Freescale Semiconductor
Application Note
Digital Blood Pressure Meter
by: C.S. Chua and Siew Mun Hin, Sensor Application Engineering
Singapore, A/P
INTRODUCTION
This application note describes a Digital Blood Pressure
Meter concept which uses an integrated pressure sensor,
analog signal-conditioning circuitry, microcontroller
hardware/software and a liquid crystal display. The sensing
system reads the cuff pressure (CP) and extracts the pulses
for analysis and determination of systolic and diastolic
pressure. This design uses a 50 kPa integrated pressure
sensor (Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.P/N: MPXV5050GP)
yielding a pressure range of 0 mm Hg to 300 mm Hg.
CONCEPT OF OSCILLOMETRIC METHOD
This method is employed by the majority of automated non-
invasive devices. A limb and its vasculature are compressed
by an encircling, inflatable compression cuff. The blood
pressure reading for systolic and diastolic blood pressure
values are read at the parameter identification point.
The simplified measurement principle of the oscillometric
method is a measurement of the amplitude of pressure
change in the cuff as the cuff is inflated from above the systolic
pressure. The amplitude suddenly grows larger as the pulse
breaks through the occlusion. This is very close to systolic
pressure. As the cuff pressure is further reduced, the pulsation
increase in amplitude, reaches a maximum and then
diminishes rapidly. The index of diastolic pressure is taken
where this rapid transition begins. Therefore, the systolic
blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) are
+DC Offset
1M
R3
C2
3
+
Vi
0.33 µ
2 LM324N
-
R1
1k
33u
C1
Figure 1. Oscillation Signal Amplifier
© Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., 2005. All rights reserved.
AN1571
Rev 1, 05/2005
obtained by identifying the region where there is a rapid
increase then decrease in the amplitude of the pulses
respectively. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) is located at the
point of maximum oscillation.
HARDWARE DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION
The cuff pressure is sensed by Freescale's integrated
pressure X-ducer‰. The output of the sensor is split into two
paths for two different purposes. One is used as the cuff
pressure while the other is further processed by a circuit.
Since MPXV5050GP is signal-conditioned by its internal op-
amp, the cuff pressure can be directly interfaced with an
analog-to-digital (A/D) converter for digitization. The other
path will filter and amplify the raw CP signal to extract an
amplified version of the CP oscillations, which are caused by
the expansion of the subject's arm each time pressure in the
arm increases during cardiac systole.
The output of the sensor consists of two signals; the
oscillation signal ( ≈ 1 Hz) riding on the CP signal ( ≤ 0.04 Hz).
Hence, a 2-pole high pass filter is designed to block the CP
signal before the amplification of the oscillation signal. If the
CP signal is not properly attenuated, the baseline of the
oscillation will not be constant and the amplitude of each
oscillation will not have the same reference for comparison.
Figure 1 shows the oscillation signal amplifier together with
the filter.
+5.0V
U1a
11
1
Vo
4
R2
150k
 The filter consists of two RC networks which determine two two cut-off frequencies can be approximated by the following
cut-off frequencies. These two poles are carefully chosen to equations. Figure 2describes the frequency response of the
ensure that the oscillation signal is not distorted or lost. The filter. This plot does not include the gain of the amplifier.

1
2πR1C1
f
P1 =

1
2πR3C2
f
P2 =

10

-10

-20
Attenuation (dB)

-30 Oscillation Signal (1 Hz)

-40

-50 CP Signal (0.04 Hz)

-60

-70

-80
0.01 0.1 1 10 100

Frequency (Hz)

Figure 2. Filter Frequency

The oscillation signal varies from person to person. In
general, it varies from less than 1 mm Hg to 3 mm Hg. From
the transfer function of MPXV5050GP, this will translate to a
voltage output of 12 mV to 36 mV signal. Since the filter gives
an attenuation of 10 dB to the 1 Hz signal, the oscillation signal
becomes 3.8 mV to 11.4 mV respectively. Experiments
indicate that, the amplification factor of the amplifier is chosen
to be 150 so that the amplified oscillation signal is within the
output limit of the amplifier (5.0 mV to 3.5 V). Figure 3 shows
the output from the pressure sensor and Figure 4 illustrates
the extracted oscillation signal at the output of the amplifier.

