Wearable Health Monitor Solution

Solution Overview

This reference design focuses on creating ultra-low-power wearable devices for health and fitness tracking. It uses the compact and power-efficient ESP32-C3 to gather data from various sensors (like heart rate and accelerometers) and transmit it via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to a companion mobile app. The primary goal of this solution is to maximize battery life while maintaining reliable connectivity and accurate sensor readings.

Solution Block Diagram

Block diagram of a Wearable Health Monitor using ESP32-C3.

Core Advantages

  • Ultra-Low Power: Leverages the ESP32-C3's deep-sleep modes and efficient RISC-V core to achieve weeks of battery life.
  • Compact Form Factor: Based on small footprint modules like the ESP32-C3-MINI-1, making it ideal for space-constrained wearable designs.
  • Reliable BLE 5 Connectivity: Utilizes the features of Bluetooth 5 for faster data transfer and more stable connections to smartphones.
  • Cost-Effective: The ESP32-C3 provides a highly integrated solution, reducing the overall Bill of Materials (BOM) cost.

Recommended Bill of Materials (BOM)

Part NumberDescriptionRole in Solution
ESP32-C3-MINI-1 Compact RISC-V Wi-Fi & BLE Module Main processor, handling sensor polling, data processing, and BLE communication.
(External IC)PPG Sensor (e.g., MAX30102)For measuring heart rate and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2).
(External IC)6-Axis IMU (Accelerometer + Gyro)For step counting and activity tracking.
(External IC)LiPo Battery Charger ICManages the charging of the single-cell lithium battery.

Application Scenarios

  • Fitness Trackers and Smart Bands
  • Continuous Heart Rate Monitors
  • Smart Rings and other compact wearables
  • Elderly Care and Patient Monitoring Devices