Making every TV 'smart'

Making every TV 'smart'

PORTLAND, Ore.–Hillcrest Labs Inc. announced Tuesday (Aug. 28) it downsized its motion processing algorithms to run on an 8-bit microcontroller inside a television remote control.

Known as Freespace MotionEngine Lite, the software allows nearly any TV manufacture to convert existing "dumb" models into Smart TVs merely by choosing the right remote.

All Smart TVs today run their motion processing algorithms on the 32-bit application processor inside the television, relegating the remote control to merely sending the raw sensor data from the MEMS accelerometer and gyroscope inside it.

"Any television manufacturer who controls an on-screen cursor with buttons today can now upgrade that model to a smart TV by running our motion processing algorithms on their remote control," said Chad Lucien, senior vice president at Hillcrest (Rockville, Md.).

Texas Instruments has signed on, announcing simultaneously that its ZigBee RF4CE (radio frequency for consumer electronics) and Bluetooth system-on-chips (SoCs)—CC2533 and CC2541, respectively—can now run Hillcrest's Freespace MotionEngine Lite. Also remote control makers SMK Electronics and Universal Electronics have signed up and are currently offering smart remotes running Freespace MotionEngine Lite to television manufacturers, with end-user products due by Christmas.


Hillcrest Labs has managed to downsize its Freespace MotionEngine algorithms to run entirely on the 8-bit microcontrollers the Smart TV remote control.

TAG:EETimes NextGenLog Electronics