Pulse Oximeter Demonstration

dsPIC33FJ128GP Family

Summary
The ability to measure heart rate and blood oxygen
level is now being added to consumer products. These
measurements can be taken using pulse oximeters that
are intended for home medical use and by integrated
wrist-worn fitness activity trackers.
A pulse oximeter is a device that uses a non-invasive
method for measuring the oxygen saturation level of
a person’s blood, as well as their heart rate. LEDs in
Microchip’s pulse oximeter demonstration transmit two
wavelengths of light through a finger to a photo detector.
From this, the pulse oximeter demonstration can measure
changing absorbance at each of the two wavelengths,
process and then filter the data to determine the blood
oxygen saturation level and heart rate. Demonstration Highlights
The Microchip Pulse Oximeter Demonstration Board was ■ Measures heart rate
implemented using the dsPIC33FJ128GP802 Digital Signal ■ Measures percent blood oxygen saturation level
Controller (DSC). The features of this DSC are: ■ dsPIC33FJ128GP802 uses a 513th-order, digital-FIR,
■ Up to 40 MIPS operation bandpass filter designed with Microchip’s free Digital
■ High-Performance DSC Filter Design Tool
• Digital FIR filter implemented in firmware ■ Integrated PWM module drives the LCD display
• 16 × 16 fractional/integer multiply operations ■ MCP1640 boost regulator, MCP4728 DAC and the
MCP6002 dual op amp for reliable and accurate power
• 32/16 and 16/16 divide operations
management and signal conditioning
• Single-cycle multiply and accumulate
■ Low overall BOM cost due to processing and
■ Power Management filter integration
• On-chip 2.5V voltage regulator
• Switch between clock sources in real time Input and Filtered Data from Microchip's Pulse
• Idle, Sleep, and Doze modes with fast wake-up Oximeter Demonstration
■ 12-bit, 500 ksps/10-bit 1.1 Msps ADC module: up to
13 channels with auto-scanning
■ 16-bit 100 ksps audio DAC module
■ 4/4, 16-bit capture/compare/Pulse-Width Modulation
(PWM) peripherals
■ Two analog comparators with programmable input/
output configuration
■ Hardware RTCC: provides clock, calendar and
alarm functions
■ Ten capacitive touch channels
This reference design helps to develop a low-cost Development Made Easy
handheld or wearable pulse oximeter with user interface.*
*Microchip medical reference designs and demos are intended for evaluation and development
Start with the free download of the application note,
purposes only. Use of Microchip devices in life support and/or safety applications is entirely at the schematics and ‘C’ source code that can easily be
buyer's risk, and the buyer agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Microchip from any and
all damages, claims, suits, or expenses resulting from such use.
modified to your specific application needs. To download,
go to www.microchip.com/medical, and click on the
Pulse Oximeter link.
Contact your local sales representative to see a working
demonstration of Microchip's Pulse Oximeter solution.
System Diagram

LED
PWM 1
On/Off
PWM 2
LED Driver
Analog Signal Conditioning
Analog IR Red
Switch
MCP6002 or
MCP6V02 ADC 0
Op Amp MCP6002 or
Highpass MCP6V02
Transimpedance Op Amp ADC 1
Amplifier Filter
Gain Stage
Photodiode Amplifier
DC Offset

LED Current Control MCP4728 I2C™

DAC

LCD I/O

Computer,
RN171 Wi-Fi® or UART
RN4020/RN42
Bluetooth®
Modules
(optional)

www.microchip.com/medical
Visit our web site for additional product information and to locate your local sales office.
Microchip Technology Inc. • 2355 W. Chandler Blvd. • Chandler, AZ 85224-6199

Information subject to change. The Microchip name and logo and the Microchip logo are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. All other trademarks
mentioned herein are property of their respective companies. © 2015, Microchip Technology Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. 5/15
DS00001878A