Martins Tech Garage
Smart Home Visualization with elegance and compatibility
February 8, 2024
EKTOS has helped Martins Tech Garage to create an elegant Mini Display device
CLIENT
Martins Tech Garage is a Danish innovation 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.
CHALLENGES AND OBJECTIVES
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
Elegant og kompatibel Smart Home visualisering – SMPL Mini Display
KUNDEN
Martins Tech Garage er en dansk innovationshub for tech-produkter. Den blev grundlagt af den smart home-entusiastiske duo Martin og Pernille Rasmussen. Deres tech-baby, SMPL Mini Display, eksemplificerer deres passion for at bringe danskproducerede tech-løsninger til det globale marked.
UDFORDRINGER OG MÅL
Martins Tech Garage stod med en unik udfordring: at gøre smart home-data tilgængelig og synlig i hele husstande på en samlet og elegant måde.
Det primære problem, de ønskede at tackle, var, at hver eneste SmartHome-bruger skal åbne en app på deres mobil for at se husets status. For at overvinde dette var ideen at lave en simpel, men praktisk ZigBee-tilsluttet smart skærm, der kunne vise de data, der normalt kræver en telefon. De ønskede at skabe mere end “bare endnu et kontrolpanel”. De forestillede sig en simpel, elegant og alsidig enhed, der kunne passe ind i ethvert rum og på enhver overflade.
Enheden skulle visuelt integrere sig med omgivelserne, hvad enten den var monteret ved siden af en kontakt, placeret på et bord eller stillet på en hylde. Den skulle være energieffektiv og gnidningsløst integreret med Athom Homey-platformen, og levere forskellige data på forskellige tidspunkter på den samme skærm.
LØSNING
EKTOS-udviklingsteamet designede SMPL Mini Display’et til at være kompakt, med så små mål som 89 x 52 mm og en slank profil på kun 14 mm. Dets friktionsløse integration i hjemmemiljøet sikredes med en ZigBee-trådløs protokol, der giver nem forbindelse til eksisterende enheder.
I kraft af det strategiske partnerskab mellem EKTOS og STMicroelectronics kunne EKTOS hurtigt beslutte sig til at bruge STM32WB5MMG SoC. Dermed kunne man minimere ingeniørindsatsen ved at udvikle ZigBee og enhedslogikken samtidig.
Med STM32WB 2.4GHz’s trådløse MCU’er har man et gratis, omfattende, robust og certificeret miljø, herunder Zigbee PRO 2017-softwarestakken. Zigbee PRO-certificeringen sikrer diverse produkters systemintegration, selvom de oprinder fra forskellige leverandører.
PRO 2017-softwarestakken. Zigbee PRO-certificeringen sikrer diverse produkters systemintegration, selvom de oprinder fra forskellige leverandører.
E-ink-displayet som har en opløsning på 264 x 176 garanterer høj læsbarhed under forskellige lysforhold. To CR2450-knapcellebatterier leverer lang driftstid og energieffektivitet.
Den fremragende fleksibilitet og ydeevne af den valgte STM32WB dual-core-modul gjorde det muligt at kombinere eInk, RF og andre periferi-enheder i en silicium, som, når den var optimeret, viste stor batteriyde-evne. Enhedens magnetiske vægmontering tillod både vandret og lodret placering.
TECHTO, EKTOS’ elektroniske produktionservice (EMS), fremstillede produktet og dets detail-pakketering. TECHTO udførte SMT-monteringen af PCB’en, som efterfulgtes af en kompleks box-build af produktet, hvor man brugte de nyudviklede dele. Det var en udfordrende opgave, da delene til 0-serien var noget uraffinerede og krævede finjustering og omarbejdelse for at opnå den perfekte tilpasning omkring PCBA.
TECHTO er vant til at gå en ekstra længde i de her situationer for at hjælpe kunderne med at komme på markedet hurtigst muligt med et elegant og velfungerende produkt.
For at fuldføre produktionscyklussen bestilte TECHTO også emballagematerialer, der skulle bruges til at pakke produktet til levering til slutkunderne. Materialer og design blev godkendt af kunden gennem en række prototyper/prøver, indtil de opfyldte kundens specifikationer.
RESULTATER
Designet med præcision, samarbejde fra førende eksperter og komponenter i topklasse kunne Martins Tech Garage så med succes introducere SMPL Mini Display på EU-markedet i 2022. Denne innovative løsning markerer en betydelig milepæl ved at være det første trådløse, batteridrevne og tilpasningsdygtige ZigBee smart home display-produkt til Homey-platformen.
Kunder i hele Europa tager godt imod denne displayløsning, der gnidningsløst fremviser Homey-data på en mindre forstyrrende og samtidig æstetisk lækre måde.
Der dukkede uventet interesse for produktet op fra forskellige dataintegratorer, der ønskede at bruge løsningen, grundet den lave pris og det meget klare display.
KUNDECITAT
“EKTOS’ udviklingsteam leverede et kompakt design med problemfri integration. TECHTO hjalp os med at komme på markedet med en elegant fremstillet og velfungerende enhed. Vi er tilfredse med den sømfri produktionscyklus, emballage og kvalitetsafslutning. At se vores mini-display friktionsløst integrere sig i vores kunders smarte hjem har været utroligt givende”.
Martin Ove Rasmussen, Stifter – Martins Tech Garage
