Bosch Sensortec and Qualcomm begin partnership

Under the joint agreement, Bosch Sensortec is empowered to develop software based on MEMS sensing solutions in the Qualcomm Sensor Execution Environment to provide advanced features for smartphones and wearables. First developments include an angle detection algorithm for Bosch Sensortec’s IMUs (Inertial Measurement Units) allowing the detection of various states in foldable smartphones.

Another software solution comprises an improved environmental sensing algorithm, the Bosch Sensortec Environmental Cluster (BSEC). It operates Bosch Sensortec’s four-in-one environmental sensor BME680 and directly calculates compensated outputs for the ambient pressure, temperature, relative humidity as well as the current air quality. This greatly simplifies the sensor’s integration into the end device. 

“We are delighted to work with Qualcomm Technologies. By developing software solutions for use with Qualcomm Sensor Execution Environment, we can provide advanced features such as angle detection for smartphones,” said Dr Peter Weigand, Vice President Marketing at Bosch Sensortec.

The collaboration enables third parties to integrate Bosch Sensortec algorithms with Qualcomm Sensor Execution Environment, which will lead to simpler software integration into the complex smartphone architecture.

“We are very pleased to have Bosch Sensortec join our Platform Solutions Ecosystem program to integrate and optimise their advanced sensor algorithms on the always-on, low power island on our Snapdragon mobile platforms,” added Manvinder Singh, Vice President, Product Management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Qualcomm Sensor Execution Environment is a software framework for running sensor drivers and algorithms. It is designed to run software in a low power domain and optimises performance. These algorithms are available to customers developing smartphones using Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile platforms.

Bosch Sensortec’s BME680 is the first gas sensor that integrates high-linearity and high-accuracy gas, pressure, humidity and temperature sensors. The BME680 provides optimised power consumption, long-term stability and high EMC (Electro-Magnetic Compatibility) robustness – depending on the specific operating mode. In order to measure air quality for personal well-being, the gas sensor within the BME680 can detect a broad range of gases such as volatile organic compounds (VOC).

Bosch Sensortec optimises its IMUs for advanced smartphones, wearables, AR and VR, drones, gaming and robots applications. The company’s IMUs are designed to provide maximum flexibility to customers. An IMU like the BMI260 combines a self-calibrating gyroscope with an accelerometer in one system-in-package (SiP). It enables for examples real-time motion detection, indoor navigation, gesture and activity recognition as well as optical and electronic image stabilisation (OIS / EIS).