Spectec Enables Wireless Collection of Sports/Health Data by Smartphones and PDAs

(Product News, 22 Feb 2008)

Taiwan-based Spectec Computer Co. Ltd has launched the SDA-320 miniSDIO ANT RF card with ANT+Sport Software Development Kit, which allows a miniSDIO card slot-equipped Motorola Q phone to wirelessly collect and analyse data from sports performance and health monitoring sensors such as heart rate straps and speed/distance activity monitors.

Featuring Nordic Semiconductor's ANT specific nRF24AP1 2.4GHz ultra-low power transceiver and ANT's Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) protocol, the SDA-320 miniSDIO ANT RF card enables the wireless transmission of collected sports and health data via monitoring sensors to smartphones.

Housed in a standard miniSDIO Card measuring just 21x20x1.4mm, the SDA-320 is designed to plug into a smartphone or PDA to allow the device to interface with ANT sensors to collect, present and analyse data. Typical sensors include heart rate monitors, speed and distance footpods, bike power meters or bike cadence meters. The SDA-320 is supplied with an ANT+Sport Software Development Kit that allows third parties to develop smartphone or PDA-based applications using the data gathered from the ANT+Sport wireless sensors. The demonstration platform runs on a Motorola Q phone using Windows CE 6.0 OS, but Spectec is planning to provide support for other smartphones, PDAs and operating systems. Spectec is also planning to offer other forms of ANT SDIO cards.

When transmitting or receiving, the SDA-320's peak current consumption is 20mA (although average current is in the microamp range because of the very low duty cycles), adding negligible additional load to the smart phone or PDA battery. The card can transmit or receive on one of 125 selectable RF channels in the 2.4GHz Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) global licence-free band. The card operates from a 2.8V to 3.6V supply and can operate over a -40°C to 85°C temperature range. In addition, the SDA-320 can support up to three public, managed or private ANT networks.

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