Intermediate
30 min

Hear your heart's story with SFH 7060 and PIC18LF4553

Your heartbeat, your guide

Heart Rate 9 Click with EasyPIC v7

Published 11月 01, 2023

Click board™

Heart Rate 9 Click

Dev Board

EasyPIC v7

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

PIC18LF4553

Upgrade your solution's heart rate monitoring capabilities with our advanced sensor technology - designed to deliver accurate and consistent readings

A

A

Hardware Overview

How does it work?

Heart Rate 9 Click is based on the SFH 7060, a heart rate and pulse oximetry monitoring sensor from ams OSRAM. It utilizes a Phase Division Multiplexing technique to simultaneously measure multiple signals with zero cross-talk. This technique uses the PIC16F1779 MCU's integrated Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) from Microchip. CIPs allow you to achieve a low-noise reflective heart rate monitor design with significantly lower BOM costs than conventional designs. This Heart Rate 9 Click board™ introduces Microchip's proprietary method (hereafter "proprietary method") of measuring multiple signals in a body using pseudorandom binary sequence generation and phase division multiplexing. This proprietary method uses a special encoding/decoding scheme to allow multiple light-emitting diodes (LED) to transmit light simultaneously with a single photodiode to condition each light from the combined lights at the receiving side. While the blood passes through the capillary blood vessels, they expand and dilate. Their light reflectance index changes accordingly. This is the basis of the photo-plethysmogram (PPM), a method used for the volumetric measurement of an organ, or in this case - blood vessels. The heart rate signal is calculated

according to the changes in the reflected green light sensed by the PD element. The Heart Rate 6 click can provide the HRM readings by placing the index finger over the optical sensor. Oxygen saturation in the blood can be determined by measuring the light absorption in the red/IR part of the spectrum. The oxygen-saturated blood absorbs more red light and less infrared than the unsaturated blood. This fact can be used to determine the oxygen saturation of the blood. The peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) percentage ranges from 95% to 100% for a healthy adult. The challenge in a multiple signal sources system (for example, the LEDs in the case of a pulse oximeter) is that each LED must share the same photodiode. A classic solution is to turn on each light source in sequence and then take each measurement in turn. Each light source gets its slice of time in which the photodiode can get its measurement. This method is called Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM). The same principle is also applied to the TDMA-based cellular system. The drawback of the TDM approach is that adding more light sources while keeping the data processing routine the same results in more time to get a measurement from every source. Microchip's proprietary method uses a known

concept called Maximal Length (ML) sequence, a type of pseudorandom binary sequence, to generate a gold code or a reference sequence. This reference sequence is then phase-shifted using PhaseDivision Multiplexing (PDM) to drive multiple LEDs. After passing through a part of a body, the light amplitudes from these LEDs are detected by a phototransistor or photodiode and digitized with an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC). The digitized ADC light amplitude values are re-correlated with each LED's driving sequence. Spread spectrum techniques are known for their noise mitigation properties and ability to pass multiple signals through the same medium without interference. Thus, these measurements of each light absorption of the body can be performed substantially simultaneously with minimal interference from each other. The SFH7060, made by ams OSRAM, integrates three green, one red, one infrared emitter, and one photodiode in a reflective package. The reflective photo sensing method has become increasingly popular in developing small, wearable biometric sensors, such as those green light sensors seen in the back of smartwatches or activity tracker wristbands.

Heart Rate 9 Click top side image
Heart Rate 9 Click bottom side image

Features overview

Development board

EasyPIC v7 is the seventh generation of PIC development boards specially designed to develop embedded applications rapidly. It supports a wide range of 8-bit PIC microcontrollers from Microchip and has a broad set of unique functions, such as a powerful onboard mikroProg programmer and In-Circuit debugger over USB-B. The development board is well organized and designed so that the end-user has all the necessary elements in one place, such as switches, buttons, indicators, connectors, and others. With four different connectors for each port, EasyPIC v7 allows you to connect accessory boards, sensors, and custom electronics more efficiently than ever. Each part of

the EasyPIC v7 development board contains the components necessary for the most efficient operation of the same board. An integrated mikroProg, a fast USB 2.0 programmer with mikroICD hardware In-Circuit Debugger, offers many valuable programming/debugging options and seamless integration with the Mikroe software environment. Besides it also includes a clean and regulated power supply block for the development board. It can use various external power sources, including an external 12V power supply, 7-23V AC or 9-32V DC via DC connector/screw terminals, and a power source via the USB Type-B (USB-B) connector. Communication options such as

