Silicon Laboratories Biometric EXP EVB UG User Manual

Biometric EXP EVB UG

BIOMETRIC EXP Evaluation Board USER’S GUIDE

1. Introduction

The Silicon Laboratories’ Biometric-EXP Evaluation Board is a hardware plugin card for EFM32™ Starter Kits
(STK’s). The Biometric-EXP is intended to demonstrate and evaluate the biometric applications of Silicon
Laboratories Si7013 Humidity and Temperature Sensor and the Si1146 Proximit y/UV/Ambient Light Sensor which
is capable of monitoring pulse rate and oxygen saturation (SpO2). A Biometric-EXP Software Demo is available to
download to an EFM32 Wonder Gecko STK through Simplicity Studio. The software is capable of displaying
humidity, temperature, UV, pulse rat e, and SpO2 readings on the Wonder Gecko STK display. In addition to the
Silicon Labs sensors, it is also of note that the Biometric-EXP EVB contains a Silicon Laboratories’ TS3310 Boost
DC-DC Converter.

Figure 1. EFM32 Wonder Gecko STK (Left) Connected to a Biometric-EXP (Right)

1.1. Key Features

Si7013 Humidity and Temperature Sensor
Si1146 Proximity/UV/Ambient Light Sensor capable of monitoring Pulse Rate and SpO2
6-pin ribbon cable connector for attaching a wrist-based heart rate monitor EVB (ordered separately as

HRM-GGG-PS)

20-pin expansion header
Battery operated with low power optimizations for long battery life
Demonstration software source code available
USB debug mode allowing HRM and SpO2 samples to be transferred to a PC
Windows GUI to visualize pulse signals and to record samples from USB debug mode
Easy use through Simplicity Studio

Rev. 0.1 8/14 Copyright © 2014 by Silicon Laboratories Biometric EXP EVB UG

Biometric EXP EVB UG

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2. Loading the Demo onto the Wonder Gecko STK

The following steps will load the demo firmware onto the Wonder Gecko STK. This process requires Simplicity
Studio which is available for download at www.silabs.com/simplicity-studio.

1. Connect the Wonder Gecko STK to the PC via USB.

2. Launch Simplicity Studio.

3. Open the Simplicity IDE

Figure 2. Simplicity Studio

Figure 3. Simplicity IDE

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Biometric EXP EVB UG

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4. FromtheSimplicityIDEtoolbaropentheflashprogrammer( icon).

Figure 4. Flash Programmer Dialog

5. Ensure that the Wonder Gecko STK appears in the Device description at the top of the Flash Programmer
dialog.

6. Browse to the hex file EFM32WG_Biometric_EXP_Demo.hex then click Program.

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Biometric EXP EVB UG

3. Running the Demo

A Silicon Labs EFM32 Wonder Gecko Starter Kit (EFM32WG-STK3800) and a Silicon Labs Biometric-EXP (see
Figure 1) is needed to run the Biometric EXP Demo.

The Biometric-EXP demo application uses the Wonder-Gecko STK’s LCD to display sensor output and the two
push buttons, PB0 and PB1, to cycle through the modes of the demo. The full operation including startup is
illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

3.1. Demo Startup

Upon reset, the demo will first check whether PB0 is pressed then store the result. It will then search for a
supported device on the 6-pin ribbon cable connector. If a HRM-GGG-PS, Si1143-M01-PS or Si1147-M01-PS is
detected, the demo will automatica lly use that device for HRM measurements. In this case, the Si1146 sensor
onboard the Biometric-EXP will not be utilized. SpO2 is not available with either the HRM-GGG-PS or the Si114x­M01-PS EVB's.

Following the search for a ribbon cable device, the demo will check the stored value of PB0 to enable or disable the
USB debug mode accordingly and display an USB On or USB Off message for 1 second. Refer to “4. USB Debug
Mode” for details on USB debug mode. Lastly, the demo will display version information then start the demo in
Heart Rate Monitor mode.

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Biometric EXP EVB UG

Figure 5. Biometric-EXP Demo Startup Sequence

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Biometric EXP EVB UG

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Figure 6. Biometric-EXP Demo Modes

*Note: SpO2 Monitor mode is not available when using a HRM-GGG-PS, Si1143-M01-PS or Si1147-M01-PS.

