LG Innotek sensor to tackle heart rate tracking accuracy

LG Innotek, a components manufacturer that builds camera modules for smartphones, has revealed that it's developed a sensor that could make wearables slimmer, more efficient and improve the accuracy of optical heart rate monitoring.

The bio sensor measures in at just 1mm thick and is designed to record heart rate, blood oxygen and stress levels. According to Innotek, the module can increase the strength of biometric signals by 30% and reduce power consumption by 20%. That means it can track data using less power.

 

What's really interesting here is that LG Innotek claims that the new module can improve the heart rate error rate range to 5bpm when you're working out and 2bpm for resting heart rate. That is apparently comparable to what medical devices can offer.

 

We've had our say about the accuracy of heart rate tracking from wearables and have spoken to the experts about what they think about the current state of optical sensors. So this is a positive move.

 

Samsung has also been trying to address some of the biggest issues with wearables having recently announced its own Smart Bio-processor. The all-in-one chip is more power efficient than current processors and is able to measure heart rate, body fat, skeletal muscle mass, skin temperature, heart rhythm and stress level. Similarly, Qualcomm announced its new Snapdragon Wear processor that promises to extend smartwatch battery life and hopefully lead to sleeker designs.