Controlling Sensors

Efficiently with MCUs

Example MCU-based Sensor
Designs
Sept 16th, 2015
Warren Miller
Presented by:

Course Overview
IoT applications will rely fundamentally on
acquiring data from the world around us.
Sensors will gather information on
temperature, pressure, light levels, speed
MCUs will be used to control sensors while
processing data and communicating results.
This course will discuss techniques for most
efficient sensor control using MCUs.

Presented by:

This Weeks Agenda

9/14/15
9/15/15
9/16/15
9/17/15
9/18/15

Sensors in the IoT

MCUs as Sensor Controllers
Example MCU-based Sensor Designs
More Example Designs
Future Trends

Presented by:

Todays Goals and

Objectives
Provide an introduction to some of the
example and reference designs
available for MCU-based sensor
implementations.
Example designs- common elements
Reference designs- what to look for
A more detailed look
References for further exploration
Presented by:

IoT- More Than Sensors

Cloud Services
Gateways
Aggregation

Edge Nodes

Tags
Bands
Appliances
Meters

Data Analytics
Apps
Presented by:

Example Designs- What R

They?
Shows a common type of
design
Can be used as a starting point
Multiple Boards
MCU Board
Add-on Boards

Flexible- multiple applications

Not optimized for a specific
target market or application
Proof of concept
Gain familiarity with MCU,
tools, capabilities, etc.
Presented by:

Reference Designs- What R

They?
Optimized for specific
application
Often with significant
ecosystem components
Single board
Almost market ready
BOM not optimized

Significant software
May require licenses

Excellent for proof of concept

Fewer offerings than examples
Can age quickly
Presented by:

Example Designs- Humidity

Temp

Nano-Power System Timer Results

in 10+ Year Battery Life from
CR2032 Coin Cell
Configurable Wakeup Interval
Extremely Low Off-State Current
(270 nA for 59.97 Seconds)
Ultra-Low On-State Current Due to
Low Active Processor and Radio
Transmit Currents (3.376 mA for 30
ms)
3% Relative Humidity Accuracy
0.2C
Temperature Accuracy
http://www.ti.com/tool/TIDA-00484
Presented by:

Example
Designs- HT

Software for testing (PC)

Simplifies experimentation
Can be used as a starting point
for your own support/testing code
Helps build an infrastructure

Presented by:

Example DesignsHT

Testing docs
Schematics
Calculations
Algorithms

Presented by:

10

Example Designs- Ethernet

Ethernet1 Xplained Pro Extension
Ethernet 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX
Auto Negotiation
External 1KB or 4KB EEPROM
ATSHA204
CryptoAuthentication chip
Atmel Studio identifies the board

Works with other Atmel boards

No stand alone code or RD
Code
available on other kits
Ethernet1 Xplained UG
Presented by:

11

Reference Designs- EH

Energy Harvester RD
Can power TI LaunchPads
On-board solar cells
Storage sources (50mA)
Supercap
Coin cell
External battery

MPP tracking
Stackable design
3.3V and 5V available

Presented by:

12

Reference Designs- EH
bq25570
Integrated EH mgmt
Photovoltaic, Thermal, etc
Wireless sensors
Boost charger
Programmable MPP
Regulators
Test data

Presented by:

13

Reference Design- Sensor

Tag
Ambient temp
Object temp
Humidity
Barometer
Altimeter
9-axis movement
Accelerometer
Gyroscope
Magnetometer
Light sensor
Cloud connectivity out of the
box
Presented by:

14

Reference Design- Sensor

Tag
Small size
Works OotB
Several
support
devices
I2C

User Guide
Presented by:

15

Reference Design- Sensor

Tag

Firmware
Bluetooth Low Energy Stack
ZigBee Stack
Contiki stack (6LowPAN)
Testing
Test chamber (Antenna)
Schematics
PCB layout recommendations

Presented by:

16

Resources and Design

Examples

Passive Infrared Motion Detection

Motion Detection Camera
Atmel Sensor Hub Page

Presented by:

17

Resources and Design

Examples

Sensor Tag
Software UG

Wireless Sensor Node

IO-Link
Energy Harvesting

Presented by:

18

CEC Resources for the Course

CEC Courses:
ARM Architecture
MCU Software Development
Embedded Software Design
Designing with ARM Cortex-M4 (and a dev board)
PIC MCUs
Mastering the Embedded Software Development Cycle
Getting the Most Out of Low Power MCUs
Understanding Smart Sensors
Understanding Smart Sensors 2

Presented by:

19

This Weeks Agenda

9/14/15
9/15/15
9/16/15
9/17/15
9/18/15

Sensors in the IoT

MCUs as Sensor Controllers
Example MCU-based Sensor Designs
More Example Designs
Future Trends

Presented by:

20