Easy sensor integration for IoT projects

Würth Elektronik is concentrating on IoT applications with its portfolio of MEMS sensors. Zephyr OS – the microcontroller operating system from the Linux Foundation now incorporates the corresponding drivers. The new application note ANR034 from Würth Elektronik supplies instructions on integrating a sensor into the terminal device software in just a few steps.

The company provides a product portfolio of compact sensors, including humidity and temperature sensors, a six-axis gyroscope with accelerometer, and absolute and differential pressure sensors. Their selectable measuring ranges and data rates make all sensors extremely versatile. They deliver pre-calibrated and aligned data for easy integration into any application. Thanks to the drivers written into the Zephyr source code and the practical guidance now published, integration into a terminal device is nearly effortless.

The vendor-independent Zephyr operating system has the advantage that the firmware designed works on different hardware platforms without modifications. Given the sometimes limited availability of semiconductors, this represents an important strategic advantage. Many IC manufacturers have already entered their hardware descriptions into Zephyr. Moreover, the open source community is involved in maintaining the software along with companies like NXP, Nordic Semiconductor, ST Micro Electronics, and Intel. Zephyr includes operating system functions like multithreading and dynamic memory allocation and offers many functions for operating external electronic components such as sensors, displays and radio modules. Besides sensor drivers, the information needed to develop firmware for the wireless modules is also included in Zephyr OS. As communication solutions are an important part of IoT projects, Würth Elektronik offers a firmware development service and support in certifying customer-specific wireless technology.