3.2. Heart Rate Monitor Mode

When heart rate monitor demo is idle, the LCD will show the word “Pulse” followed by a message instructing the
user to place his/her finger on the optical sensor. In idle mode, the sensor is not continuously sampling. Rather, it
executes one sample ever y two seconds by performing a forced measurement . That sample is then analyze d to
determine if there is skin contact with the sensor. Only when the application detects skin contact does it begin
sampling continuously and running the HRM algorithm. It will remain in run mode (continuous sampling) until skin
contact is removed for greater than two seconds. This approach significantly reduces power usage when idle.

When the application is acquiring the heart rate, it will display the word “Wait” on the LCD. It typically takes five to
seven seconds to acquire a valid heart rate. Once a valid heart rate is measured, the display will show the heart
rate. If the heart rate is not displayed within seven seconds, it is likely that the algorithm cannot get a valid pulse
rate. When this occurs, the user should remove his/her finger and try it again adjusting the position of the finger
and the finger pressure as needed.

Proper finger position in relation to the sensor and LEDs as well as proper finger pressure is essential for accurate
measurements. The finger should fully cover both LEDs and the sensor. Proper finger position is illustrated in
Figure 7.

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Figure 7. Proper Finger Placement

Biometric EXP EVB UG

3.3. SpO2 Monitor Mode

When SpO2 mode is active, the LCD will show “SpO2” followed by a message instructing the user to place his/her
finger on the optical sensor. Beyond that, SpO2 monitor mode mirrors the operation of the Heart Rate Monitor
mode as described in “3.2. Heart Rate Monitor Mode” . Please note that SpO2 mode is not available when using a
HRM-GGG-PS, Si1143-M01-PS, or Si1147-M01-PS device via the 6-pin ribbon cable. Even more so than HRM,
proper finger position and pressure is important to achieve a good SpO2 measurement. Refer to Figure 7 for an
illustration of proper finger position.

3.4. Ultraviolet Sensor Mode

When the UV sensor mode is active, the LCD will show “UV” followed by the measured UV index. In this mode, the
UV reading is updated every two seconds.

3.5. Temperature Sensor Mode

In the temperature sensor modes, the LCD will show the temperature in Fahrenheit or Celcius as indicated by an
“F” or a “C” following the reading. In this mode the temperature reading is updated every two seconds.

3.6. Relative Humidity Sensor Mode

In the relative humidity sensor mode, the LCD will show “RH” followed by the relative humidity reading. In this
modem, the relative humidity reading is updated every two seconds.

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4. USB Debug Mode

The Biometric-EXP demo firmware includes a debug mode that enables Heart Rate Monitor and SpO2 raw
samples from the sensor to be streamed to a host PC via the Wonder Gecko STK’s USB interface. Only HRM and
SpO2 data is available via the USB debug interface. UV, Relative Humidity, and Temperature data is not available.

4.1. Enabling USB Debug Mode

In order to maintain power efficiency of the demo, the USB debug mode is disabled by default. The LCD will show
“USB OFF” during startup. To enable USB debug mode, the user must hold down button PB0 then press and
release the Reset button. Both buttons are on the W onder Gecko STK a s shown in Figur e 19. The user should hold
down PB0 until the LCD shows “USB ON.” At this point, USB is enabled and the demo will run normally. To later
disable USB debug mode the user can press the Reset button without holding PB0.

4.2. Connecting to USB Debug Mode on a PC

Prior to using USB debug mode, the user must first install the Biometric-EXP Windows Evaluation Software. This
will install the Windows applications and drivers necessary to use USB debug mode. The Wonder Gecko STK has
two USB type connectors: a USB Mini type connector labeled J-Link on the short side of the EVB and a USB Micro
type connector on the long side of the EVB. Refer to Figure 19 on page 20 for details on the component layout of
the Wonder Gecko STK. The USB Micro connector is used for the USB debug interface. In addition to using the
correct physical interface, the Power Source Select switch must be set to USB (center position) for proper
operation.

USB debug mode utilizes a Virtual COM Port (VCP) interface to communicate between the Biometric-EXP demo
and the PC. With the Windows software installed, USB debug mode enabled on the Wonder Gecko and a USB
cable connecting the Wonder Gecko STK and the PC, the device will appear in Windows Device Manager as a
COM port as shown in Figure 8.

