socialmedian: NXP’s sensors for smart Band-Aids, smart bottles, and pay-per-use cars

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NXP’s sensors for smart Band-Aids, smart bottles, and pay-per-use cars

Source: VentureBeat

Nov 06, 2009

Summary

Forget about smart phones and smart computers. Cheap and plentiful sensor chips are making possible everything from smart Band-Aids to smart bottles.

NXP Semiconductors, a chip maker that spun out of Philips in 2006, showed off prototypes for these cool applications at its headquarters in San Jose, Calif., yesterday. Based on the working products and prototypes there, it’s clear we’re headed for a wonderful world of wireless sensors.

Pictured above is a smart Band-Aid, which has sensors that can detect whether a wound is bleeding or is getting infected. When it’s time to change the bandage, it can send out a signal notifying a caretaker to do so. The bandage prototype from Urgo Laboratories uses a sensor chip to detect humidity and pressure. It also has a self-powered stretchable antenna to communicate wirelessly to a caregiver. NXP can package a digital signal processor with it to process data from the sensor.

NXP also makes magnetic induction radios (left) that consume a very small amount of power. These can be used in hearing aids (right) that can wirelessly