Fraunhofer Group for Microelectronics
Fraunhofer Group for Microelectronics

Smart and Healthy Living

In the “Smart and Healthy Living” business unit, scientists within the Fraunhofer Group for Microelectronics do research into all the ways that technology can support our lives and our work in a modern world. Which new technologies create smart living and working environments for us? Where can microelectronics be used to give us perfect work-life balance? How can electronic applications support people with disabilities as well as the elderly?

The “Smart and Healthy Living” thus combines two previously separate R&D areas within the group – “Ambient Assisted Living, Health and Well-being” and “Smart Living” – and focuses on all electronic assistance as a symbiotic cooperation between humans and technology.

Application Examples

 

© Fraunhofer IIS

Fraunhofer Cingo®: Turn mobile devices into personal surround sound theaters

Fraunhofer Cingo® turns mobile devices into personal surround sound theaters. 

 

© Fraunhofer IMS

Intracranial pressure monitoring whenever you need it

Fraunhofer IMS has developed a sensor which enables patients to monitor their intracranial pressure at any time.

 

© Procter and Gamble

Fraunhofer IIS Technologies supporting effective toothbrushing

Procter & Gamble has been working together with scientists from Fraunhofer IIS on the development of a new smart tooth-brushing system. Based on the image analysis software SHORE™ developed by Fraunhofer IIS as well as its localization technologies for position recognition, users know whether they are brushing too little or too long in one place, or whether they have missed an area.

 

© Fraunhofer EMFT / Bernd Müller

Rapid MRSA Detection for hospitals and medical practices

Multi-resistant pathogens such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) are becoming an increasing problem for hospitals and medical practices.

Fraunhofer EMFT is currently working with Asklepios Kliniken GmbH and KETEK GmbH to develop a low-cost MRSA Rapid Test, suitable for routine access control at hospitals or medical practices.

 

© Fraunhofer IPMS

MEMS mirrors for genetic research

Researchers at the Fraunhofer IPMS have developed a programmable microelectromechanical (MEMS) chip which can divert light of varying wavelengths at ultra-high speed and with micrometer-accuracy. Installed in an optical microscope, this technology can be used to illuminate multiple targeted areas, which can be smaller than single cells and thereby stimulate specific light sensitive molecules as ensemble.

 

© Fraunhofer ISIT

Flexible electrochemical biosensors on metallized film substrates

 Within the Fraunhofer ISIT the business fields “Medical Sensor Systems “ and “Wearables and Printed Electronics” cooperate in transferring silicon-based sensor technologies to flexible modules and integrating them into body-shape sensor systems.

There are for example developments to integrate polymer film-based lactate sensors in smart wearable systems.

 

© istockphoto.com / Pawel Gaul

HEVC – software and hardware for efficient encoding and decoding

 

© Fraunhofer IPMS

Food Analysis

Fraunhofer IPMS has developed a micro-spectrometer able to be integrated into common smartphones.