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Figure 8. Biometric-EXP Virtual COM Port Device in Windows Device Manager

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Biometric EXP EVB UG

4.3. Windows Applications for USB Debug Mode

The Biometric-EXP Windows Evaluation Software includes two Windows applications for evaluating and
debugging the Biometric-EXP Heart Rate Monitor and SpO2 functions. The Windows Graphical User Interface
(GUI) demo provides a waveform display of the HRM data along with the HRM and SpO2 calculated values. The
GUI demo also allows the user to record the streaming data to a file for further analysis. A screens hot of the GUI
demo is shown in Figure 9.

Figure 9. Windows Graphical User Interface Demo

The Windows Console Demo provides a running, once-per-second text output of many parameters that are used
within the HRM and SpO2 algorithms including the HRM and SpO2 results. This tool can be used for advanced
analysis of the HRM and SpO2 streaming data; however, the details of the parameters and how to use them to
analyze a HRM-SpO2 recording is beyond the scope of this document. Refer to the HRM-SpO2 API Reference
Manual available from Silicon Laboratories for further details. The C++ source code of the Console Demo is
supplied within the installation. A screen shot of the Console demo is show in Figure 10.

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Biometric EXP EVB UG

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Figure 10. Windows Console Demo

To connect the console to the streaming output from the Biometric-EXP, the user can type –u COMx <filename> at
the prompt. In this command, COMx is the VCP COM port as shown in Figure 8, and the optional input <filename>
specifies the file in which the streaming data is to be stored. Note that if <filename> is not provided, the console
automatically stores the data to a default file. This default file is overwritten each time the demo is run.

The console also has the ability to playback recorded files. This is done by typing –f filename at the prompt. In
this command, filename specifies the source file containing the saved recording.

It is important to note that the USB debug interface is a one-way interface. Therefore, the applications can only
take the streaming data as an input. They do not allow the user to control the Biometric-EXP software.

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5. Importing the Source Code Project into Simplicity Studio

The following steps will import the Biometric-EXP Demo source code into Simplicity Studio resulting in a project
that can be compiled, linked and debugged using the Wonder Gecko starter kit.

Simplicity Studio is available for download at www.silabs.com/simplicity-studio

Note: In the near future, this software will be integrated into Simplicity Studio making the import task seamless. When the inte-

gration is complete, the procedure below will be obsolete.

1. Store the Biometric-EXP software distribution uncompressed in a folder that is accessible from the PC.

2. Start Simplicity Studio and Open the Simplicity IDE.

.

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Figure 11. Simplicity Studio

Biometric EXP EVB UG

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Figure 12. Simplicity IDE

3. In the Simplicity IDE menu select FileImport.

4. Under the General heading, select Existing Projects into the Workspace then click Next.

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Figure 13. Simplicity IDE Import Dialog

5. Select Select root directory then Browse to the folder EFM32WG_Biometric_EXP_Demo in the
Biometric-EXP Demo distribution.

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Figure 14. Select the Project to Import

6. Confirm that the check box for the project is checked.

7. If you wish to make a local copy within the Simplicity IDE workspace select Copy projects into
workspace.

8. Click Finish.

9. The EFM32WG_Biometric_EXP_Demo project is configured to link to a binary library that is stored in a
folder labeled lib in the Simplicity IDE workspace folder . This folder is not generated by the import pro cess
described in the steps above; therefore, the link will be broken.

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Figure 15. Simplicity IDE with EFM32WG_Biometric_EXP_Demo Project

To correct the link:

a. In the Simplicity IDE Project Explorer, right click on the lib folder then select Properties.
b. The Resources page of the Properties dialog displays the link path. Modify this path by clicking the

Edit button then browsing to the location of the lib folder.

Note: Alternatively, you can manually copy the entire lib folder from the distribution to the location specified in step “b”.

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Figure 16. Symbolic Link to the Lib Folder

Upon completion of the steps above you should have a working project in Simplicity Studio that can be built and
debugged.

10. To build the demo, simply click on the icon in the Simplicity IDE. Note that there are two build

configurations: Release and Debug. You can select between the two by clicking the down arrow next to
the Hammer icon.

1 1. To debug the project, select the Debug build configuration then click on the icon in the Simplicity

IDE. A debug session will automatically launch and if a board is connected, the project will be loaded into
the MCU.