USB-UART and RS-232 are also included, alongside the well-established mikroBUS™ standard, three display options (7-segment, graphical, and character-based LCD), and several different DIP sockets. These sockets cover a wide range of 8-bit PIC MCUs, from PIC10F, PIC12F, PIC16F, PIC16Enh, PIC18F, PIC18FJ, and PIC18FK families. EasyPIC v7 is an integral part of the Mikroe ecosystem for rapid development. Natively supported by Mikroe software tools, it covers many aspects of prototyping and development thanks to a considerable number of different Click boards™ (over a thousand boards), the number of which is growing every day.

EasyPIC v7 horizontal image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Architecture

PIC

MCU Memory (KB)

32

Silicon Vendor

Microchip

Pin count

40

RAM (Bytes)

2048

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

NC
NC
AN
Reset
RE1
RST
NC
NC
CS
NC
NC
SCK
NC
NC
MISO
NC
NC
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
NC
NC
PWM
NC
NC
INT
UART TX
RC6
TX
UART RX
RC7
RX
NC
NC
SCL
NC
NC
SDA
NC
NC
5V
Ground
GND
GND
1

Take a closer look

Schematic

Heart Rate 9 Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

EasyPIC v7 front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the EasyPIC v7 as your development board.

EasyPIC v7 front image hardware assembly
Buck 22 Click front image hardware assembly
MCU DIP 40 hardware assembly
EasyPIC v7 MB 1 - upright/background hardware assembly
Necto image step 2 hardware assembly
Necto image step 3 hardware assembly
Necto image step 4 hardware assembly
NECTO Compiler Selection Step Image hardware assembly
NECTO Output Selection Step Image hardware assembly
Necto image step 6 hardware assembly
Necto DIP image step 7 hardware assembly
EasyPIC PRO v7a Display Selection Necto Step hardware assembly
Necto image step 9 hardware assembly
Necto image step 10 hardware assembly
Necto PreFlash Image hardware assembly

Track your results in real time

Application Output

After pressing the "FLASH" button on the left-side panel, it is necessary to open the UART terminal to display the achieved results. By clicking on the Tools icon in the right-hand panel, multiple different functions are displayed, among which is the UART Terminal. Click on the offered "UART Terminal" icon.

UART Application Output Step 1

Once the UART terminal is opened, the window takes on a new form. At the top of the tab are two buttons, one for adjusting the parameters of the UART terminal and the other for connecting the UART terminal. The tab's lower part is reserved for displaying the achieved results. Before connecting, the terminal has a Disconnected status, indicating that the terminal is not yet active. Before connecting, it is necessary to check the set parameters of the UART terminal. Click on the "OPTIONS" button.

UART Application Output Step 2

In the newly opened UART Terminal Options field, we check if the terminal settings are correct, such as the set port and the Baud rate of UART communication. If the data is not displayed properly, it is possible that the Baud rate value is not set correctly and needs to be adjusted to 115200. If all the parameters are set correctly, click on "CONFIGURE".

UART Application Output Step 3

The next step is to click on the "CONNECT" button, after which the terminal status changes from Disconnected to Connected in green, and the data is displayed in the Received data field.

UART Application Output Step 4

Software Support

Library Description

This library contains API for Heart Rate 9 Click driver.

Key functions:

  • heartrate9_generic_write - Heart Rate 9 data writing function

  • heartrate9_generic_read - Heart Rate 9 data reading function

  • heartrate9_set_rst - Sets state of the rst pin setting

Open Source

Code example

This example can be found in NECTO Studio. Feel free to download the code, or you can copy the code below.

