MAX30102 Pulse Oximeter and Heart Rate Sensor
An in-depth guide to the MAX30102 sensor, including pinout, working principle, applications, and more.
MAX30102 Sensor Overview
The **MAX30102** is a sensor module that integrates a Pulse Oximeter and a Heart Rate Sensor. It is designed for detecting blood oxygen levels (SpO2) and heart rate (BPM) through optical absorption techniques. It uses two LEDs (red and infrared) and a photodetector to measure the absorption of light by hemoglobin in the blood, allowing it to calculate heart rate and blood oxygen levels. It is commonly used in wearable devices, medical instruments, and health monitoring systems.
Pinout of MAX30102
The MAX30102 sensor has several pins that you can use to interface with a microcontroller like Arduino or ESP32. Below is the pinout for the MAX30102 module:
| Pin Number | Pin Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | VCC | Power supply pin, typically connected to +3.3V or +5V depending on your system. |
| 2 | GND | Ground pin, connected to the ground of your system. |
| 3 | SCL | Serial clock line for I2C communication (to be connected to the SCL pin of the microcontroller). |
| 4 | SDA | Serial data line for I2C communication (to be connected to the SDA pin of the microcontroller). |
| 5 | INT | Interrupt pin (used for interrupt-driven data reading). |
| 6 | R1 (Red LED) | Red LED pin (used for pulse oximetry). |
| 7 | IR (Infrared LED) | Infrared LED pin (used for pulse oximetry). |
Working Principle of MAX30102
The **MAX30102** uses red and infrared LEDs to emit light into the skin. The light is absorbed by the blood vessels and the photodetector captures the light that is reflected back. The amount of reflected light changes with each heartbeat, allowing the sensor to determine the heart rate by detecting this variation. The red and infrared light absorption by the blood also allows the sensor to calculate SpO2 (oxygen saturation) levels. This is done by comparing the ratio of red to infrared light that is reflected back from the blood.
Applications of MAX30102
- Health and fitness trackers for measuring heart rate and blood oxygen levels.
- Wearable medical devices for continuous health monitoring.
- Smartwatches and other wearable gadgets to monitor SpO2 and BPM.
- Remote patient monitoring systems in hospitals or home care settings.
- DIY projects involving health monitoring and biofeedback systems.
Advantages of MAX30102
- Compact and highly integrated sensor for heart rate and SpO2 monitoring.
- Low power consumption, ideal for portable and battery-operated devices.
- Fast response time with high accuracy in reading heart rate and oxygen levels.
- Supports I2C communication, making it easy to interface with a wide range of microcontrollers.
- Reliable performance, even in various ambient light conditions.
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