Press Release

EMBC02, industry’s lowest-power Bluetooth Smart sensor beacon comes
from Switzerland

Inexpensive Bluetooth beacons with integrated tri-axial accelerometer enable
“motion” and “context aware” beacon applications.

MARIN, Switzerland, 13 April - Today, a few months after releasing the EMBC01, a multi-protocol proximity beacon, EM Microelectronic, the semiconductor company of the Swatch Group, publicly launched EMBC02, introducing to the world the power of sensor beacons. The unique combination of sensors with EM’s low-cost, low-power and fully certified beacon technology will be an enabler of many real-world Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

EMBC02 beacons integrate a 3-axis accelerometer in the same easy-to-use, tiny form factor as EMBC01, enabling a wide range of motion-based beacon applications. By attaching EMBC02 to objects or people, both, proximity and motion, can be monitored by a smartphone or tablet application. EMBC02 can be programmed to transmit proximity and identification data, like standard beacons, but it can also provide motion data (movements, vibrations, acceleration) as well as specific motion-based alarms based on accelerometer data, originating from shock, free-fall or taps. The accelerometer allows to maximize battery life by “beaconing” data only when required, e.g. while in motion, or when an alarm condition occurs.

As a leading ultra-low power semiconductor company, EM Microelectronic is focused on developing extremely power efficient solutions. The EMBC01 Bluetooth Smart proximity beacon can operate for more than 12 months on a single CR2032 coin cell. EMBC02 offers even longer battery life with optimized usage scenarios where the beacon sleeps (or transmits infrequently) until the accelerometer detects movement. “Beaconing only when EMBC02 is in motion allows for drastic energy savings” says Michel Willemin, CEO of EM Microelectronic Marin. He adds “This approach paves the way toward a truly useable and meaningful sensor-based IoT platform where real world data is connected to the cloud and where battery lifetime is expressed in years, rather than months”.

The EMBC02 is completely programmable and capable of supporting multiple proximity standards (e.g. iBeacon, AltBeacon or any other proprietary protocol) in a single beacon. It is FCC/CE/IC certified, includes a multi-function button for input and two LEDs for user feedback. The beacon module comes in a sleek, weatherproof (IP-64) housing.

With such “motion” and “context aware” features, EMBC02 is the ideal beacon for a wide category of IoT applications. It will enable a wide range of mobile applications: elderly person fall detection and alarms, child monitoring with detection of activity (or absence of activity) within defined proximity range, or similarly pet and animal activity monitoring, theft prevention where objects (valuable items in stores, bicycles, luggage) may beacon warning messages when an unexpected movement occurs, inventory and equipment tracking when being moved around a facility, and many more. In addition, EMBC02 is easy to deploy right out of the box!

Further information & availability
Technical information, applications support and white papers are available at www.emdeveloper.com.

EMBC02, the EMBC02 Development Kit and EMBC02 accessories are available through your local EM salesperson or distributor. More information on EMBC02 and other beacon solutions can be found at www.emmicroelectronic.com/products/wireless-rf/beacons.

Notes to editors
EM Microelectronic, a Swiss semiconductor manufacturer, designs and produces ultra-low-power, low-voltage, digital, analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits for battery-operated and field-powered devices in wearable, consumer, automotive and industrial applications. The company is specialized in customer specific integrated circuit and display solutions; its product portfolio includes Bluetooth Smart controller ICs and beacons, the SENtral sensor fusion co-processor, display drivers and capacitive touch controllers, NFC & RFID tag and reader ICs, 2.4GHz CoolRF digital wireless transceivers, long range 2.4GHz transceivers, embedded flash microcontrollers, power management ICs, smartcard ICs, timing circuits, sensor interface and optoelectronic ICs, as well as plastic LCDs and display modules.

EM Microelectronic is one of the electronic systems companies within the Swatch Group, producing and assembling ultra-low power, miniaturized and accurate microelectronic components and systems.

Photo
Caption: Motion-aware Bluetooth beacon
Photo courtesy EM Microelectronic - Marin SA.

For further information please contact:

Media inquiries
MarComedia GmbH
Monika Ailinger, tel +41 41 850 44 24, fax +41 41 850 45 29, m.ailinger@marcomedia.ch

Company contact
EM Microelectronic - Marin SA
Thomas Gyger, tel +41 32 755 51 00, info@emmicroelectronic.com

For North America
EM Microelectronic – US, Inc.
Mark Jakusovszky, tel +1 719-337-3179, mj@emmicro-us.com