Toshiba expands ApP Lite processor family for IoT solutions

Toshiba Electronics Europe has announced the launch of TZ1041MBG, an application processor designed for use in wearable devices such as activity monitoring products, smart watches, bracelet and glasses-type devices. The new IC is the latest addition to Toshiba’s ApP Lite TZ1000 family of solutions for the internet of things.

The TZ1041MBG meets increasing market demand for IoT devices able to support multiple external sensors. The new processor is compliant to Bluetooth core specification v4.1 and provides IoT and wearable devices with a highly versatile communication environment that makes full use of the extended hub features of Bluetooth.

The high performance ARM Cortex-M4F with DSP and floating point processing unit can collect and process data from multiple external sensors. The incorporation of a Bluetooth Smart controller and processor, enables data to be captured from external sensors that can be connected via various I/Os, such as I2C, UART, SPI and ADC. The processor also incorporates 256KB SRAM operating memory and 8Mbit NOR flash memory to save sensor data.

TZ1041MBG can perform as a Bluetooth hub for collecting, processing and storing data from multiple sources as well as transferring the processed data to external devices such as smartphones and tablets. The TZ1041MBG’s automatic reconnection function improves the operating efficiency and usability of the user system by using Low Duty Cycle Directed Advertising.

Like other TZ1000 series devices, TZ1041MBG integrates a low power design that allows it to change supply voltage in response to the processor frequency. This makes it suitable for wearable products that require long operating hours between each battery charge.

The TZ1041MBG integrates a 24-bit high-resolution ΔΣADC with high speed switches connecting to three input channels. This makes TZ1041MBG-equipped devices capable of meeting the challenge of accurately measuring biomedical signals, such as the pulse and the heart’s electrical signal. The device measures just 6.70 x 8.00 x 1.59mm and is scheduled to enter mass production in early 2016.