Application of Chips in Wearable Devices You Should Know

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In today’s digital world, wearable technology has become part and parcel of our lives. This refers to any kind of electronic device that is designed to be worn on different parts of a human’s body.

Wearable devices have become extremely popular and this is because of their ability to deliver a wide range of features and functionalities. For instance, fitness enthusiasts rely on these devices to track their levels of body fitness.

The sleek and compact design of wearable devices means that they can be worn comfortably without causing any inconveniences.  You can wear a device for many hours without feeling any kind of discomfort.

At the core of the wearable technology are the integrated circuits. All types of high-end features and applications on wearable devices are credited to the IC chips.

In this article, we are going to discuss in detail various applications of semiconductor chis in wearable devices. We will highlight the key functions of different IC chips and the different roles that they play in wearable devices.

Overview of wearable devices

Any electronic device that is designed to be worn on a user’s body is referred to as a wearable device.

They are worn on different body parts and come in different designs, forms, and configurations. They include medical devices, jewelry, pieces of clothing,  and accessories.

These devices are powered by wearable computing, which means that they can operate like normal computers. They can process data and relay the required information to the target users.

These devices come in different levels of complexity and sophistication.  It all depends on the purpose of the device.  Also, the market has been flooded with different wearable technology manufacturers. As a potential buyer, you will not fail to find the exact product that is suitable for your needs.

How do wearable devices work?

Since there are different types of wearable devices, it is impossible to expect that all of them have the same working mechanism.

They work differently depending on their usability, or application areas.

For instance, you cannot expect a VR headset to have the same working principle as a fitness tracker or smartwatch.

Bust still,  regardless of the type, all wearable devices are powered by integrated circuits or IC chips. The only thing that may differ is the types of ICs that are used and how they are configured.

Each type of IC  has a special role to play in the wearable.

Some chips are designed for sensing data.  They collect data about a particular subject such as temperature, heart rate, and speed, among others.

Most wearables have built-in sensors that track the body's movements. For example, they can track the number of steps that you take. The fact that wearables are in contact with the body means that the sensors should be able to read different parameters without having any negative impact on the body. However, there are special sensor technologies that can record data remotely.

Other chips manage the physical and electrical operations of wearable devices.  For example, the power  IC manages the electrical power management of the device. It ensures that the right amount of current and voltage is distributed to different parts of the device.

We also have interface ICs that take care of the connections between electrical devices. For the remote connections, we have network IC chips. They facilitate the exchange of data between devices in a network.

The same applies to all other integrated circuits in the device. When combined, you end up with a device that can perform complex functions easily and effectively.

Regardless of the application that you are building, you must have the background information on the working of your device. This information will be vital when it comes to selecting the right integrated circuits for your project.

Key application areas of IC chips in wearable devices

Here are some of the main functions of IC chips in wearable devices:

Power management

Wearable devices have power management ICs that are used for managing all power-related functions in wearable devices.  These chips control the flow of power in the device. In doing so, they ensure that every component gets the right amount of current and voltage.

Since most wearable devices depend on rechargeable batteries, power ICs are in charge of controlling the charging process. They also regulate the rate at which components drain power from the batteries.  This helps to ensure that these batteries run for long periods.

Power management also entails protecting devices from the dangers of power loads. There are specialized chips that are designed to do this job. They shut down the circuit in case they detect overcurrent.

Data processing

Wearable devices have microprocessors that handle the task of data processing.  These chips are always referred to as the brains of the devices since they execute all the functionalities of a device.  All the logic and control operations of a wearable device are executed by the microprocessor.

How is the microprocessor IC able to do so? Well, it has the arithmetic and units. All the operations and functionalities of any digital device are based on these two units.  The operations of a microprocessor will always depend on the features and functionalities of the wearable device.

Sensors

This is one of the most important applications of IC chips in wearable devices. The main function of sensors is to collect data, mostly from the person wearing the chip. Different types of sensors are used for collecting different data.

Common types of sensors include accelerometers, pedometers, gyroscopes, bioelectrical sensors, and many others. All these sensors have integrated circuits that ensure accurate data has been read and relayed to the main processor.

Data management

IC chips are used for executing data management functions on wearable devices.   Data that has been read by the sensor needs to be managed.

One aspect of data management in which IC chips are involved is data storage. There are specialized chips that are used for storing data. These ICs include RAM, ROPM, and flash memory.

Each has a special way of storing data that is needed and utilized by the wearable device. For example, RAM is a short-term memory device while ROM stores data for long periods.

Other than data storage, memory chips in wearable devices facilitate accessibility of data. They avail data to the microprocessor when needed.

Network and connectivity

Most wearable devices don’t operate in isolation. They are always connected with other devices mainly for data exchange.

For example, smartwatches are connected to smartphones which have software applications that are designed to store data for further analysis.  In most cases, the connection is wireless and this is where the importance of network ICs comes in.

Wireless connectivity ICs such as Bluetooth modules facilitate the exchange of data between wearable devices and other gadgets through wireless networks. Some wearable devices have WIFI capabilities which help in storing data in different cloud platforms.

Security management

How safe is your wearable device? Can anyone access and use the device even without your permission? What about data that is stored in the device? Is it safe?

 This is where the importance of security chips comes in. There are specialized ICs that are designed to secure devices and data from unauthorized access.

These IC chips are embedded with high-level security features such as encryption which secures data. Authentication systems ensure that only authorized users can access the device.

The overall result is both data and the device will be protected from unauthorized persons.  Users can enjoy all the benefits that come with using wearable devices without worrying about the security of their data.

A vibrant wearable device IC market

With the many use cases and applications of IC chips in wearable devices, there is no doubt that this is quite a vibrant market.

The market for wearable device  ICs has been growing at a fast rate and this is expected to go on for years. Many factors are attributed to this and one of them is the high demand for wearable devices.

  In recent years, we have seen many manufacturers getting into the space of wearable technology. This also increased the demand for these products.

 In terms of numbers, the wearable device IC market was valued at  USD  9 billion in 2020 and was projected to grow at a CAGR of  18% between 2023 and 2030.

Conclusion

In summary, IC chips are the unsung heroes of the wearable technology. Most, if not all wearable devices that are dominating the electronics market today feature the presence of integrated circuits, or semiconductor chips.

As we have discussed, each IC chip that is embedded in wearable devices has a specific role to play. Some are used for power management, data management, security, and display, among many other functions.

M, manufacturers of wearable devices have to first identify the specific functions that they would like to see on their products.  Once that is decided, they can proceed to choose the right IC chips for the products.

When buying IC chis, ensure that you choose the right sources. This is where ICRFQ comes in. We are a reputable supplier of integrated circuits in China. Wearable ICs are among the top products that we stock. Contact us directly and we will be more than happy to partner with you.