Energy Micro adds low energy sensor interface

Configurable low energy sensor available for EFM32 microcontrollers

Electronica 2010, Munich & Oslo, Norway, November 9th, 2010 – Energy Micro, the energy friendly microcontroller company, has added a generic low energy sensor interface to its EFM32 microcontroller product family. The LESENSE function block enables autonomous monitoring of up to 16 external sensors in the microcontroller’s sub-microamp Deep Sleep mode.

Able to run independently of the EFM32’s ARM® Cortex™-M3 core, LESENSE can be used to create highly integrated, ultra low power, sensor solutions. Particularly suitable for battery operated systems, the sensor interface is designed to operate with virtually any type of analog sensor control scheme, including capacitive, inductive and resistive types.

Among a variety of uses, LESENSE can be configured to support autonomous capacitive touch pad- and slider based products, and gas and water metering products relying on inductive rotation sensors.

Geir Førre, President and CEO of Energy Micro said, “The existing EFM32 Gecko microcontroller family is already a world leader in terms of its low energy consumption and the range of energy saving features it provides designers with. LESENSE is yet another unique innovation that really supports energy friendly design and significantly helps extend battery life.”

The LESENSE function block will first be made available in Energy Micro’s Tiny Gecko microcontroller family, sampling and in volume during Q1’2011. Pin and software compatible with the bigger Gecko microcontrollers, the Tiny Gecko provides users with a wide range of low power peripheral function blocks, including an 8-channel, 12-bit ADC using 350µA at full resolution and 1Msamples/sec conversion rate, and a low energy UART consuming as little as 150nA, and a new 8x20 segment LCD controller.

Later in 2011, the Giant Gecko microcontroller family, offering Flash up to 1MB and USB connectivity, will also include the new LESENSE functionality.

For further information and reader enquiries:

Øyvind Borgan, Energy Micro AS, PO Box 4633, Nydalen, N-405 Oslo, Norway

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Tel:+47 23 00 98 00
Fax:+47 23 00 98 01
www.energymicro.com

For further information or to discuss feature article opportunities:

Rob Davies, Publitek Limited, 18 Brock Street, Bath, BA1 2LW, United Kingdom

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Tel: +44 (0)1225 470 000
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About Energy Micro
Energy Micro develops, markets and sells the world's most energy friendly microcontrollers, based on the industry leading ARM® Cortex™-M3 32-bit architecture. The company was founded in 2007 by experienced semiconductor professionals with previous expertise from Chipcon, Texas Instruments, Atmel, Nordic Semiconductor. Energy Micro is backed by leading Nordic investors Northzone Ventures and Investinor. More information on Energy Micro is available at www.energymicro.com

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