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Sensor integration is key to keeping devices small as well as providing more functionality. The Synaptics FlexSense family of sensor processors captures and integrates inputs from up to four sensors in a tiny, ultra-low-power form factor. This package can be up to 80% smaller than comparable solutions. This sensor-fusion system can include sensors for capacitive, inductive, Hall-effect, and ambient sensing.
In this video, Albert Lee show how FlexSense is used in a number of applications, including earbud controls.
The FlexSense processor incorporates multiple analog engines for sensors in addition to on-chip temperature and Hall-effect sensor support (see figure). The analog processing engines offload the main processor, providing more power-efficient analysis of the incoming sensor data. The touch support handles proximity as well as gestures.
