Martins Tech Garage
Smart Home Visualization with elegance and compatibility
February 8, 2024
CLIENT
Martins Tech Garage is a Danish hub for innovative tech products. It was founded by the smart home enthusiasts and dedicated Homey users duo Martin and Pernille Rasmussen. Their brainchild, the SMPL Mini Display, is a testament to their passion for bringing Danish-made tech solutions to the global market.
CHALLENGE
Martins Tech Garage faced a unique challenge: making smart home data accessible and visible throughout households, effortlessly.
The main problem they wanted to address is that every single SmartHome user has had to open a SmartApp on the phone to see the status of the house. To overcome this, the idea was to make a simple yet handy ZigBee-connected smart display that could show the data that would normally require one’s phone. They sought to create more than just another dashboard; they envisioned a simple, elegant, and versatile device that could find a place in every room and on any surface.
The device had to seamlessly blend with its surroundings, whether mounted beside a switch, placed on a table, or nestled on a shelf. It needed to be power-efficient and seamlessly integrated with the Athom Homey platform, delivering different data at different times on the same display.
SOLUTION
The EKTOS Development team designed the SMPL Mini Display to be compact, measuring just 89mm x 52mm with a slim profile of 14mm. Its seamless integration into home environments was ensured with a ZigBee wireless protocol, facilitating effortless connections with existing devices.
Thanks to the strategic partnership between EKTOS and STMicroelectronics, EKTOS was quick to decide to use STM32WB5MMG SoC. This helped to minimize engineering efforts of simultaneous development of ZigBee and business logic at the same time.
The STM32WB 2.4GHz wireless MCUs offer a free, comprehensive, robust, and certified environment including the Zigbee PRO 2017 software stack. The Zigbee PRO certification ensures the interoperability of products, even if the origin is from different vendors.
The e-ink display, boasting a resolution of 264 x 176, guaranteed exceptional readability under various lighting conditions. Two CR2450 button cell batteries provided an extended operational life while maintaining energy efficiency.
The outstanding flexibility and performance of the chosen STM32WB dual-core module allowed the combination of eInk, RF, and other peripherals in one silicon, which being optimized, showed great battery power performance. The device’s magnetic wall mount allowed for either horizontal or vertical placement.
TECHTO, EKTOS’ Electronic Manufacturing Service (EMS), manufactured the product and its retail package. TECHTO did the SMT mounting of the PCB which was followed by a complex box-build of the product using the newly developed parts. It was a challenging task as the parts for the 0-series were rather raw and required some fine-tuning and rework for a perfect match around PCBA.
TECHTO is used to going the extra mile in such cases to help the customers reach the market at the earliest with an elegant and functioning product.
To complete the production cycle, TECHTO also ordered the packaging materials that were used to pack the product for delivery to the ultimate customers. The materials and design have been approved by the customer through a series of prototypes/trials until they meet the customer’s specifications.
RESULTS
Designed with precision, collaboration from leading experts, and best-in-class components, Martins Tech Garage successfully introduced the SMPL Mini Display to the EU market in 2022. This innovative solution marks a significant milestone as the first-ever wireless, battery-powered, and customizable ZigBee smart home display product for the Homey platform.
Customers across Europe are embracing this display solution that seamlessly showcases Homey data in a less intrusive and aesthetically pleasing manner.
Non-expected interest in the product was popping up from different data integrators who wanted to use the solution due to its low price and very clear picture.
CUSTOMER QUOTE
“EKTOS’ development team delivered a compact design with seamless integration. TECHTO helped us go to market with an elegantly manufactured and well-functioning device. We are satisfied with the seamless production cycle, packaging, and quality finishing. Seeing our mini display seamlessly integrate into our customers’ smart homes has been incredibly rewarding”.
Martin Ove Rasmussen, Founder – Martins Tech Garage
