ams OSRAM launches new AS705x analog front-end series

ams OSRAM launches new AS705x analog front-end series, small but powerful for vital signs monitoring applications

• ams OSRAM launches new AS705x product family, including AS7050, AS7056 and AS7057, with functional units that improve PPG measurement performance;

With the AS7056 and AS7057, amsram has the smallest analog front end (AFE) available on the market, making it ideal for space-constrained applications such as hearables or accessories;

• Provide equipment suppliers with a one-stop product portfolio including AFE, custom optical front-end and all necessary building blocks.

Shanghai, China, June 30, 2022 - amsram, a leading global supplier of optical solutions, announced the launch of its first pure integrated circuit vital sign sensor series AS705x . amsram's first generation of bio-signal converters offers manufacturers great flexibility, with highly customized optical front ends combined with energy-efficient design and a small form factor, making them ideal for applications with limited board space, such as hearables, smart watches or smart patches.

The AS7050 is the first biosignal sensor in the new ams OSRAM product family , enabling end users to capture biosignals such as heart rate measurement (HRM) and skin resistance (GSR). With two ADC (analog-to-digital converter) channels and an embedded ECG low-noise analog front end, the AS7050 can perform both photoplethysmography (PPG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements. Customers who require a smaller optical setup and do not need ECG can choose the AS7056 or AS7057 series.

“The AS7056 and AS7057 are the smallest AFEs for vital sign monitoring currently available on the market, with a die size of approximately 1.7 mm x 1.7 mm ,” said Dr. Markus Arzberger, Head of the Vital Signs Monitoring Applications Business Unit at ams. “The new biosensors from amsram can be used in PPG-based hearables or accessories to measure vital signs. They enable customers to develop extremely small, highly customized optical front ends in combination with advanced analog-to-digital conversion processes.”

Optical systems can be used to non-invasively measure vital signs such as heart rate variability. PPG (photoplethysmography) is the most common optical system solution for heart rate measurement. Green light is emitted into body tissue, where it is scattered and partially absorbed by the blood. A small portion of the emitted light is scattered back to the photodiode and detected by an integrated circuit. Since blood volume varies with heart rate, the absorption of light and the signal of the photodiode are modulated accordingly by the heart rate.

The AS7050 provides up to 8 LED driver outputs, can sample up to 6 photodiode inputs, and supports external electrodes. The AS7056 and AS7057 can support up to 3 photodiodes and 3 emitters , and one of the emitters in the AS7056 is a VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) driver. This provides high flexibility for various emitter and photodiode settings in different applications.

In daily life, as consumers use smart watches, hearable devices, etc. to monitor vital signs, manufacturers are working to reduce the complexity of products and improve the user experience by reducing power consumption and improving design. In addition to the AFE, developers of vital sign monitoring applications who need to adopt space-saving designs can also obtain all the building blocks required for the entire system from ams, such as emitters and detectors. Customers can obtain solutions provided by a single supplier and benefit from ams' optical system expertise during the design phase.

The AS705x biosignal converter greatly improves the flexibility of vital sign monitoring. (Image: ams-osram)

Customers receive a customized optical front end and all necessary building blocks from a single supplier. (Image: ams-osram)