up from the archives
Samsung’s new earbuds track fitness data: Biometrics whiz explains hearables
UPDATED 14:00 EST . 20 JULY 2016
Is the ear a more accurate body part than the wrist for collecting biometric fitness data? Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. is exploring the possibilities, signing a major deal with Valencell, Inc. to power its Samsung Gear IconX cord-free fitness earbuds, announced today.
-
Valencell Licenses Biometric Earpiece Patents to Samsung Electronics to Meet Rapidly Growing "Hearable" Device Market
Valencell
Jul 20, 2016, 08:30 ET
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
RALEIGH, N.C., July 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Valencell, the leading innovator in the wearable and hearable biometric sensor field, today announced a non-exclusive patent license agreement with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Under this patent license agreement, Valencell has licensed hearable patents owned by Valencell to Samsung for use in its hearable devices.
"Valencell is continuing to invent the future in biometric sensor technology and market leaders like Samsung Electronics recognize the value of Valencell's foundational inventions in hearables," said Dr. Steven LeBoeuf, President and Co-founder of Valencell. "We're pleased to work with Samsung Electronics to provide a patent license for our inventions that are critical for accurate heart rate monitoring in hearables."
Valencell has a highly cited patent portfolio in optical biometric sensor technology in the wearables and hearables industry, which includes 35 patents granted and more than 70 additional patents pending.
Valencell licenses its biometric sensor technology through product licensing or patent licensing, depending on the customer and product requirements. While product licensing provides access to Valencell's patent-protected technology products, patent licensing provides access to Valencell's inventions without access to Valencell's technology products and support.
Valencell's PerformTek® sensor systems provide accurate, robust and flexible technology, powering more biometric hearables and wearables on the market than any other company. The technology gives hearable devices the ability to continuously and accurately measure blood flow signals even during extreme physical activity or when the optical signals are weak. These signals can be translated into biometric data, including continuous heart rate, VO2 and VO2 max, resting heart rate, heart rate response, heart rate recovery, continuous energy expenditure (calorie burn), cardiac efficiency and heart rate variability assessments.
The accuracy of Valencell's PerformTek technology has been independently validated by numerous research institutions, including Duke University, NC State University, and the American College of Sports Medicine.
The Eos can run Valencells algos, Sensorys algos too. Nice
his snip...
QuickLogic’s ArcticPro eFPGA is being licensed by several Tier-1 customers for integration into their SoCs.
So we have a really good mental model of a Tier 1 using the EOS QUIK silicon in
hearables/wearables. Years of that mental model.
So use that same model, but for Tier 1s integrating eFPGA into SoCs.
These are names we know, that many know.
On this snip...
Certainly QUIK at this point isn't involved with any sales effort or engagement.
There are reasons and snips of text that support engagements. Myself
since it takes a fair bit of work and $$ to do each node- There has to be engagements for each one we have...60,40,.
I used QUIKs snips on 55nm. We would NOT spend the precious time or $$ for 55nm unless a silicon maker WANTs it. They asked for it and we will read of it- maybe fairly soon?
The road shows with SMIC and soon GLo FOs road show are exactly sales efforts with SMIC AND Global Fo...
So for me there ARE real sales efforts, there are engagements.
Perhaps most important, we have a local office, local people, on the ground there, that is VERY important in China.....to support all along the way.....also IP PROTECTION.
Its so easy for me to compare A to B
Would you rather have been Lattice and dance at the acquisition ball, or
create eFPGA and the margins?
This is why we are part owners of this business. They have changed the company for the better. PMCW was spot on to point to the difference.
If there is value in FPGA IP...what has this eFPGA effort done for the value of our IP?
-
Want to reread this Jan QUIK job listing....
Here is the job again
Senior ASIC Integration Applications Engineer
Taiwan
Worker Category :Full Time Regular
Job Class
Overview
QuickLogic’s ArcticPro eFPGA is being licensed by several Tier-1 customers for integration into their SoCs.
Commentary: we had several Tier 1 semi engagements back in Jan.? My own conclusion was that this is NOT what we know, i.e. SMIC and GLo Fo- this refers to makers of SoCs; design houses not the Fabs themselves. Also that the reason we got SMIC and GLoFo was that customers were asking for it....and we were ready to give them what they wanted?
The Sr Application Engineer (AE) will be responsible for supporting QuickLogic’s licensees during Technology porting, customer evaluations, and SoC integration. Strong leadership, problem solving ability, effective communications and positive customer service skills are required.
