TI intros first integrated analog front end for photometry and showcases HealthTech

CES 2013, USA:  Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) unveiled the industry's first family of fully integrated analog front ends (AFEs) for photometry. The new analog integrated circuits (ICs) support TI HealthTech's vision for helping engineers design innovative electronics for transforming healthcare worldwide.

The AFE44xx family integrates all the front end components and associated timing control circuitry of a typical photometry solution. Applications include clinical and home health pulse oximeters, photometry-based blood glucose meters, and photoplethysmograph-based (PPG) heart rate monitors. The AFE44xx family will be showcased at CES 2013 in the TI Village, North Hall, in the Las Vegas Convention Center.

By incorporating fully programmable transmitter and receiver circuits into one device, the AFE44xx family reduces end equipment manufacturers' design time, board space and need for in-house analog design expertise compared to discrete solutions. With less than 1-mA supply current, the AFE44xx family consumes less power than discrete solutions, which results in longer battery life. The AFE44xx family enables optimal measurement performance, even in ambient light settings.

With its high level of integration and low power, the AFE44xx family enables smaller, more portable traditional photometry solutions, as well as the new emerging market of wireless and smart connected pulse oximeter accessories. Available in the AFE44xx family are the AFE4490, targeted at clinical applications; and the AFE4400, targeted for home health applications.

The AFE4490 and the AFE4400 are available now in a compact 6-mm x 6-mm, 40-pin QFN package.  The AFE4490 is priced at $7.95 and the AFE4400 is priced at $2.95 in quantities of 1,000.