New Tech Europe | Jan 2017 | Digital Edition

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new products
MAXREFDES117# reference design from Maxim Integrated
Products, Inc. (NASDAQ: MXIM).
This optical heart-rate module reference design incorporates
red and infrared LEDs, a sensor, power subsystem, and logic
level translation. Measuring 13mm x 13mm, this tiny, low-
power board can be placed on a finger or earlobe to accurately
detect heart rate and SpO2 via personal wearable devices.
The module works with both Arduino® and ARM® mbed™
platforms for ease of design, testing, and system integration,
and includes eight “tap pads” for quick electrical connection to
a development platform and/or wearable garment.
Maxim, already a leader in bio-sensing applications with
more than 200 million units shipped, now provides this
simple platform to enable all developers. The reference
design includes three Maxim chips: a pulse oximeter and
heart-rate sensor (MAX30102); an efficient, low-power step-
down converter (MAX1921); and an accurate level translator
(MAX14595). The design requires only a single 2V to 5.5V
supply and typically dissipates less than 5.5mW when using
the included firmware.
Key Advantages
Ease-of-Use: Compatible with both Arduino and ARM mbed
platforms to simplify set-up
Fast Time-to-Market: Includes open-source heart-rate and
SpO2 algorithm; BOM; schematics; layout, and Gerber files
to accelerate development
Versatile: Can be used for product development or as a
module in the final design
Commentary
“Maxim is providing a basic open-source heart-rate and SpO2
algorithm as part of the firmware, and we encourage users
to build upon it,” said David Andeen, Director of Reference
Designs at Maxim Integrated. “Makers and developers can
use this either as a ‘starting point’ reference design, or embed
any variation in their final product or project.”
“As we continue to bring innovative designs to our customers,
we have started a collaboration with Maxim—this is the first
product we manufactured and built with them,” said Joey
Jiang, Marketing Product Director, Seeed Studio. “We’re
excited to see what people will make with this reference
design.”
Availability and Pricing
The MAXREFDES117# reference design is available for
$20 at Maxim’s website, select franchised distributors, and
Hardware and firmware
design files, as well as test data, are provided free and
available online.
For information on other reference designs, visit
ReferenceDesigns.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Intersil Unveils 14-Channel Programmable
Gamma Buffer for Infotainment and ADAS
Displays
Automotive-grade ISL76534 delivers lowest power and
highest accuracy gamma calibration to enable bright,
high-contrast LCD displays
Milpitas, Calif., Oct. 10, 2016 – Intersil Corporation
(NASDAQ: ISIL), a leading provider of innovative power
management and precision analog solutions, today
announced the industry’s lowest power 14-channel
programmable gamma buffer for automotive TFT-LCD
displays. The automotive-grade ISL76534 delivers
the highest accuracy gamma calibration to ensure
consistent brightness and color matching of every LCD
panel inside a vehicle. The ISL76534 is ideal for next
generation LCDs designed for infotainment displays,
advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) smart
mirrors and instrument cluster displays.
The robust ISL76534 provides engineers with one
Vcom and 14 gamma channels with 10-bit resolution
for fine-tuning the gamma curve. LCD panels that are
not properly gamma corrected often appear bleached
out or too dark. Engineers employ the ISL76534 to
calibrate and store the gamma curve, guaranteeing that
each LCD powers up and displays eye-pleasing images.
The ISL76534’s internal EEPROM stores the factory-
calibrated gamma and Vcom reference values, and
enables significantly higher reliability than competitive
devices by offering 10,000 write cycles and 20 years of
data retention at 105°C.
The ISL76534 circuit architecture makes it easier
to use than competitive solutions. No power-supply
sequencing is required–either analog or digital power
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