EFR32BG26 Wearable Device

Why Use the EFR32BG26 for Wearable and Medical Devices?

The EFR32BG26 has a wireless radio operating at 2.4 GHz, as well as the powerful Arm Cortex-M33 microcontroller.

The device offers a variety of configurations featuring extensive program memory and RAM. Products using the EFR32BG26 can perform such functions as sensor data acquisition, Bluetooth operation, security features, local processing, user interface, and over-the-air firmware updates.

Its 78 MHz processor includes DSP instructions and a floating-point unit, which are useful when processing motion, physiological, or environmental sensor data. Selected devices also include hardware intended to accelerate AI and machine-learning workloads.

This can support applications such as activity classification, motion-pattern recognition, signal-quality assessment, and event detection directly on the device.

Local processing can reduce the amount of raw information transmitted over Bluetooth. Instead of continuously sending every sensor sample, a wearable may calculate metrics or identify meaningful events and transfer only the necessary results. This approach can reduce radio activity, improve responsiveness, and help keep sensitive data closer to the point of collection.

The EFR32BG26 also has Secure Vault features in the designated versions. These hardware-enabled technologies can prevent the exposure of device identities, crypto materials, firmware, and the process of communication.

Although the overall security is dependent on the whole architecture of the system, using an efficient hardware platform creates a good base for a medical device.

Project Case Study: EFR32BG26 Connected Patient Recovery Wearable

Patient Recovery Wearable

The Product Requirement

A healthcare technology company approached us to develop a compact wearable for monitoring patients during recovery at home. The product was intended to record movement, skin-temperature trends, device-wearing time, and user-triggered symptom events.

It also needed to synchronize information with a mobile application used by patients and a web dashboard used by authorized care teams.

The early prototype relied heavily on the phone and transmitted frequent streams of raw sensor data. This caused inconsistent battery performance and created synchronization problems whenever the phone was outside Bluetooth range.

The client wanted a more independent device that could continue collecting information offline and transfer it later without losing the sequence of events.

Hardware and Firmware Development

We selected the EFR32BG26 as the main wireless processor because the application needed Bluetooth Low Energy, local signal processing, secure device operation, and sufficient memory for future firmware growth.

Our hardware team designed a compact PCB with a three-axis motion sensor, digital temperature sensor, status LED, vibration motor, user button, battery measurement circuit, rechargeable battery, and protected charging interface.

Particular attention was given to antenna placement because the enclosure positioned the device close to the wearer's body.

On the firmware side, we implemented scheduled sensor sampling and a local event pipeline. Motion samples were filtered and converted into activity summaries rather than being transmitted continuously. Temperature measurements were checked for stability, while contact and movement indicators helped the application distinguish between a worn device and one left on a table.

A circular storage system retained measurements when the phone was unavailable. Each record included a sequence number and timestamp information, allowing the mobile application to identify missing blocks and resume synchronization after an interrupted transfer.

Bluetooth, Security, and Power Optimization

We created custom Bluetooth services for live status, historical record synchronization, configuration, diagnostics, battery reporting, and device updates.

The communication layer used acknowledgements and resumable transfers so that a brief disconnection did not require the complete dataset to be sent again.

We also implemented secure onboarding, device-specific identity handling, signed firmware-update controls, and restricted access to configuration characteristics.

Power profiling helped us adjust sensor duty cycles, advertising behaviour, connection parameters, storage operations, and LED usage.

Project Outcome

The completed prototype continued recording data without an active phone connection and synchronized stored records when the application returned.

Moving activity processing onto the wearable reduced routine Bluetooth traffic and improved the consistency of battery performance.

We delivered the PCB design package, embedded firmware, Bluetooth specification, mobile integration components, test documentation, manufacturing-test requirements, and an engineering prototype suitable for the client's next verification phase.

Security for Connected Medical Products

Medical and personal health information requires protection across the entire device ecosystem. We consider security during initial architecture rather than treating it as a final add-on.

Depending on the product, our implementation can include authenticated pairing, encrypted communication, unique device identities, protected key storage, secure boot, signed firmware images, rollback controls, role-based cloud access, audit records, and controlled device ownership transfer.

We also plan recovery paths. A product should behave predictably if an update is interrupted, storage becomes full, a sensor stops responding, or the mobile application sends an invalid request. These situations are uncommon during demonstrations but important during long-term use.

Prototype Testing and Production Preparation

We test the device as a complete system rather than evaluating the PCB, firmware, and mobile application separately.

Testing can include sensor verification, battery measurement, Bluetooth range, connection recovery, storage limits, update interruption, mobile compatibility, thermal behaviour, and extended operation.

In wearables, we also evaluate enclosure mechanisms, charging cycles, accidental presses, different body placement of devices, as well as repeated periods without phone connection efforts.

Prior to transferring production, we are able to prepare production firmware, programs of a device, serial-number processing, calibration, testing tools, inspection procedures, and production-support documents.