AN1571
Sensors
2 Freescale Semiconductor
 3

2.5

2
Vi (Volts)

1.5
Oscillation signal is extracted here
1

0.5

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Time (seconds)

Figure 3. CP Signal at the Output of the Pressure Sensor

3.5
MAP

3
SBP
DBP
2.5

2
Vo (Volts)

1.5

0.5

0
10 15 20 25 30 35
Time (seconds)
Figure 4. Extracted Oscillation Signal at the Output of Amplifier

Referring to the schematic, Figure 5, the MPX5050GP
pressure sensor is connected to PORT D bit 5 and the output
of the amplifier is connected to PORT D bit 6 of the
microcontroller. This port is an input to the on-chip 8-bit
analog-to-digital (A/D) converter. The pressure sensor
provides a signal output to the microprocessor of
approximately 0.2 Vdc at 0 mm Hg to 4.7 Vdc at 375 mm Hg
of applied pressure whereas the amplifier provides a signal
from 0.005 V to 3.5 V. In order to maximize the resolution,
separate voltage references should be provided for the A/D
instead of using the 5 V supply. In this example, the input
range of the A/D converter is set at approximately 0 Vdc to 3.8
Vdc. This compresses the range of the A/D converter around
0 mm Hg to 300 mm Hg to maximize the resolution; 0 to 255
counts is the range of the A/D converter. VRH and VRL are the
reference voltage inputs to the A/D converter. The resolution
is defined by the following:
Count = [(VXdcr - VRL)/(VRH - VRL)] x 255
The count at 0 mm Hg = [(0.2 - 0)/(3.8 - 0)] x 255 ≈ 14
The count at 300 mm Hg = [(3.8 - 0)/(3.8 - 0)] x 255 ≈ 255
Therefore the resolution = 255 - 14 = 241 counts. This
translates to a system that will resolve to 1.24 mm Hg.
The voltage divider consisting of R5 and R6 is connected to
the +5 volts powering the system. The output of the pressure
sensor is ratiometric to the voltage applied to it. The pressure
sensor and the voltage divider are connected to a common

AN1571
Sensors
Freescale Semiconductor 3
supply; this yields a system that is ratiometric. By nature of this
ratiometric system, variations in the voltage of the power
supplied to the system will have no effect on the system
accuracy.
The liquid crystal display (LCD) is directly driven from I/O
ports A, B, and C on the microcontroller. The operation of a
LCD requires that the data and backplane (BP) pins must be
driven by an alternating signal. This function is provided by a
software routine that toggles the data and backplane at
approximately a 30 Hz rate.
Other than the LCD, there are two more I/O devices that are
connected to the pulse length converter (PLM) of the
microcontroller; a buzzer and a light emitting diode (LED). The
buzzer, which connected to the PLMA, can produce two
different frequencies; 122 Hz and 1.953 kHz tones. For
AN1571
4 Freescale Semiconductor
instance when the microcontroller encounters certain error
due to improper inflation of cuff, a low frequency tone is alarm.
In those instance when the measurement is successful, a high
frequency pulsation tone will be heard. Hence, different
musical tone can be produced to differential each condition. In
addition, the LED is used to indicate the presence of a heart
beat during the measurement.
The microcontroller section of the system requires certain
support hardware to allow it to function. The MC34064P-5
provides an undervoltage sense function which is used to
reset the microprocessor at system power-up. The 4 MHz
crystal provides the external portion of the oscillator function
for clocking the microcontroller and provides a stable base for
time based functions, for instance calculation of pulse rate.
Sensors
Sensors
R10

Freescale Semiconductor
+5.0 V
5.0 V Regulator 10M
MC78L05ACP +5.0 V X1 +5.0 V
3 Input Output 1 4MHz

R9
2

4.7k

C3
C4
GND

C5
1 Reset Input

2
22p
22p

C6

C8
100u

9.0 V Battery
0.33u GND MC34064
100n 3
+5.0 V

16 LCD5657
17 OSC1
OSC2 16 DP1
10 /RESET 18 23
+5.0 V VDD G1 37
19 G4
R5
Buzzer /IRQ 22 36
+5.0 V F1 F4
2 22

R8
100R TCAP1 21 4 35
4.7k + 36R
TCMP1 A1
Pressure Sensor 1 TCMP2 TCAP2 23 A4
MPXV5050GP 20 B1 34
B4

