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new products
New High Performance Optical Sensor for
Heart Rate Monitoring Ideal for Wearables
ROHM has recently announced the availability of an
optical sensor for heart rate monitoring optimized for
wearable devices such as sports bands and smart
watches. The BH1790GLC leverages proprietary
analog circuit technology and optical sensor expertise to
improve sensitivity, allowing pulse waves to be detected
with high accuracy, even with low LED brightness,
resulting in class-leading low power consumption.
Recent years have seen an increasing demand for
portable devices featuring greater energy savings
and miniaturization. Among wearables such as sports
bands and smart watches pulse sensing capability has
become mainstream, with new functions continually
being added. However, their limited battery capacity
makes it necessary to reduce power consumption as
much as possible in order to prolong operating time.
In response, ROHM utilizes optical sensor development
expertise and IR removal technology cultivated over
many years to develop an optical sensor for heart rate
monitoring optimized for wearables that meets market
needs for low power consumption and high accuracy.
A specialized optical filter enables high accuracy
detection, extending battery life while reducing the
effects of IR rays by 10x vs conventional products. This
makes it possible to acquire high quality pulse signals
even in environments with strong IR presence, such
as outdoors, or under intense movements (i.e. sports),
contributing to increased performance and further
evolution in the wearable device market.
In addition, an optical heart rate monitor expansion
board (BH1790GLC-EVK-001) is available for purchase
online that can collect and process sensor information
by connecting to an open platform (general MCU board)
such as Arduino Uno.
Key Features
Achieves class-leading low power consumption
ROHM combines considerable optical sensor
development expertise with original analog circuit
technology to improve sensitivity, making it possible
to accurately detect pulse waves even with low LED
brightness. This reduces power consumption by approx.
74% – the lowest in its class – contributing to longer
battery life in wearable devices.
Superior IR removal characteristics enable high
accuracy detection
A photodiode matched to the green wavelength ideal
for pulse detection is used, along with a filter structure
optimized for pulse detection that integrates green and
IR cut filters in the receiver block. As a result, high
accuracy is achieved while susceptibility to IR rays
reduced by 10x compared with conventional products,
enabling stable pulse detection even under noisy IR
conditions such as direct sunlight or strenuous activity
(i.e. sports).
Decreases mounting area by 30%, reducing design
load
The BH1790GLC is capable of detecting high quality
pulse signals using lowVF lowbrightness LEDelements,
eliminating the need for DC/DC circuits for LED power
supply conventionally required. This decreases
mounting area by 30%, lightening development load.
Applications
Sports bands, smartwatches, and other wearables
Smartphones
Devices requiring pulse sensing
Online Sales Information
Products: Optical Heart Rate Monitor Expansion Board
Part No BH1790GLC-EVK-001
ROHM’s sensor shield makes it easy to collect and
process sensor data by utilizing software and connecting
to an open platform MCU board such as Arduino Uno.
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