/*!
 * @file main.c
 * @brief Heart Rate 9 Click Example.
 *
 * # Description
 * This example reads and processes data from Heart Rate 9 clicks.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 *
 * ## Application Init
 * Initializes driver and wake-up module.
 *
 * ## Application Task
 * Reads the received data and logs it.
 *
 * ## Additional Function
 * - static void heartrate9_clear_app_buf ( void ) - Function clears memory of app_buf.
 * - static err_t heartrate9_process ( void ) - The general process of collecting data the module sends.
 *
 * @note
 * Data structure is:
 *  > AA;BB;CC;DD;EE; <
 * 
 *  > AA -> Data header.
 *  > BB -> Red diode.
 *  > CC -> IR diode.
 *  > DD -> Green diode.
 *  > EE -> BPM.
 *
 * @author Luka Filipovic
 *
 */

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "heartrate9.h"

#define PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE 200

static heartrate9_t heartrate9;
static log_t logger;

static char app_buf[ PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE ] = { 0 };
static int32_t app_buf_len = 0;
static int32_t app_buf_cnt = 0;

/**
 * @brief Heart Rate 9 clearing application buffer.
 * @details This function clears memory of application buffer and reset it's length and counter.
 * @note None.
 */
static void heartrate9_clear_app_buf ( void );

/**
 * @brief Heart Rate 9 data reading function.
 * @details This function reads data from device and concatenates data to application buffer.
 *
 * @return @li @c  0 - Read some data.
 *         @li @c -1 - Nothing is read.
 *         @li @c -2 - Application buffer overflow.
 *
 * See #err_t definition for detailed explanation.
 * @note None.
 */
static err_t heartrate9_process ( void );

void application_init ( void ) 
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;  /**< Logger config object. */
    heartrate9_cfg_t heartrate9_cfg;  /**< Click config object. */

    /** 
     * Logger initialization.
     * Default baud rate: 115200
     * Default log level: LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG
     * @note If USB_UART_RX and USB_UART_TX 
     * are defined as HAL_PIN_NC, you will 
     * need to define them manually for log to work. 
     * See @b LOG_MAP_USB_UART macro definition for detailed explanation.
     */
    LOG_MAP_USB_UART( log_cfg );
    log_init( &logger, &log_cfg );

    // Click initialization.
    heartrate9_cfg_setup( &heartrate9_cfg );
    HEARTRATE9_MAP_MIKROBUS( heartrate9_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    err_t init_flag  = heartrate9_init( &heartrate9, &heartrate9_cfg );
    if ( init_flag == UART_ERROR ) 
    {
        log_error( &logger, " Application Init Error. " );
        log_info( &logger, " Please, run program again... " );

        for ( ; ; );
    }

    app_buf_len = 0;
    app_buf_cnt = 0;
}

void application_task ( void )
{
   heartrate9_process();

    if ( app_buf_len > 0 )
    {
        log_printf( &logger, "%s", app_buf );
        heartrate9_clear_app_buf(  );
    }
}

void main ( void )
{
    application_init( );

    for ( ; ; )
    {
        application_task( );
    }
}

static void heartrate9_clear_app_buf ( void )
{
    memset( app_buf, 0, app_buf_len );
    app_buf_len = 0;
    app_buf_cnt = 0;
}

static err_t heartrate9_process ( void )
{
    int32_t rx_size;
    char rx_buff[ PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE ] = { 0 };

    rx_size = heartrate9_generic_read( &heartrate9, rx_buff, PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE );

    if ( rx_size > 0 )
    {
        int32_t buf_cnt = 0;

        if ( app_buf_len + rx_size >= PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE )
        {
           heartrate9_clear_app_buf(  );
            return -2;
        }
        else
        {
            buf_cnt = app_buf_len;
            app_buf_len += rx_size;
        }

        for ( int32_t rx_cnt = 0; rx_cnt < rx_size; rx_cnt++ )
        {
            if ( rx_buff[ rx_cnt ] != 0 )
            {
                app_buf[ ( buf_cnt + rx_cnt ) ] = rx_buff[ rx_cnt ];
            }
            else
            {
                app_buf_len--;
            }

        }
        return 0;
    }
    return -1;
}

// ------------------------------------------------------------------------ END

Additional Support

Resources