3
RD 50
19 7
R6

52 TDO
15k

Vs 51 SCLK C1 DP C4
1 18 6
Vout D1 D4

LED
20 8
PLMA VRH 17 3 5
GND +5.0 V 21 VRL 7 E1 E4
PLMB

2
49 PC0 PA0 31 28
48 PC1 PA1 30 L
R4 24k 47 PC2/ECLK PA2 29 40
DP L L BP
46 PC3 PA3 28 1
45 PC4 PA4 27 BP
44 PC5 PA5 26 12 2 8
43 PC6 PA6 25 DP2 DP3
+5.0 V 42 PA7 24 27 G2 32

10k
PC7

R0
G3
26 F2 DP E F 31
14 PD0/AN0 PB0 39 F3

R3
25 30

1M
13 PD1/AN1 PB1 38 A2 A3
37

11
12 PD2/AN2 PB2 24 D 1 G A 29
C2 11 PD3/AN3 PB3 36 B2 B3
3 9 PD4/AN4 PB4 35 15 C2 11
34 C B C3
5 PD5/AN5 PB5 14 10
0.33u 1 4 PD6/AN6 PB6 33 D2 D3
LM324N 32 13 9
3 PD7/AN7 PB7 E2 E3
2 330u
C7 MC68HC05B16CFN

4
+5.0 V

R2

150k

Figure 5. Blood Pressure Meter Schematic Drawing

1k

R1
C1
33u

5
AN1571
 SOFTWARE DESCRIPTION amplifier. When the subroutine TAKE senses a decrease in
CP for a continuous duration of more than 0.75 seconds, the
Upon system power-up, the user needs to manually pump
microcontroller will then assume that the user is no longer
the cuff pressure to approximately 160 mm Hg or 30 mm Hg
pumping the bulb and starts to analyze the oscillation signal.
above the previous SBP. During the pumping of the inflation
Figure 6 shows zoom-in view of a pulse.
bulb, the microcontroller ignores the signal at the output of the

450 ms
VO (volt)

1.75

Premature Pulse

-8.5 -8.3 -8.1 -7.9 -7.7 -7.5 -7.3 -7.1

Time (second)
Figure 6. Zoom-In View of a Pulse

First of all, the threshold level of a valid pulse is set to be microcontroller for this blood pressure meter design in this
1.75 V to eliminate noise or spike. As soon as the amplitude project.
of a pulse is identified, the microcontroller will ignore the signal • On-chip ROM space: 2 kilobytes
for 450 ms to prevent any false identification due to the • On-chip RAM space: 150 bytes
presence of premature pulse "overshoot" due to oscillation.
• 2-channel A/D converter (min.)
Hence, this algorithm can only detect pulse rate which is less
than 133 beats per minute. Next, the amplitudes of all the • 16-bit free running counter timer
pulses detected are stored in the RAM for further analysis. If • LCD driver
the microcontroller senses a non-typical oscillation envelope • On-chip EEPROM space: 32 bytes
shape, an error message (“Err”) is output to the LCD. The user • Power saving Stop and Wait modes
will have to exhaust all the pressure in the cuff before re-
pumping the CP to the next higher value. The algorithm CONCLUSION
ensures that the user exhausts all the air present in the cuff
before allowing any re-pumping. Otherwise, the venous blood This circuit design concept may be used to evaluate
trapped in the distal arm may affect the next measurement. Freescale pressure sensors used in the digital blood pressure
Therefore, the user has to reduce the pressure in the cuff as meter. This basic circuit may be easily modified to provide
soon as possible in order for the arm to recover. Figure 7 on suitable output signal level. The software may also be easily
the following page is a flowchart for the program that controls modified to provide better analysis of the SBP and DBP of a
the system. person.

