Electronic Specifier Design - September 2012 - (Page 22) Sensors A moving sensation M Advanced motion control technologies are helping to pave the way for NextGen smartphones and tablets. By Chad Lucien operating system navigation and power a more personalised user experience. Some of the mobile device applications that will take advantage of improved motion control functionality include: Context Awareness Well-designed motion processing software can enable the offloading of sensor data processing from the main application processor to a low-power MCU, preserving both power and processor cycles. This migration can significantly reduce sensor-driven battery consumption enabling constant background monitoring of the sensors, allowing for precise tracking of a phone’s motions and surroundings. For example, your phone can detect whether it is in your pocket, in your hand or on a table, as well otion controlled applications are intrinsic to the smartphone user experience. As a result, the latest smartphones and tablets universally include an array of motion sensors, with a combination of accelerometers, magnetometers and, more recently, gyroscopes. This trend is set to continue. According to information and analytics provider IHS, shipments of motion sensors in smartphones and tablets will rise to 4.2 billion units in 2015, up from 1.5 billion in 2011. The Android, Apple iOS, and Windows 8 operating systems have each created standard APIs for developers to leverage the unique functionality of these sensors and develop a wide range of motion aware and motion controlled applications. However, sensors and the current APIs are just a part of the motion control story for mobile devices. The data from each individual sensor must be gathered, processed and calibrated by advanced motion processing software to improve accuracy, reduce drift, and diminish the impact of external magnetic fields. This software provides the quality data needed to power advanced motion-based applications. In addition, the current APIs from the OS suppliers must be extended to enable new functionality for application developers – such as context awareness and gesture recognition. Today, device manufacturers, platform vendors and application developers are rushing to integrate this motion software to enhance and differentiate their products. In turn, this trend is creating new opportunities for more advanced motion-based applications to be developed. Advanced motion processing software will take motion control in smartphones and tablets far beyond basic tilt sensing for landscape / portrait orientation detection and simple games. Motion will be a sophisticated control mechanism for these devices which will improve the efficiency of 22 | September 2012 | Electronic Specifier Design http://www.electronicspecifier.com Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Electronic Specifier Design - September 2012 Electronic Specifier Design - September 2012 Contents Comment M2M goes global; Curiosity runs VxWorks; Smart accessory kits; Wireless (no) access LTE gets go-ahead, manufacturers gear up; Cortex to get a FinFET option; SystemC targets automotive design; Simpler Bluetooth solution Sense from sensor fusion The smart sensor opportunity A moving sensation Vault-driven design Keeping a distance From Lab to Fab Replacing the candle Connect to a wireless world Getting ahead in distortion ACO breaks Wi-Fi barrier MIMO is key Electronic Specifier Design - September 2012 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201301 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201212 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201211 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201210 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201209 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201208 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201207 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201206 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201205 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/electronicspecifier/design_201205 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201204 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201203 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201202 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201201 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201112 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201111 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201110 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201109 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201108 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201107 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201106 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201105 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201104 http://europe.nxtbook.com/nxteu/electronicspecifier/design_201103 http://www.nxtbookMEDIA.com
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