Designers creating next-generation wearable health and fitness applications can reduce temperature measurement power by 50 percent with the MAX30208, as well as shrink optical solution size by 40 percent with the MAXM86161. In addition, design engineers can improve both sensitivity and accuracy with the highest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) using the MAXM86161.
Wearable health and fitness monitors require greater accuracy in measuring human biometrics such as body temperature and heart rate, but device designers have been limited by sensor accuracy for small, battery-powered, body-worn devices. Maxim’s two new continuous-monitoring body sensors provide higher degrees of accuracy in measuring vital signs such as temperature, heart rate and blood-oxygen saturation (SpO2).
The MAXM86161 in-ear heart-rate monitor and pulse oximeter is the market’s smallest fully integrated solution that delivers highly accurate heart-rate and SpO2 measurements from hearables and other wearable applications. It is optimised for in-ear applications with its industry-leading small package size (40 percent less than the closest competitor) and best-in-class SNR (3dB improvement with band limiting signal for PPG use cases compared to closest competitor). This enables development of devices that cover a wider range of use cases. MAXM86161 delivers approximately 35 percent lower power to extend battery life of wearables. In addition, an integrated analogue front-end (AFE) eliminates the additional AFE typically needed to procure a separate chip and connect to the optical module.
The MAX30208 digital temperature sensor delivers clinical-grade temperature measurement accuracy (±0.1°C) with fast response time to changes in temperature. It also meets the power and size demands of small, battery-powered applications such as smartwatches and medical patches. It simplifies the design of battery-powered, temperature-sensing wearable healthcare applications. Easier to use than competitive offerings, it measures temperature at the top of the device and does not suffer from thermal self-heating like competitive solutions. MAX30208 is compatible with up to four I2C addresses to enable multiple sensors on the same IC bus. The MAX30208 can be attached to either a PCB or a flex printed circuit (FPC).