Maxim Integrated Products has introduced its MAX30208 and MAXM86161, integrated body monitoring sensors that reduce solution size by 50 and 40 percent, respectively. The sensors are designed to provide higher accuracy in measuring vital signs such as temperature, heart rate and blood-oxygen saturation.
The MAXM86161 in-ear heart-rate monitor and pulse oximeter delivers highly accurate heart-rate and SpO2 measurements from hearables and other wearable applications. It is optimized for in-ear applications with best-in-class signal-to-noise ratio (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. The MAXM86161 sensor delivers approximately 35 percent lower power to extend battery life of wearables. In addition, an integrated analog 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).
The MAXM86161 sensor is available in an OLGA package (2.9 x 4.3 x 1.4mm), which is 40 percent smaller than the closest competitor. It includes three LEDs—red and infrared for SpO2 measurement and green for heart rate. The MAX30208 is available in a 10-pin thin LGA package (2 x 2 x 0.75 mm).
The MAXM86161 is priced at $4.41 each in quantities of 1,000; an evaluation kit is available for $150. The MAX30208 costs $1.25 each in similar quantities, with an evaluation kit available for $56.