My project is a Pulse Rate (BPM) Monitor using an Arduino, Pulse Sensor, and a 16x2 LCD display to measure heartbeats in real-time. The goal is to create a simple, affordable, and accurate heart rate monitoring system that can be used for basic health tracking or educational purposes.
Why I Made It:The project was inspired by the need for an easy-to-use heart rate monitor that can help people check their pulse without needing expensive medical equipment. It’s also a great learning tool for understanding how electronics and sensors can be used in healthcare applications.
Pulse SensorThe Pulse Sensor is a plug-and-play heart-rate sensor for Arduino. It can be used by students, artists, athletes, makers, and game & mobile developers who want to easily incorporate live heart-rate data into their projects.
The essence is an integrated optical amplifying circuit and noise eliminating circuit sensor. Clip the Pulse Sensor to your earlobe or fingertip. Then it into your Arduino, you are now ready to read heart rate.
The front of the sensor comes with the heart logo. This is where you place your finger. On the front side, you will see a small round hole, from where the green LED shines. Just below the LED is a small ambient light photosensorAPDS9008which adjust the brightness in different light conditions.
On the back of the module you will find MCP6001 Op-Amp IC, a few resistors, and capacitors. This makes up the R/C filter network. There is also a reverse protection diode to prevent damage if you connect the power leads reverse.
Pulse Sensor Technical SpecificationsPhysical Characteristics
- Dimensions: Approximately 0.625″ (15.875mm) in diameter
- Weight: Lightweight, usually around a few grams
- Material: Biocompatible materials for safe skin contact
Electrical Characteristics
- Operating Voltage: 3V – 5.5V
- Current Consumption: Typically around 4mA
- Output Signal: Analog (0.3V to VCC)
- Signal Range: 0-1023 (10-bit ADC output of Arduino)
Sensing Technology
- Sensor Type: Photoplethysmogram (PPG)
- Wavelength: Typically around 565nm (Green LED)
The Pulse Sensor works on the principle of Photoplethysmography (PPG), which is a non-invasive method for measuring changes in blood volume under the skin. The sensor essentially consists of two main components: a light-emitting diode (LED) that shines light into the skin and a photodetector that measures the amount of light that is reflected back. Here’s a detailed explanation of its working:
- Light Emission: A green LED emits light into the skin.
- Reflection & Detection: The light interacts with blood and is partially reflected back, captured by a photodetector.
- Heart Rate: Changes in reflected light create a waveform that correlates with heartbeats.
- Oxygen Level: The amount of reflected light also indicates blood oxygen levels, as oxygenated blood absorbs more green light.
- Signal Filtering: A Low Pass Filter cleans up the noisy, raw signal from the photodetector.
- Amplification: An operational amplifier boosts the filtered signal for better accuracy.
- Data Reading: Finally, an Arduino reads the amplified signal and software algorithms translate it into heart rate and potentially blood oxygen levels.
The pulse sensor has three pins: VCC, GND & Analog Pin.
- The Pulse Sensor detects the heartbeat by sensing changes in blood flow when placed on the skin (usually the finger or wrist).
- This data is sent to the Arduino, which processes the signals to calculate the pulse rate in beats per minute (BPM).
- The 16x2 LCD displays the calculated BPM in real-time, making it easy to read.
- Additionally, the Arduino code filters noise from the sensor to improve the accuracy of the reading.
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