Smart sports watch uses Giant Gecko MCU

Based on the ARM Cortex-M3 core, the 32-bit Giant Gecko MCU plays an important role in energy efficiency, enabling the Echo to operate for up to 11 months on a single CR2032 coin-cell battery. By optimising the Giant Gecko MCU’s five different energy modes and leveraging the MCU’s low-energy sensor interface and peripheral reflex system, the Magellan Echo design team achieved their ultra-low energy goals. This enables energy-friendly and autonomous peripherals to handle timing and sensor control without involving the CPU.

Available to developers at no charge, Simplicity Studio is an easy-to-use graphical development environment for EFM32 Gecko MCU applications which provides one-click access to all the documentation, tools, and software and source code libraries needed to accelerate development time. Simplicity Studio includes the energyAware Profiler, a developer-friendly debugging tool for low-energy embedded development, and the energyAware Designer, a tool that eases the task of debugging I/O pin conflicts.

Offering features such as the ability to remotely control music and sports apps from a smartphone, the Echo leverages the smartphone’s integrated GPS and communicates directly with Bluetooth Smart-enabled iPhone and Android smartphones to produce a lightweight sports watch with exceptionally long battery life.

Clark Weber, Senior Director, Fitness and Wearable Products, Magellan, commented: “We designed the Echo to give sports and fitness enthusiasts direct access to their favorite training and entertainment apps while ensuring that the watch is easy to use and always on, with a long battery life and no need for recharging. Since sophisticated multiple functions potentially require a lot of energy, we chose the EFM32 Giant Gecko and companion Simplicity Studio design tools as our 32-bit low-energy platform, enabling us to maximize battery life without compromising the end user experience or future functionality.”

“The Magellan Echo smart sports watch exemplifies a rapidly growing class of energy-efficient, battery-powered wearables for which our energy-friendly EFM32 Gecko MCUs are exceptionally well-suited. We applaud Magellan for introducing many new innovations with its award-winning Echo sports watch, such as on-the-go smartphone compatibility and an open platform approach to fitness application development,” comments Geir Førre, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Microcontroller Products, Silicon Labs.