Low power, tiny AFE targets heart-rate monitoring

Low power, tiny AFE targets heart-rate monitoring

The AD8232 AFE for heart-rate monitoring is claimed 50% smaller and uses up to 20% less power than competing solutions — further meeting low-power and signal conditioning needs of vital sign monitors in fitness equipment, wearable devices and remote health monitoring. Unlike the topologies employed in many of today’s integrated solutions, the highly flexible analog filtering configuration of the AD8232 incorporates a two-pole, high-pass filter that is tightly coupled with the IC’s instrumentation amplifier architecture, and an uncommitted operational (gain) amplifier that enables the user to employ multi-pole low pass filtering techniques to remove line noise and other interference.

By performing large-gain and high-pass signal conditioning in a single stage in the analog domain, the AD8232 can accommodate electrode dc offsets while operating on a single supply voltage without sacrificing performance or signal quality. With an analog output, the AFE can be paired with either a discrete A/D converter or a microcontroller with an embedded A/D converter.

Supply current is 180 µA and noise is 20-µVp-p (0.5 Hz to 40 Hz). Additional features include a CMRR of 80 dB (dc to 60 Hz), a supply range of 2.0 to 3.5 V, and a shutdown function. Housed in a 4 x 4-mm, 20-pin LFCSP package, the part features ac/dc leads-off detection and fast-restore mode.($1.36 ea/1,000 — available now)

By Christina Nickolas

Analog Devices , Wilmington , MA
Sales 800-262-5643
www.analog.com