LG Innotek, a leading global components and materials manufacturer, has developed an ultra slim optical bio sensor module for wearable devices and smartphones to measure heart rates, stress indices, and oxygen saturation levels.
According to LG Innotek, this module has lower power consumption and measures data with higher accuracy than the existing products. Users can receive more accurate biometric information with smaller devices.
”The key to wearable technology is reducing the size of the device and minimizing power consumption. No matter how excellent device’s feature is, if a wearable device is bulky and the battery wears out rapidly, it is difficult to popularize”.
”With a thickness of just 1 mm(0.04inches), this module includes a Photo Diode(PD), 5 LEDs, and Integrated Circuit(IC). Thinner sensors allow wearable devices and smartphones to become thinner, and a more free design is implemented”.
To minimize the thickness of the module, LG Innotek utilized their advanced embedded PCB technology. The technology embeds integrated circuits into the PCBs. The Former modules were manufactured by mounting the IC on the PCB and then seating the photo diode on top of it. This approach has its limits when it comes to reducing the thickness, as stated by the company in its press statement.
”The module consumes less power with ultra-slim thickness. The inside is gold-plated to maximize luminance efficiency by minimizing the amount of LED light that is absorbed. With this module, the strength of the biometric signals increases by about 30%, so you can use low power to accurately detect biometric signals. Battery consumption has been reduced by 20% compared to the existing module”.
The accuracy of the measured information has also been improved. This new sensor module’s range of error for measured data is ±5 bpm during exercise and even in stable condition, it can measure data within an error range of ±2 bpm which is comparable to that of medical devices, adds the statement of the company.
When the user measures their heart rates using a wearable device, the existing module’s range of error while exercising is ±8 bpm (beats per minute). If the user’s heart rate is actually 120 bpm, the heart rate readings measured by the wearable device will be between 112 and 128 bpm. This module increased its accuracy up to 115~125 bpm.
