The ams OSRAM SFH 7018 enables improved quality of heart rate and blood oxygen measurements for wearables

ams OSRAM released a new multi-LED package which offers more than 40 percent higher radiant intensity than the previous generation product, resulting in higher accuracy PPG (photoplethysmography) measurements in smart watches, wristbands and other wearable devices.

The SFH 7018 features a highly reflective QFN (Quad Flat No Leads) package for significantly increased light output. In addition, an improved two-cavity design separates the green LED from the red LED and infrared (IR) LED: the spacing and optical isolation ensure that the light sources are optimally placed relative to their photodiodes and reduce interference between the green light (for heart rate measurements) and the red light and IR source (for blood oxygen saturation, or SpO2, measurements). Furthermore, the green chip does not cause the red and IR chips to fluoresce due to cross-excitation from the shorter wavelength.

The optimized form factor of the surface-mount QFN package – just 0.6mm high – makes it easy to integrate the module into any type of wearable device. Despite its compact size, the SFH 7018 provides dual driving capability with optimized forward voltage headroom and reduced overall power consumption (more info).