Key responsibilities include:
- Provide direct customer/partner support during design porting, eFPGA integration into customer SoC.
- Providing front line support for handling customer issues, including replication of customers’ bugs, debugging, reporting and acceptance.
- Create competitive analysis, technical papers and technical collateral
Education, Knowledge & Skills Profile
BS/MS Electronics Engineering with 7+ year experience in digital design area.
5+ years of experience on RTL coding/development in SOC and/or ASIC environment and strong background in logic design skills.
Additional experience in/with:
- Whole Chip integration, Flash/Memory/Analog IP integration, AMBA bus, SPI, I2C and/or other similar peripherals design
- Synthesis using Design Compiler and/or similar tool
- Static Timing Analysis using Primetime and/or similar tool
- Power domain partition and implementation.
- Working with Backend team and knowledge of Backend flow
- DFT/SCAN/Production methodology and/or tools
- RTL Verification and Silicon Validation
- Hands on Perl Scripting or other scripting language
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
- Prior experience working with in multi-site, multi-cultural teams.\
- Big plus FPGA design experience
- Basic understanding of custom design flow
- Good communication skills in English and Mandarin
- This position will require ability to travel internationally without restrictions.
, Taiwan location with a focus on the licensees. The only one I have found with HQ there is Mediatek.
Yes we expect some others as this person needs to travel.
went through SMIC slide deck...
http://www.smics.com/download/ir_presentation.pdf
slide 18 spend most of your time on that one.
China silicon design houses...more China stuff.
Last edited:
28 minutes ago
-
.
....D&R IP SoC days China can be a good window for you to enhance your connection with Chinese market. As a reminder the last event in 2016 was remarkable with close to 300 participants highly involved in the IP ecosystem and the contacts were reported to be of high quality for the IP providers. This event is now an established event and will grow over year.
hope it went well I W.
-
wanted to reread this...
China is the largest and fastest growing semiconductor market in the world. By 2016, both China's semiconductor production and consumption revenues continued to outpace those of the global market, further solidifying its position as a key player in the worldwide industry. China took 58.5% share of the worldwide semiconductor consumption market, meanwhile the worldwide semiconductor production market share was 16.2%. China took 25% share of the worldwide fabless industry. IC design continued to be the fastest growing segment of China's semiconductor industry, grew by 24.1% in 2015. Official records show that there are about 640 IC design houses in China, about 200 are located in Shanghai area. The rise is significant, fast, and strategic.
for me its the other way round....its Senory IP, very well done IP, a 20 yr focus on small footprint, short of amazing. We pay them, and made some effort to get VoiceGenie on to the QUIK Eos....or at least part of it.To further leverage our hardware LPSD we have recently broadened our relationship with Sensory, Inc. to enable direct connection to the Amazon Alexa AI Voice Assistant
But its a NICE combo, born out of the SUBSTANTIAL increase in evaluations.
The Eos and Sensorys V Genie together on hearables- it was meant to be?
Maybe they do some customer calls together?
my .02 is that Sensory has earned their IP $$ and QUIK will get more wearables cause of Alexa.......they collaborate to take the TAM- and divvy it up at some point...
it's IP so something like eFPGA IP that we know something about?
The recurring Q?
Why is sensory still here?
I thought they'd be gone a while ago?
They anticipate the trends VERY,VERY well
- VoiceGenie is a platform for VoiceAssistants to be used Handsfree on tiny devices
at ces...Initially this is on a Qualcomm/CSR Bluetooth chip, but could be expanded to other platforms.
I think it has expanded, hey QCOM- M & A? you could use them
-
-
B. Faith said...
To further leverage our hardware LPSD we have recently broadened our relationship with Sensory, Inc. to enable direct connection to the Amazon Alexa AI Voice Assistant
Bragi Dash CEO
Still with us? What Hviid is talking about is the Bragi Dash & Dash Pro's new Alexa integration
The Bragi Dash and Dash Pro will soon put Alexa right in your ear
IFA 2017: Now that's what we call ear-commerce
so there is a demand....
-
Amazon Alexa on The Dash, Intelligent Personal Assistant meets Hearables
Bragi is now no longer just compatible with voice assistants like Apple’s Siri and Google Assistant, it has been confirmed that their Dash series is now Amazon Alexa compatible.
Sep 3, 2017
![[IMG]](https://fashnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/MANO-TEN-NAPEL-e1498333736899-150x150.jpg)
Mano ten Napel
Founding Managing Editor at FashNerd.com | mano@fashnerd.com
FashionTech Consultant, Freethinking Opportunist Hero, Aspiring to Inspire. Wearobot Groupie with a Tech for Passion. Contributed to Wired.com. Founder of WearableGuru.com Founding Managing Editor FashNerd.com
Known for driving the hearables tech space into a new phase, startup Bragi has announced their latest venture with online shopping giant Amazon. With the objective to make the Dash series (The Dash, The Dash Pro) Alexa-compatible, this collaboration will mark the first for intelligent personal assistant Alexa. Designed for convenience, the Amazon Alexa is capable of voice interaction, music playback, making to-do lists, setting alarms, streaming podcasts, playing audiobooks, and providing weather, traffic, and other real time information, such as news.
![[IMG]](https://fashnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Bragi-Dash-e1503362213457-1024x554.jpg)
Bragi
Founded in 2013, Munich-based Bragi have cornered the hearable market with their innovative technology. They gained popularity during its Kickstarter campaign, where 15,998 backers contributed over $3.3 million (USD). Their USP is that the Dash Pro is more than just a headphone, but an in-ear computer with more than 150 micro-components, a 32-bit Processor, artificial intelligence powered by The Dash AI and 27 sensors, all in a package about the size of your fingertip. Those sensors help ignite Bragi’s unique Natural User Interface, which enables users to literally turn their body into a remote control.
Amazon Alexa on The Dash
Although Bragi is not the first pair of headphones to receive Alexa support, they are one of the first truly mobile hardware integrations for Amazon’s cloud-based voice service and the first wireless earbuds to offer access to digital assistant Alexa. “We have always seen The Dash as an interactive device that improves one’s quality of life. Through Alexa, we are able to take this one step further, bringing smart home, e-commerce and home entertainment examples of how The Dash can be useful,” said Bragi founder Nikolaj Hviid.
![[IMG]](https://fashnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Amazon%E2%80%99s-Alexa-1024x683.jpg)
Amazon’s Alexa
Bragi and Amazon’s partnership promises to bring a new world of possibilities through smart home, shopping, and home entertainment use cases. “Now customers with The Dash headphones can easily take Alexa with them on the go,” said Jon Kirk, Director Amazon Alexa. “Bragi’s intelligent headphones with Alexa will make it easy for customers to control their smart home, ask for news, and access more than 20,000 skills in the Alexa skills store.”
Available as of October 2017, users will need to download Bragi OS (BOS) 3.1. Bragi users will also need to update the Bragi App and connect an Amazon account in order to take advantage of this new integration. Users will also be able to access Alexa with a tap of the cheek or hands free with a nod of the head through the Virtual 4-D menu an access several streaming audio options including their Amazon Music Library, Amazon Prime Music, Audible and TuneIn Radio. For now, Amazon Alexa on The Dash supports US (United States), UK (United Kingdom) and DE (Germany) languages.
-
maybe this is what B Faith was referring to?
To further leverage our hardware LPSD we have recently broadened our relationship with Sensory, Inc. to enable direct connection to the Amazon Alexa AI Voice Assistant
Voice Activated Alexa Arrives on Bluetooth Headsets
LAS VEGAS and SANTA CLARA, Calif. – January 5, 2017 – Sensory’s VoiceGenie enables a hands-free experience on Bluetooth devices through Alexa integration and embedded AI
Sensory Inc., a leader in speech and vision technologies that enhance the user experience and security of consumer electronics, announces VoiceGenie™, a new solution that brings speech recognition technology to Bluetooth headphones and headsets for hands-free voice control of headphone functions, music playback, call handling, as well as access to fitness information and control of smartphone assistants. It also supports the “Alexa” wake word and enables Bluetooth devices to benefit from the advanced skillsets offered by Amazon’s Alexa Voice Service (AVS) – completely hands-free.
“Alexa has been a huge hit in the home, and customers tell us every day about new ways they’d love to use Alexa,” said Priya Abani, Director, Amazon Alexa. “With companies like Sensory using Alexa Voice Service to create new experiences like VoiceGenie, customers will soon be able to use Alexa and its thousands of skills in new environments.”
VoiceGenie, the latest hands-free voice-enabling solution from Sensory, targets the growing market for stereo Bluetooth headset systems and other wearable, fitness, and hearable devices. One of the most exciting facets of VoiceGenie is that it enables hands-free device control as well as voice activated access to AI services such as Amazon’s Alexa. Through a separate application running on the phone, Alexa can be accessed via a Bluetooth headset, using the connected smartphone as a gateway to the cloud.
There are four key environments for voice assistants: smartphones, smart home, automobiles, and wearables. For reasons of form factor and power consumption, the wearables market has been the most difficult to integrate voice assistants. Sensory’s latest breakthroughs in low-power speech recognition technology creates a solution that opens the floodgates for manufactures to make exciting new hearables, fitness accessories and wireless stereo headphones that benefit from a hands-free voice-controlled digital assistant experience. “BlueAnt has shipped millions of Bluetooth products with Sensory technology over the past several years; we are excited to incorporate VoiceGenie with Alexa, and expect to have product introductions in 2017,” said Taisen Maddern, Founder and CEO, BlueAnt Wireless.
Technical restrictions that have kept this convenient technology out of the forefront, such as running on tiny DSPs, limited battery power, cloud connections, and ability to work during noise and music playback, have been overcome by new breakthroughs from Sensory – making this pie-in-the-sky concept now a reality. To overcome some of these challenges, Sensory intertwined its speech recognition code with a music decoder so they could run simultaneously and in low power on a small DSP. By running on a Bluetooth audio SoC designed for headphones and headsets, Sensory’s embedded low-power speech recognition technologies can offer an “always ready” hands-free experience to activate three different types of voice-enabled AI assistants:
- VoiceGenie: Allows access and control for Bluetooth devices and music playing from the mobile phone. Checking connections, battery strength, settings or controlling music playback and more can all be done through voice commands, even when music is playing. When phone calls come in VoiceGenie announces who is calling and lets you answer or ignore the call by voice.
- VoiceGenie to Phone Commands: VoiceGenie can listen for commands to be directed to the built in mobile assistants.
- VoiceGenie to Alexa: Using the VoiceGenie mobile app, Alexa can be accessed by voice through the headset. This provides access to the thousands of Alexa skills offered, ranging from controlling your smart home to finding you a location for dinner. You don’t need to be anywhere near an Echo, VoiceGenie makes the connection to the Alexa cloud – Just say, “Alexa”.
“I have two Amazon Echos in my house and four Alexa devices at work, and it’s really cool to be able to sit on a couch or in front of my computer and ask for my step count. However, I can’t use my Echo on a run, which is really when I want hands-free access to my heart rate or step count through Alexa. With VoiceGenie, querying this sort of information through Bluetooth headsets while biking, hiking, jogging and more is now possible,” said Todd Mozer, CEO of Sensory.
something along these lines?
-
BlueAnt has shipped millions of Bluetooth products with Sensory technology over the past several years; we are excited to incorporate VoiceGenie with Alexa, and expect to have product introductions in 2017,” said Taisen Maddern, Founder and CEO, BlueAnt Wireless.
blue ant?
Aussies....
http://www.myblueant.com/about/index.php
![[IMG]](https://www.myblueant.com/resources/images/corporate/about_sidebar_nosc.jpg)
At BlueAnt we know everyone is looking for their chance to shine, which is why we have developed the ultimate family of Sports Audio and Sports Lifestyle products.
Everything we make is characterised by BlueAnt's innate simple and intuitive technological innovations. With the best fit and finish, optimal sweat and water proofing, top of the range sports audio, sleek design and that elusive X-factor to set us high above the pack.
-
VoiceGenie set to bring Alexa to the hearable masses
CES 2017: Amazon’s digital assistant is heading to the ears in a big way
Thursday
January 5, 2017
By Michael Sawh
@michaelsawh
Alexa, Amazon's digital assistant looks set to be an even bigger deal in 2017 and that's because it's jumping out of the Echo speaker and into other tech, including hearables.
Sensory is hoping to make this happen with VoiceGenie, a system that delivers low-powered speech recognition technology to wireless headphones and headsets. It's bringing hands-free voice control of headphone functions but it's also bringing Alexa to the party as well.
Read this: The best Amazon Echo skills to try first
That means you'll be able to call out "Alexa" and access thousands of skills including controlling your smart home or finding somewhere to eat dinner. The always-listening voice control will also unlock the ability to control music playback or handle calls.
It's hoped that headphone manufacturers will incorporate Sensory's VoiceGenie tech to jump aboard the Alexa bandwagon. One of the first companies to build Sensory's tech into its hardware is BlueAnt which is already in the business of making sports headphones. BlueAnt's founder and CEO Taisen Madden said we can expect its first Alexa-powered 'phones in 2017.
It's not the first time we've heard about Amazon's assistant tech being packed into a pair of headphones. Boston startup OnVocal is launching a pair of Alexa-powered Bluetooth in-ears that with a touch of a button can activate the digital assistant to select and scroll through music, find out weather reports and even let you order a pizza.
So that's Alexa in smartwatches, smart home devices and even walkie-talkies. It's fair to say hearables won't be the only beneficiary of the award-winning tech.
-
Brian F said...
To further leverage our hardware LPSD we have recently broadened our relationship with Sensory, Inc. to enable direct connection to the Amazon Alexa AI Voice Assistant
and sensory with voice genie that was made for headsets and for Alexa...
this is likely the IP we expanded into?
Blueant?
A future customer?
-
the sensory blog that relates
VIRTUAL ASSISTANTS COMING TO AN EAR NEAR YOU!
January 5, 2017
![[IMG]](https://www.sensory.com/wp-content/uploads/VoiceGenie-Graphic-300x225.jpg)
Virtual handsfree assistants that you can talk to and that talk back have rapidly gained popularity. First, they arrived in mobile phones with Motorola’s MotoX that had an ‘always listening’ Moto Voice powered by Sensory’s TrulyHandsfree technology. The approach quickly spread across mobile phones and PCs to include Hey Siri, OK Google, and Hey Cortana.
Then Amazon took things to a whole new level with the Echo using Alexa. A true voice interface emerged, initially for music but quickly expanding domain coverage to include weather, Q&A, recipes, and the most common queries. On top of that, Amazon took a unique approach by enabling 3rd parties to develop “skills” that now number over 6000! These skills allow Amazon’s Echo line (with Tap, Dot) and 3rd Party Alexa equipped products (like Nucleus and Triby) to be used to control various functions, from reading heartrates on Fitbits to ordering Pizzas and controlling lights.
Until recently, handsfree assistants required a certain minimum power capability to really be always on and listening. Additionally, the hearable market segment including fitness headsets, hearing aids, stereo headsets and other Bluetooth devices needed to use touch control because of their power limitations. Also, Amazons Alexa had required WIFI communications so you could sit on your couch talking to your Echo and query Fitbit information, but you couldn’t go out on a run and ask Alexa what your heartrate was.
All this is changing now with Sensory’s VoiceGenie!
The VoiceGenie runs an embedded recognizer in a low power mode. Initially this is on a Qualcomm/CSR Bluetooth chip, but could be expanded to other platforms.Sensory has taken an SBC music decoder and intertwined a speech recognition system, so that the Bluetooth device can recognize speech while music is playing.
The VoiceGenie is on and listening for 2 keywords:
Alexa – this enables Alexa “On the Go” through a cellphone rather than requiring WiFi
VoiceGenie – this provides access to all the Bluetooth Device and Handset Device features
For example, a Bluetooth headset’s volume, pairing, battery strength, or connection status can only be controlled by the device itself, so VoiceGenie handles those controls without touching required. VoiceGenie can also read incoming callers’ names and ask the user if they want to answer or ignore. VoiceGenie can call up the phone’s assistant, like Google Assistant or Siri or Cortana, to ask by voice for a call to be made or a song to be played.
By saying Alexa, the user gets access to a mobile Alexa ‘On the Go’, so any of the Alexa skills can be utilized while out and about, whether hiking or running!
Some of the important facts behind the new VoiceGenie include:
- VoiceGenie is a platform for VoiceAssistants to be used Handsfree on tiny devices
- VoiceGenie enables Alexa for a whole new range of portable products
- VoiceGenie enables a movement towards invisible assistants that are with you all the time and help you in your daily lives
This third point is perhaps the least understood, yet the most important. People want a personalized assistant that knows them, keeps their secrets safe, and helps them in their daily lives. This help can be accessing information or controlling your environment. It’s very difficult to accomplish this for privacy and power reasons in a cloud powered environment. There needs to be embedded intelligence. It needs to be low power. VoiceGenie is that low powered voice assistant.
it sort of makes sense, quiks substantial increase in hearable evaluations and voice genie?
![[IMG]](http://fashnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Bragi-Dash-e1503362213457.jpg)
![[IMG]](http://fashnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Amazon%E2%80%99s-Alexa.jpg)