ST launches voice-over-Bluetooth for wearables

12 August 2015 Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT News

Voice control that can make wearable technology simpler and more battery-friendly just became easier to add with software-based innovations from STMicroelectronics.

The wearables sector is taking off, with the arrival of sophisticated new products such as smart watches. Research firm IHS predicts the market will reach 135 million units by 2019 and will see designs becoming smarter and more sensor-rich to support advanced functions. Ease of use and extended battery life are already important points for buyers to consider, and voice control can enhance both by minimising touchscreen usage.

With ST’s new BlueVoice software, designers get all the drivers and libraries they need to implement voice transmission over a Bluetooth Low Energy connection in systems built around the company’s STM32 microcontrollers, BlueNRG ultra-low-power network processors, and digital MEMS microphones. All these are available in stackable development boards for easy prototyping.

Bluetooth Low Energy also offers advantages alongside Wi-Fi and ZigBee in remote-control units (RCU) for home automation systems. ST’s development platform with BlueVoice software is ideal for implementing voice and gesture control using a MEMS microphone and motion sensors, to implement a more intuitive and natural user interface.

Based on the STM32Cube platform, the new osxBlueVoice middleware and BlueVoiceLink software development kit (SDK) are part of the open.AUDIO licensing program, which supports designers working with ST’s MEMS digital microphones. open.AUDIO is linked to the STM32 Open Development Environment, which provides powerful support for designers using STM32 ARM Cortex 32-bit microcontrollers in embedded projects.

The BlueVoiceLink SDK can be downloaded free of charge for evaluation and development at www.st.com/bluevoicelink-nb. Activation is easy using the licensing wizard tool included in the distribution package, and volume-licence terms are straightforward and business-friendly for use in competitively priced end products.

Further reading:

Power amps for portable radio comms systems
iCorp Technologies Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
CML Micro expands its SµRF product portfolio with a pair of high efficiency single- and two-stage power amplifiers that offer outstanding performance for a wide range of dual-cell lithium battery-powered wireless devices.

Read more...

---

RF agile transceiver
Altron Arrow Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
The AD9361 is a high performance, highly integrated RF Agile Transceiver designed for use in 3G and 4G base station applications.

Read more...

---

Choosing a GNSS receiver
RF Design Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
Applications requiring sub-ten-meter positioning accuracy today can choose between single-band or dual-band technology. While this decision might seem as simple as flipping a coin, it is far from that.

Read more...

---

Tri-Teq’s latest range of filters
RFiber Solutions Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
Tri-Teq recently presented its latest filter products, which included passive and co-site mitigation filters (lumped element and suspended substrate technologies) and tunable filters (bandpass and harmonic switched filters).

Read more...

---

Why GNSS positioning precision is enabling the next wave of IoT applications
iCorp Technologies Editor's Choice Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
While high-performance GNSS implementations are achievable with few limitations, most real-world applications must balance power consumption, form factor and accuracy requirements.

Read more...

---

The evolution of 4D imaging radar
Altron Arrow Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
4D imaging radar is redefining automotive sensing with unmatched precision, scalability and resilience and, as global adoption accelerates, this technology is poised to become a cornerstone of autonomous mobility.

Read more...

---

Links Field Networks: The perfect fit for telematics in Africa
Links Field Networks Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
Operating at the intersection of global SIM innovation and local market intelligence, Links Field Networks has emerged as a premier provider of telematics-oriented connectivity across Africa and beyond.

Read more...

---

RF direct conversion receiver
iCorp Technologies Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
The CMX994 series from CML Micro is a family of direct conversion receiver ICs with the ability to dynamically select power against performance modes.

Read more...

---

Bridging the future with RAKWireless WisNode devices
Otto Wireless Solutions Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
The WisNode Bridge series by RAKWireless is designed to convert traditional wired industrial protocols like RS485 and Modbus into LoRa-compatible signals.

Read more...

---

Mission-critical RF transceiver
Vepac Electronics Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
The Iris SQN9506 from Sequans Communications is a wide-band RF transceiver that operates from 220 MHz to 7,125 GHz.

Read more...

---