Osram engineers LED-based sensor for fitness tracking in smart watches and fitness armbands

Sunnyvale, CA - Osram Opto Semiconductors has expanded its portfolio for the optical measurement of pulse rates and blood oxygen levels.

The new SFH 7060 LED-based sensor from Osram Opto Semiconductors is designed to measure pulse rates and the oxygen saturation level of blood. It offers excellent signal quality and low energy consumption. The main market segment for this component includes mobile devices such as smart watches and fitness armbands – also known as wearables – for continuously monitoring fitness levels. This integrated optical sensor contains five light emitting diodes with three different wavelengths and one high-sensitivity photodiode.

The SFH 7060 is a further development of optical sensor SFH 7050, which Osram introduced in the fall of 2014. It performs the same functions as its predecessor but with improved power consumption and signal quality. The SFH 7060 consists of three green LEDs, one red LED, one infrared LED and one large-format photodiode, which is optically separated from the emitters by an opaque barrier. It works by shining light into the skin. Different amounts of this light are absorbed by blood and the surrounding tissue. The light that is not absorbed is reflected to the detector. Absorption measurements with different wavelengths are used to determine the pulse rate and the saturation level of oxygen in the blood.

Efficient and reliable pulse measurements
Green light is best for measuring the pulse at the wrist. The SFH 7060 LED-based sensor is equipped with three green LEDs with a wavelength of 530 nanometers (nm) based on the latest high-efficiency UX:3 chip technology from Osram. At their optimum operating point at a current of 20 milliamperes, they are particularly efficient and typically deliver an optical output of 3.4 milliwatts at a voltage of 3.2 V per chip. The higher light output, compared with the SFH 7050, results in better signal quality and more stable pulse measurements. The lower power consumption also means longer battery life in the device.

More accurate blood oxygen measurements
Oxygen saturation in the blood is calculated from the different absorption rates of red (660 nm) and infrared (940 nm) light. The quality of the measurements depends to a large extent on the achievable signal-to-noise ratio and on the linearity of the photodetector. The integrated photodiode, with its active surface of 1.3 mm x 1.3 mm, meets these requirements perfectly. In addition, the distance between the two transmitters and the photodiode in the SFH 7060 LED-based sensor is greater than in the SFH 7050. This means the light penetrates deeper into the skin before it is reflected to the detector, which leads to more stable signals and a better signal-to-noise ratio. As in the case with its predecessor, the wavelength of the red transmitter is specified with a very narrow tolerance of ± 3 nm to ensure accurate measurements.

The new LED-based sensor is Osram Opto Semiconductors’ latest addition to its portfolio for fitness tracking applications, designed to meet all the latest requirements. “The market for fitness tracking is growing at a rapid pace, and some of the requirements that the components have to meet are also changing rapidly,” explained Christoph Goeltner, Product Marketing Manager at Osram Opto Semiconductors. “We are working very closely with our customers so that we are always in a position to offer suitable products continuously and quickly.” Users can now choose between a highly efficient solution designed for pulse rate measurements, an extremely compact sensor for combined pulse rate and blood oxygen measurements, and a slightly larger version with the same features but with significantly improved functionality.

Sales contact: http://www.osram-os.com/appsint/os_distributors-search/

Technical Data:
Dimensions 7.2 mm x 2.5 mm x 0.9 mm
Wavelength 530 nm / 660 nm / 940 nm
Optical output (per green LED) at 20 mA 3.4 mW
Photo-sensitive area 1.7 mm²

The new integrated SFH 7060 optical sensor for measuring pulse rate and blood oxygen levels has been optimized in terms of power consumption and measurement accuracy. It contains a highly sensitive photodiode, three green LEDs, one red LED and one infrared LED.
Picture: Osram
www.osram-os.com/pr-sfh7060

ABOUT OSRAM
OSRAM of Munich, Germany is one of the two leading light manufacturers in the world. The company's portfolio covers the entire value chain from components – including lamps, electronic control gear and opto semiconductors such as light-emitting diodes (LED) – as well as luminaires, light management systems and lighting solutions. OSRAM has around 34,000 employees worldwide and generated revenue of more than €5.1 billion in fiscal 2014 (ended September 30). The company's business activities have been focusing on light – and hence on quality of life – for over 100 years. The company was listed on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt and Munich on July 8, 2013 (ISIN: DE000LED4000; WKN: LED 400; Trading symbol: OSR).

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