SELECTION OF MICROCONTROLLER REFERENCES

Although the microcontroller used in this project is Lucas, Bill (1991). “An Evaluation System for Direct
MC68HC05B16, a smaller ROM version microcontroller can Interface of the MPX5100 Pressure Sensor with a
also be used. The list below shows the requirement of Microprocessor,” Freescale Application Note AN1305.

AN1571
Sensors
6 Freescale Semiconductor
 Main Program

Initialization
Clear I/O ports

Display "CAL" and

output a musical tone

Clear all the variables

Take in the amplitude of all the

oscillation signal when the
user has stop pumping

Y Repump?

Calculate the SBP and DBP

and also the pulse rate

Output a high Is there any error

N in the calculation or the Y Display "Err"
frequency
musical tone amplitude envelope
detected?

Display pulse rate. Output a low

Display "SYS" follow by SBP. N N frequency alarm
Display "dlA" follow by DBP.

Exhaust cuff Exhaust cuff

Y Y
before repump before repump

Figure 7. Main Program Flowchart

AN1571
Sensors
Freescale Semiconductor 7
How to Reach Us:
Home Page:
www.freescale.com

E-mail:
support@freescale.com

USA/Europe or Locations Not Listed:

Freescale Semiconductor
Technical Information Center, CH370
1300 N. Alma School Road
Chandler, Arizona 85224
+1-800-521-6274 or +1-480-768-2130
support@freescale.com

Europe, Middle East, and Africa:

Freescale Halbleiter Deutschland GmbH Information in this document is provided solely to enable system and software
Technical Information Center implementers to use Freescale Semiconductor products. There are no express or
Schatzbogen 7 implied copyright licenses granted hereunder to design or fabricate any integrated
81829 Muenchen, Germany circuits or integrated circuits based on the information in this document.
+44 1296 380 456 (English)
+46 8 52200080 (English)
+49 89 92103 559 (German) Freescale Semiconductor reserves the right to make changes without further notice to
+33 1 69 35 48 48 (French) any products herein. Freescale Semiconductor makes no warranty, representation or
support@freescale.com guarantee regarding the suitability of its products for any particular purpose, nor does
Freescale Semiconductor assume any liability arising out of the application or use of any
Japan:
Freescale Semiconductor Japan Ltd. product or circuit, and specifically disclaims any and all liability, including without
Headquarters limitation consequential or incidental damages. “Typical” parameters that may be
ARCO Tower 15F provided in Freescale Semiconductor data sheets and/or specifications can and do vary
1-8-1, Shimo-Meguro, Meguro-ku, in different applications and actual performance may vary over time. All operating
Tokyo 153-0064 parameters, including “Typicals”, must be validated for each customer application by
Japan customer’s technical experts. Freescale Semiconductor does not convey any license
0120 191014 or +81 3 5437 9125 under its patent rights nor the rights of others. Freescale Semiconductor products are
support.japan@freescale.com not designed, intended, or authorized for use as components in systems intended for
Asia/Pacific: surgical implant into the body, or other applications intended to support or sustain life,
Freescale Semiconductor Hong Kong Ltd. or for any other application in which the failure of the Freescale Semiconductor product
Technical Information Center could create a situation where personal injury or death may occur. Should Buyer
2 Dai King Street purchase or use Freescale Semiconductor products for any such unintended or
Tai Po Industrial Estate unauthorized application, Buyer shall indemnify and hold Freescale Semiconductor and
Tai Po, N.T., Hong Kong its officers, employees, subsidiaries, affiliates, and distributors harmless against all
+800 2666 8080 claims, costs, damages, and expenses, and reasonable attorney fees arising out of,
support.asia@freescale.com directly or indirectly, any claim of personal injury or death associated with such
For Literature Requests Only: unintended or unauthorized use, even if such claim alleges that Freescale
Freescale Semiconductor Literature Distribution Center Semiconductor was negligent regarding the design or manufacture of the part.
P.O. Box 5405
Denver, Colorado 80217 Freescale™ and the Freescale logo are trademarks of Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
1-800-441-2447 or 303-675-2140
Fax: 303-675-2150 All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners.
LDCForFreescaleSemiconductor@hibbertgroup.com © Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. 2005. All rights reserved.

AN1571
Rev. 1
05/2005