove the need for external clock sources, reducing Bill-of-Material (BOM) costs and PCB space required for sensor hub
－ Programmable logic cells can be used to integrate customer-specific functions such as IR remote control, LED control and IrDA bar code transmission -- removing the need to use additional MCUs or mobile FPGAs
－ Pin and software-compatible with the ArcticLink 3 S1, providing full backward and forward-compatibility for existing S1 users
－ Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and Flexible Fusion Engine Algorithm Tool (FFEAT) supports QuickLogic-developed, 3rd party-, and/or OEM-developed sensor algorithms
