LAS VEGAS, Jan. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — CES 2017 – Valencell, the leading innovator in performance biometric sensor technology, today announced the launch of two new versions of its Benchmark™ sensor systems, the highly-accurate biometric sensor modules that incorporate the best of Valencell’s PerformTek® biometric technology, experience and expertise. The two new designs include Benchmark BE2.0, a version of Benchmark designed specifically for hearables, and Benchmark BW2.0, a 2-LED version of its original Benchmark sensor system for wearables worn at the wrist and arm. Both new modules feature a smaller footprint and more power efficiency than previous models, while building on Valencell’s market-leading accuracy.
Benchmark sensor systems are extensively validated, ready-to-integrate modules that give hearable and wearable devices the ability to continuously and accurately measure blood flow signals, even during extreme physical activity and in daily activities such as typing. These signals can be translated into biometric data, including continuous heart rate, VO2 and VO2 max, RR-interval (RRi), resting heart rate, heart rate response, heart rate recovery, continuous energy expenditure (calorie burn), cardiac efficiency and heart rate variability (HRV) assessments.
Responding to demand from OEM’s around the world, Valencell launched Benchmark BE2.0, a highly-accurate, complete biometric sensor system ready-for-integration into hearable devices. The design incorporates all necessary hardware and software for a complete biometric sensor system, including optical emitters, detector, patented optomechanical design, accelerometer and MCU, programed with Valencell’s patented active signal characterization for motion- and environmental-artifact removal. BE2.0 is smaller than Valencell’s previous ear sensor modules, enabling easy integration and faster time to market for in-ear designs.
Building on the success of its original Benchmark sensor module, Valencell also announced the launch of Benchmark BW2.0, the next generation of its Benchmark sensor system for wrist and arm wearables. The new 2-LED Benchmark BW2.0 module is 33 percent smaller and 25 percent more power efficient than the previous model, and includes all of Valencell’s PerformTek biometric technology in a pre-packaged module. Benchmark BW2.0 has an optimized design that provides the option to separate the MCU from the optical sensor, which gives customers the flexibility to move the MCU to another location and enable overall reduced device size or space for additional components in the device.
Both new Benchmark designs support a wide variety of use cases in numerous industries, including consumer hearables and wearables, healthcare/medical, military, first responder, and gaming.
“As the market for wearables and hearables continues to grow, we are seeing a tremendous demand for our Benchmark sensor systems, which deliver the most accurate optical biometric sensor technology for wearables in the world, into a ready-to-integrate module,” said Dr. Steven LeBoeuf, president and co-founder of Valencell. “We are continuing to innovate and expand our extensively validated Benchmark line to include an ear module and a smaller module for the wrist and arm, in order to meet this growing need for our technology. Companies large and small – across a variety of industries – choose Valencell because they know that we make biometrics work in wearables.”
Benchmark development kits, which include a reference design test module, several sensor modules and a development board, are now available for all versions of Benchmark and can be ordered at info@valencell.com.
Benchmark sensors systems have been tested and validated across thousands of tests on subjects of varying age, fitness level, gender, skin tone and gender in the Valencell Biometrics Lab . In addition, the accuracy of Valencell’s PerformTek technology has been independently validated by numerous research institutions, including Duke University, NC State University, and the American College of Sports Medicine.
Valencell has a highly cited patent portfolio in optical biometric sensor technology in the wearables and hearables industry, which includes 39 patents granted and more than 90 additional patents pending.
Valencell’s technology is the choice of popular consumer electronics brands, including Bose, Sony, LG, Jabra, and Scosche, among numerous others. To learn more about acquiring Valencell technology, visit valencell.com/access.
Valencell will be showcasing its highly accurate PerformTek biometric sensor technology in Tech West, Sands Expo, Level 2, booth #44330 at CES® 2017, taking place in Las Vegas from January 5-8. To arrange a briefing, please contact: media@valencell.com.
About Valencell
Valencell develops performance biometric sensor technology and provides this patent-protected technology to consumer electronics manufacturers, wearable and hearable device makers, sports and fitness brands, medical device makers, and gaming companies for integration into their products. Valencell’s PerformTek® biometric sensor technology employs active signal characterization, the process of segmenting raw signal data from biometric sensors into biological, motion, and environmental signals and noise. Valencell has invested years into the research and development of its PerformTek sensor technology, protected by dozens of granted patents and independently validated by the Duke Center for Living, North Carolina State University, the Human Performance Laboratory and a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine.
