June 7, 2012, Seoul – Motion sensors and microcontrollers from STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across a wide range of electronics applications, have been selected as the brain and sensors for the airbag bicycle helmet from Swedish design company Hövding.

Hovding's innovative design and cutting-edge electronics combine to produce a new form factor for bicycle safety devices.

International studies show that wearing a helmet alone can reduce bicycle accident injuries by at least 60% and save four out of ten bicycle accident fatalities. Despite this, the majority of cyclists don't wear helmets. This is due to reasons such as their bulkiness, inconvenient carrying, and unattractive appearance.

Hövding's helmets are attracting attention for their ability to meet both safety and practicality requirements. Unlike conventional helmets that are rigid and wrap around the head, the "invisible" helmets feature airbags built into the scarf or collar, making them unobtrusive and easy to wear. Equipped with an ST motion sensor, the airbags detect any unusual movement of the wearer in the event of an accident and send a signal to the airbag. Within 0.1 seconds, the helmet inflates into a hood that covers the entire head and neck, protecting the wearer.

Thanks to ST's sensors that can detect linear and various angle movements in 1, 2, and 3 dimensions, the wearer's complex movements are recognized accurately and at high speed. This sensor system is based on highly sophisticated algorithms defined from specific motion pattern information collected through simulated accident and normal driving situations.

Meanwhile, the electronics in the Hövding helmet are controlled by an STM32 microcontroller. This powerful and flexible control chip enables full functionality with minimal energy consumption. Among the industry's largest ARM Cortex-M-based microcontroller families, the STM32 family comprises over 300 devices, offering a variety of memory configurations, a wide range of peripherals, exceptional power consumption, and an industry-leading development ecosystem.

“When building life-saving equipment, there can be no compromises when choosing core technologies,” said Anna Haupt, founder and inventor of Hövding. “ST’s motion sensors and microcontrollers, with their industry-leading reputation for delivering the highest performance and lowest power consumption, are a perfect fit for our demanding design needs. The success of this collaboration has led us to explore further collaboration with ST on the development of our next-generation helmets.”

“The Hövding helmet is a great example of how cutting-edge design and technology can combine to make a positive impact on people’s lives,” said Benedetto Vigna, Vice President and General Manager of the Analog, MEMS and Sensors Group at STMicroelectronics. “Hövding’s decision to use ST’s sensors and control chips underscores ST’s industry leadership and the role we play in developing innovative technologies that enrich our lives.”

Hovding helmet products comply with EU safety regulations (CE marking), and more detailed information can be found in the video at http://www.hovding.com/en/film/