Where certification is required, we support pre-compliance planning and work with the customer's selected test laboratories. Certification requirements depend on the product, radio implementation, target market, intended use, and medical classification.

Our EFR32BG26 Development Services

Product Architecture and Technical Planning

We begin by converting the product idea into a practical engineering specification. Our team examines the target audience, requirements for the sensor, measurement frequency, mode of wireless transmission, power consumption, packaging constraints, mobile platform compliance as well as the level of cloud interaction and the anticipated environment in operation.

This stage helps us determine whether the EFR32BG26 is the correct choice and which device configuration is appropriate.

We also define the firmware architecture, Bluetooth data model, security approach, memory allocation, power states, update strategy, and interfaces between the embedded device, application, and backend.

For regulated products, we can structure development activities to support the customer's quality and documentation process. Final regulatory classification, clinical validation, and market authorization remain the responsibility of the product owner and relevant qualified specialists.

Custom Hardware and PCB Development

Our hardware engineers design compact electronics around the EFR32BG26 and the sensors required by the product.

The design may include optical sensing, temperature measurement, inertial sensing, pressure sensing, bio-potential acquisition, battery charging, haptic feedback, LEDs, displays, buttons, flash memory, and test interfaces.

Wearable PCB design requires careful component placement. Sensor precision may be compromised by electric noise, oscillation, temperature and even materials used in the enclosure of the device as well as by the battery's position. In addition, the performance of the Bluetooth antenna is likely to change a lot depending on the person wearing the device.

We therefore evaluate power integrity, grounding, antenna clearance, sensor placement, mechanical constraints, charging safety, and manufacturing test access as part of the design.

We also offer other services, which include design review and assembly, PCB layout, schematic capture, preparation of the bill of materials, prototype coordination, board bring-up, and assistance with revision.

EFR32BG26 Embedded Firmware Development

Using Silicon Labs development tools, we create modular firmware. Our firmware is suitable for sensor sampling, Bluetooth communication, local storage, alarms, power modes, diagnostics, interaction with users and updating solutions through the Internet.

Depending on the products we work with, we implement interrupt-controlled acquisition, scheduled measurements, changeable thresholds, event queues, circular data buffers, restoration of faults, control of watchdogs and management of timestamps.

We also build drivers for digital and analogue peripherals connected through interfaces such as I2C, SPI, UART, GPIO, ADC, and PWM.

When it comes to products that gather measurements continuously, we strive for a balance between speed and energy consumption. The peripherals along with sensors become active only when needed, and at the same time the radio and the processor operate in low-energy states for the most time.

Bluetooth Low Energy and Mobile App Development

Bluetooth engineering is not entirely about making devices available to mobile phones. For a Bluetooth device to be effective, it must have a good structure of GATT, use optimized sizes for packets, establish connection settings, ensure compatibility of versions, and comply with safety and reconnection protocols.

Our engineers create standard or custom Bluetooth services for measurements, device configuration, battery information, diagnostic logs, time synchronization, alerts, and firmware updates.

We test connection intervals, throughput, radio range, disconnections, background operation, and recovery when the wearable moves between connected and offline states.

In addition, we develop Android and iOS apps for onboarding, real-time data viewing, data history, alerts, user profiles, firmware updates, and account management.

When needed, we integrate the application with a secure cloud platform that provides physician dashboards, caregiver access, reporting, alerts, and connection to other systems.

Edge Intelligence and Sensor Data Processing

The raw output from a sensor is unable to be used because of possible interference from factors like motion, light, temperature, and body signals. These can result in interference from body movements, too little contact with the skin, light from outside the body, electric disturbance, or variations in how the device is worn.

According to the application, the firmware team creates filtering, calibration, baseline-tracking, sensor fusion, quality rating, and event detection algorithms.

If it is appropriate, we check if low-power machine learning can provide better classification or reduce excess transmissions over wireless connections.

We treat these algorithms separately from clinical claims. A technically working algorithm does not automatically establish medical accuracy. Any diagnostic or treatment-related output must be verified using appropriate datasets, validation procedures, and regulatory controls.

Build Your EFR32BG26 Wearable or Medical Device

Regardless of whether you are creating a health-monitoring wearable, rehabilitation gadget, portable medical device, patient-safety gadget, diagnostic instrument, or wellness platform, you need to know that Adequate Infosoft can be of help in creating a tested, production-ready product.

Get in touch with our EFR32BG26 development professionals to learn about your product needs, technical hurdles, prototype development process, and production direction.

Technical facts were checked against the official Silicon Labs EFR32BG26 product information and EFR32xG26 platform overview.
Shashikant Lahade
Shashikant
Electrical Engineer specializing in wearable biomedical devices, multi-layer PCB design, firmware development, system validation, and data analysis using Altium, KiCad, Python, and MATLAB.

ISO 14971 Medical Device Risk Management

ISO 13485 FDA Medical Device Regulation for QMS