New-Tech Europe Magazine | February 2018

Latest News

ST Technologies Help Neonode Add Touch Interaction to Any Object, Surface, or Space

State-of-the-art silicon chips from STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, have enabled new zForce AIR™ touch-sensing modules from Neonode, the optical sensor technology company. Neonode’s compact, low-power,

are relayed up to 500 times per second with virtually zero delay. “ST’s leading-edge chip-design capabilities and manufacturing processes have enabled us to build an innovative, high- performance optical-sensor system that is highly complex yet cost-competitive,” said Andreas Bunge, CEO of Neonode. “The advanced mixed-signal SoC and

and easy-to-use modules add touch interaction to any USB- or I2C-connected object and work with any type of display or surface, including steel, wood, plastic, glass, skin, or even nothing, able to detect touch interactions in mid-air. The innovative approach uses laser-generated infrared light to track touch or gesture control, combining millimeter precision with ultra-fast response. The non-visible-spectrum light doesn’t impact display quality, add glare, or shift colors. The new Neonode family of touch-sensors uses a programmable mixed-signal custom System-on-Chip (SoC) and an STM32 Arm ® Cortex ® microcontroller from ST for scanning laser diodes and IR beams to determine the exact position and movements of fingers, hands, or other reflective objects in the light path. Multiple objects can be tracked simultaneously and interpreted as touches or gestures with extreme accuracy: the coordinates THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minnesota, USA – VersaSense, an exclusive supplier of Industrial IoT products for Digi-Key Electronics, a global electronic components distributor, has been selected as the winner of the 2018 “IoT Sensor Company of the Year” award from IoT Breakthrough. The mission of the IoT Breakthrough Awards program is to recognize the innovators, leaders and visionaries from around the globe in a range of IoT categories, including Industrial and Enterprise IoT, Smart City technology, Connected Home and Home Automation, Connected Car,

STM32 microcontroller at the heart of our new zForce AIR modules deliver the right combination of touch-control precision in real-time, low power consumption, and configurability.” “This innovative sensing technology can make any object, surface, or space touch- interactive, bringing complete freedom of design,” said Iain Currie, Vice President North Europe Sales, STMicroelectronics. “Neonode’s decision to use ST technologies confirms our enabling role in the development of advanced applications that break new ground in man- machine interaction.” Now available for immediate shipment worldwide through Digi- Key Electronics, the zForce AIR™ Touch Sensor modules will be displayed on ST’s stand at Embedded World 2018 (February 27 – March 1, Nuremberg). and many more. This year’s program attracted more than 3,000 nominations from companies all over the world. “IoT sensors are the backbone to the Internet of Things market. VersaSense products enable customers to connect in a secure, reliable and easier way while reducing the total cost of ownership for industrial sensing and control systems,” said David Stein, VP, Global Semiconductors at Digi-Key. “We want to congratulate our partner VersaSense on being named the 2018 IoT Sensor Company of the Year by IoT Breakthrough.”

VersaSense, an Exclusive Digi-Key Supplier, Honored with IoT Sensor Company of the Year

16 l New-Tech Magazine Europe

Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter