Microchip elevates HMI design with world's first e-field-based 3D gesture-recognition chip

Microchip Technology has unveiled its GestIC gesture-based non-contact technology with its announcement of the world's first electrical-field-based 3D gesture controller IC, the MGC3130, enabling a new class of non-contact user interfaces. Based on technology acquired with Microchip's purchase earlier this year of Germany-based Ident Technology, the MGC3130 offers always-on gesture recognition with minimal power requirements, permitting its use in battery-powered mobile and portable designs.

At its most basic level of operation, the MGC3130 is capable of detecting motion at 200 samples/s and 150 dpi resolution within a sensing area defined in the x-y plane by sensing electrodes and extending in the z plane from 0 to 15 cm above the sensing area. Beyond this more basic "3D touchpad"-like capability, however, the MGC3130 goes further - using its on-chip software library to analyze its acquired x/y/z motion data and deliver a real-time stream of recognized 3D gestures like hand flicks, circular motions, and the like to a host MCU.

Figure 1. The MGC3130 IC uses a simple planar sensor array to read disturbances in an e-field, finds x/y/z position, and streams recognized gestures to a host MCU.

Combined with external electrodes and a host MCU, the MGC3130 combines both hardware and software to offer a complete 3D gesture recognition solution with minimal additional external components (Figure 1). Delivered in a 5 x 5 x 0.9 mm 28-lead QFN package, the mixed-signal device integrates a signal processing unit, 32 KB flash memory, 12 KB RAM, one Tx channel, and five Rx channels (Figure 2).

Figure 2. The MGC3130 mixed-single IC combines a complete motion sensing analog signal chain with firmware for position detection and gesture recognition.

The device offers I2C and SPI interfaces for streaming sensor x/y/z data or post-analysis gesture information to a host MCU. The new device consumes only 9 μA in deep sleep mode, 45 μA in programmable self wakeup mode, and 30 mA in processing mode (all typical values at 3.3 V).

Tx signal generation uses frequency hopping between 70-130 kHz to find the optimal operating frequency in the presence of noisy environmental conditions. The five identical Rx channels each include a signal conditioning circuit that filters and amplifies the analog signal before driving it to a dedicated ADC.

At the heart of the MGC3130's implementation of the GestIC technology, Microchip's on-chip Colibri software performs sensor data analysis and gesture recognition. Stored in the MGC3130's internal 32 KB flash, the Colibri software library uses a Hidden Markov Model for recognizing gesture patterns similar to that used in voice recognition. The initial release of the Colibri library identifies predefined hand gestures including flick, circular and symbol gestures. Symbol gestures are multi-directional gestures with a defined start and end point - such as a “check mark” hand movement.

A combination of on-chip hardware- and software-based power management features enable "always-on" gesture detection while maintaining low-power operation for battery-powered applications. In this method, called "approach detection," Colibri software uses the device's built-in self-wakeup mode to alternate between sleep and scan operation. When an object in the e-field exceeds specified threshold values, the MGC3130 will switch to processing mode and wake up the host MCU as needed.

Within the approach detection sequence, the device performs an approach scan - typically requiring only one Rx channel to help minimize power consumption. Engineers can set the time between approach scans, typically in a range from 20ms to 150 ms for most applications. Although the device automatically handles temperature compensation, the MGC3130 can also perform a calibration scan - required for applications using basic x/y/z position data. Here, the device activates several Rx channels to calibrate sensor signals. To reduce power consumption, engineers can reduce the interval between calibration scans during periods with low user activity for example.

For MGC3130 evaluation and development, Microchip offers the Sabrewing Single-Zone Evaluation Board kit, which contains MGC3130 reference circuitry and two sets of selectable frame electrodes (5” and 7”). The kit also comes with Microchip's Windows-based AUREA control software, which includes MGC3130 real-time sensor data display, 2D and 3D visualization of position, visualization of recognized gestures, AFE parameterization, and GestIC library loader.

Samples of the Microchip MGC3130 are available now in a 5x5 mm 28-pin QFN package, and volume production is expected in April 2013 with pricing at $2.26 each in high volumes. The Microchip Sabrewing MGC3130 Single Zone Evaluation Kit is available now for $169. The AUREA graphical user interface is available now via a free download.

For additional information, visit Microchip.

Microchip has provided a video demo of GestIC technology and the MGC3130 in action: