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The STMicroelectronics ST1VAFE3BX is an active, volume-production biosensing IC that combines a single-channel differential vertical analog front end (vAFE) for biopotential signals with a synchronized three-axis accelerometer and embedded processing. It can acquire ECG-, EEG-, ENG- and related electrical signals from external electrodes while providing motion context for wearable algorithms. It is a component—not a complete medical monitor—and still needs electrodes, power, host firmware, mechanical integration and system-level validation.
ST lists the part on its product page and in the current datasheet. The orderable tape-and-reel code is ST1VAFE3BXTR.
ST1VAFE3BX at a glance
| Specification | Verified value |
|---|---|
| Status | Active; volume production |
| Package | 12-lead LGA; maximum 2.0 × 2.0 × 0.74 mm |
| Supply voltage | 1.62–3.6 V |
| MIPI I3C I/O supply | 1.08–3.6 V extended range |
| Operating temperature | −40°C to +85°C |
| vAFE | Single-channel differential input, programmable gain and input impedance, 12-bit ADC |
| vAFE maximum ODR | Up to 3,200 Hz when the analog-hub/vAFE channel is used alone |
| Accelerometer | Three axes; ±2g, ±4g, ±8g and ±16g ranges; 1.6–800 Hz ODR |
| Accelerometer noise | Down to 220 µg/√Hz |
| Typical current | 48.1 µA in high-performance mode; 2.6 µA in power-down |
| FIFO | Up to 128 combined accelerometer and vAFE samples, or 256 low-resolution accelerometer samples |
| Interfaces | I²C, SPI and MIPI I3C |
| Shock survivability | 10,000g |
These are sensor specifications, not whole-product power or performance figures. MCU activity, radio transmission, regulators, electrode loading, interrupts and data rates can dominate a wearable’s total consumption.
How the architecture works
External electrodes feed a differential vAFE
The vAFE is ST’s “vertical analog front end” for biopotential acquisition. It accepts a single differential channel from external electrodes, applies programmable analog settings and digitizes the result with an internal 12-bit ADC. Because the conversion occurs inside the IC, the usual implementation sends digital samples to the host rather than routing the vAFE output to a separate external ADC.
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Gain, input impedance, data rate and filtering must be selected for the electrode arrangement, expected signal amplitude, bandwidth and common-mode environment. There is no universal register configuration that is optimal for every ECG, EEG, ENG or EOG design.
The accelerometer supplies synchronized motion context
The three-axis accelerometer is integrated and synchronized with the biopotential path. A host MCU or the device’s embedded processing can correlate movement with electrical-signal changes, helping detect motion-related interference or classify activity. Synchronization can improve context-aware processing and reduce latency, but it does not guarantee artifact removal or accurate readings during vigorous motion. Electrode adhesion, strap pressure, cable movement and mechanical resonances remain system-level problems.
FIFO and digital host connection
Samples can be buffered in the FIFO and read over I²C, SPI or MIPI I3C. FIFO depth and interrupt strategy affect bus traffic, latency and host wake-ups. A design that needs simultaneous streams must verify the permitted data-rate combinations in the current datasheet: the vAFE can reach 3,200 Hz in its standalone analog-hub mode, the accelerometer tops out at 800 Hz, and the MLC/FSM path supports analog-hub/vAFE data up to 1.6 kHz.
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What signals and applications are realistic?
ST identifies ECG, EEG, ENG, wearable and portable devices, activity tracking and well-being among the target applications. DigiKey’s overview also mentions EOG. In each case, the IC captures electrical biopotentials and motion; application firmware derives heart rate, HRV, neurological features, eye-movement events or other metrics.
- ECG: suitable for exploring a single differential electrical channel in patches, chest bands and other wearables.
- EEG and ENG: possible where the electrode topology, amplitude, bandwidth and noise environment match the vAFE.
- EOG and related signals: feasible only after validating electrode placement and signal quality in the intended mechanical design.
- Activity and well-being: accelerometer events and biopotential features can share one low-power sensing device.
“ECG” or “EEG” in an application list does not establish diagnostic accuracy, clinical certification or regulatory approval for a product built with the IC.
Embedded processing: MLC, FSM and ASC
Machine-learning core (MLC)
The MLC can run selected feature-processing or classification workloads on analog-hub/vAFE data up to 1.6 kHz. It is useful for local event or state recognition when sending every raw sample to the MCU would cost power or bandwidth.
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Finite-state machine (FSM)
The programmable FSM provides deterministic event and signal-processing logic, also with analog-hub/vAFE support up to 1.6 kHz. It can handle thresholded states, sequences and other repeatable decisions without waking the host for every sample.
Adaptive self-configuration (ASC)
ASC can adjust sensor configuration in response to FSM or MLC output. This may support power-aware modes or context-dependent settings, but it is not a general-purpose autonomous medical AI system.
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Integration path for a real design
- Define the signal and electrode topology. Specify ECG, EEG, ENG, EOG or another biopotential; electrode count and placement; differential/reference arrangement; amplitude and bandwidth; skin-contact materials; cable or flex length; and protection needs. The single-channel differential vAFE is a fundamental architectural limit.
- Read the current documentation. Start with the datasheet and the application documents linked from ST’s product page, including AN6160 (device and vAFE overview), AN6207 (FSM), AN6208 (MLC), AN6173 (ECG-monitoring guidance), TN0018 (handling and soldering) and TN1571 (cardio-monitoring eSP).
- Choose the bus. I²C is straightforward for ordinary sensor networks; SPI offers deterministic transfers and practical throughput; MIPI I3C is appropriate only when the host, board and software stack support it. None is universally best.
- Configure the vAFE. Set gain, input impedance, data rate, analog filtering and antialiasing behavior, FIFO operation and interrupts from measured electrode conditions rather than copied defaults.
- Configure motion sensing. Select the accelerometer range, ODR, motion events, timestamps and interrupt behavior. A smaller range can improve resolution in gentle motion, while a larger range may be needed for shocks.
- Assign algorithms. Keep raw processing on the MCU, use FSM or MLC for deterministic/local decisions, or combine them. Confirm that the required algorithm fits the embedded processing limits.
- Validate the complete assembly. Test open and shorted inputs, known electrical signals, electrode-impedance variation, body motion, sweat, cable movement, charger and radio noise, temperature, FIFO overruns and long-duration interrupt behavior.
Power, sampling and layout trade-offs
ST’s 48.1 µA high-performance and 2.6 µA power-down values are typical sensor-current figures. They do not include the host, regulator losses, wireless link, display, haptics or electrode-interface loads. Older promotional material rounds the figures differently; the current datasheet should govern a design review.
Higher sampling is not automatically better. A 3,200 Hz vAFE setting increases data volume, storage and host activity, while MLC/FSM processing is specified only up to 1.6 kHz. Select a rate from the signal bandwidth and algorithm, then verify synchronized-stream timing with the 800 Hz accelerometer ceiling.
The 2 mm LGA saves board area but complicates prototype inspection, rework, routing and manufacturing yield. Follow ST’s handling and mounting guidance and allow for a realistic electrode, ground, shielding and mechanical layout rather than treating the IC as a drop-in module.
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- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
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What the IC includes—and what it does not
Included
- Single-channel differential vAFE and internal ADC
- Three-axis accelerometer
- FIFO, digital interfaces and sensor-level processing
- MLC, FSM and adaptive self-configuration
- Motion functions such as wake-up, free-fall, tap, activity/inactivity, orientation, pedometer and step counting
- Self-test capability
Not included
- Electrodes or skin-contact mechanics
- Battery, regulator, isolation or wireless hardware
- Display, user interface or finished wearable enclosure
- Complete ECG, EEG or ENG interpretation algorithms
- Clinical validation, medical certification or diagnostic approval
- A finished development board or sensor module
When it is a good fit—and when it is not
| Choose it when… | Be cautious when… |
|---|---|
| You need one biopotential channel plus synchronized motion. | You need multiple independent biopotential channels or specialized multi-lead configurations. |
| Board area and sensor current are constrained. | You need a ready-to-use module with electrodes and mechanics. |
| Local FSM/MLC processing can reduce host traffic. | Your team cannot support electrode, firmware and embedded-processing validation. |
| I²C, SPI or MIPI I3C fits the host architecture. | The project requires clinical performance that has not been validated at system level. |
A dedicated multi-channel biopotential AFE may be preferable for clinical-style lead systems. A separate motion sensor plus external AFE offers more architectural freedom but adds components and makes synchronization a host responsibility. The ST1VAFE3BX’s distinctive value is the combination of electrical biopotential capture, synchronized motion and edge processing in one small IC.
Availability and purchasing
ST lists ST1VAFE3BXTR as active and in volume production. The ST eStore showed stock, free-sample eligibility and a price signal of $2.20 per unit at quantity 100 when checked on August 18, 2026; regional taxes, shipping, account terms and inventory can change that result. ST’s public product page did not return distributor availability at that check, so production buyers should confirm fulfillment directly.
DigiKey’s product-highlight page showed ST1VAFE3BXTR availability of 7,409 units and a $3.58 price signal on August 18, 2026. Quantity breaks, region, shipping and checkout terms must be normalized before comparing it with ST’s quantity-100 signal.
For historical context only, ST’s October 28, 2024 announcement cited $1.50 at 1,000 units. That launch-period figure is not a current quotation.
Bottom line
The ST1VAFE3BX is a compelling building block for a compact wearable or portable design that needs one differential biopotential channel, synchronized three-axis motion and low-power edge processing. It is less suitable for multi-channel clinical architectures or teams seeking a finished biosensor subsystem. Treat the vAFE, accelerometer, MLC/FSM and FIFO as useful ingredients—not as a substitute for electrodes, careful mechanics, host software and end-to-end medical or signal-quality validation.
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