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Biometric EXP EVB UG

EXP Connector

(JP3)

EXP Connector

(JP4)

TS3310 DC-DC

Boost Converter

Si1146 Proximity/
UV/Ambient Light

Sensor

Si7013 Humidity

& Temperature

Sensor

I2C Ribbon

Connector

(J6)

Red

IR

5V

Vmcu

I2C1

All other lines

I2C2

6. Hardware Overview

6.1. Block Diagram

6.2. Hardware Connectors

As illustrated in Figure 17 there are two separate I2C buses implemented on this board. The Si1146 is on its own
bus while the Si7013 and the I2C Ribbon Connector J6 are on the second bus. This allows for expansion boards
designed for the I
address conflict between any potential Si1145/Si1146/Si1147 devices on the expansion board.

Table 1 details the pinouts and signal function of the Biometric-EXP connectors JP3 and JP4.

Figure 17. Biometric-EXP Block Diagram

2

C Ribbon Connector to connect to the Biometric-EXP without the possibility of an I2C slave

Table 1. Expansion Connectors (JP3 and JP4)

Pin # Biometric-EXP Signal Description WonderGecko Signal

1GND GND
2 VMCU VMCU
3Red LED D3 PC0
4Not Used PD0
5 Green LED D3 PC3
6Not Used PD1
7 Si7013 and I

2

C Ribbon Connector (J6) SDA PC4

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Biometric EXP EVB UG

Table 1. Expansion Connectors (JP3 and JP4) (Continued)

Pin # Biometric-EXP Signal Description WonderGecko Signal

8Not Used PD2

9 Si7013 and I
10 Not Used PD3
11 Not Used PB11
12 Enable TS3310 Boost DC-DC Converter PD4
13 Not Used PB12
14 Si1146 and I
15 Not Used PC6
16 Si1146 I
17 Si1146 I
18 Not Used 5V

2

C Ribbon Connector (J6) SCL PC5

2

C Ribbon Connector (J6) INT PD5

2

C SDA PD6

2

C SCL PD7

19 Not Used GND
20 3.3 V 3.3 V

Table 2 details the pinouts and signal descriptions of the 6-pin I2C connector J6.

Table 2. 6-Pin I2C Connector (J6)

Pin # Signal Description

1I2C SCL
25V
3I2C SDA
4GND
5INT
6VMCU

Rev. 0.1 19

Biometric EXP EVB UG

Si1146 Proximity/UV/Ambient Light

IR and Red LEDs

EXP connector for
EFM32 STK

Silabs TS3310 DC-DC
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I2C Ribbon Cable
Connector

Si7013 Humidity &
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Figure 18. Biometric-EXP Hardware Component Layout

Figure 19. Wonder Gecko STK Component Layout

20 Rev. 0.1

6.4. Schematic

thermistor interface

Remote Thermistor

Remote Thermistor

CON3 - Red LED

CON5 - Green LED

CON7 - 6-pin connector SDA

CON9 - 6-pin connector SCL

CON14 - Interrupt from Prox sensor

CON15 - SCL ZeroGecko

CON16 - SDA

CON17 - EBID SCL for ZeroGecko- SCL for WonderGecko

CON19 - EBID SDA for ZeroGecko- GND for WonderGecko

Pull ups to hold pins high if disconnected

Pull ups to hold pins high if disconnected

J15/J16:

Upper position for Gecko 0 and newer boards

Lower position for older boards without support for EBID

Option to pass locally generated +5V

high = 4.1V low = 5.0V

NC - Normally Connected

NO - Normally Open

To configure this board to be used on ZeroGecko:

Connect J15, J19, and J21

Disconnect J16, J18, and J20

CON3

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CON13

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Biometric EXP EVB UG

Figure 20. Biometric EXP Schematic

Biometric EXP EVB UG

The information in this document is believed to be accurate in all respects at the time of publication but is subject to change without notice.
Silicon Laboratories assumes no responsibility for errors and omissions, and disclaims responsibility for any consequences resulting from
the use of information included herein. Additionally, Silicon Laboratories assumes no responsibility for the functioning of undescribed fea­tures or parameters. Silicon Laboratories reserves the right to make changes without further notice. Silicon Laboratories makes no warran­ty, representation or guarantee regarding the suitability of its products for any particular purpose, nor does Silicon Laboratories assume any
liability arising out of the application or use of any product or circuit, and specifically disclaims any and all liability, including without limitation
consequential or incidental damages. Silicon Laboratories products are not designed, intended, or authorized for use in applications intend­ed to support or sustain life, or for any other application in which the failure of the Silicon Laboratories product could create a situation where
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