austriamicrosystems Powers Google's Arduino Prototyping Platform

austriamicrosystems' EasyPoint mini joystick module has been selected by Google for their new Android Open Accessory Development Kit - the Arduino. The new reference design platform uses the N50P111 EasyPoint joystick module with the AS5013 linear Hall sensor IC to support a new user interface for developers.

Google's Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for developers, engineers, designers, hobbyists, artists and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments. The Arduino board using the EasyPoint module operates with the Android OS (2.3.4 or later) and allows you to interact with your Android Phone – or any other Android-based device – and the entire environment. It controls servos and LEDs and can fetch information from various sensors or Human Machine Interfaces (HMI).

austriamicrosystems' EasyPoint module was selected and designed in as one of the main HMI devices on an Arduino accessory board of the official Google Android Open Accessory Development Kit. EasyPoint replaces older, less reliable HMIs such as analog sticks and circle pads.

An open system such as Android is very attractive to developers. There are no NDA's, no fees, no approval process, and it is completely open for fast and easy development. According to ABI Research, a total of 302 million smart phones were shipped in 2010, representing a 71 percent increase on 2009 figures. ABI also said that of all platforms, Android will be the biggest winner in the smart phone space, growing from 69 million smart phones shipped last year to a prime position in 2016 when it is set to capture 45 percent of the market.

"Our EasyPoint module is based on our unique AS5013 magnetic encoder IC and provides a robust and accurate user interface for a variety of position sensing applications," said Alfred Binder, Marketing Manager for HMI at austriamicrosystems. "Being designed in as the key user interface on the Google Android Open Accessory Development Kit compatible board will speed development time for designers and drive our success in the Android space."

EasyPoint boasts low power consumption, perfect for battery-driven portable devices, but also offers many other features that simplify and speed design time. Such features include full 360 degree navigation; low power mode, down to 3µA; I2C interface; progressive speed control, and highly reliable contactless sensing (>1 million cycles). These features and capabilities make EasyPoint very well suited for gaming phones, remote controls, gaming consoles, additional mouse controls on keyboards, and MIDs (Multimedia Internet Devices).

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