This complete reference platform integrates sensitive biosignal detection, low-power processing, Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity, and wireless charging, providing a proven blueprint for building reliable heart rate and biometric monitoring wearables with extended battery life.
The rapid growth of wearable health and fitness devices has created strong demand for compact, accurate, and ultra-low-power monitoring solutions. Designers today must integrate sensitive bio-signal detection, efficient processing, wireless connectivity, and reliable power management into increasingly smaller form factors while maintaining long battery life. To address these challenges, Renesas offers a complete development platform that simplifies system integration and accelerates product development for next-generation wearable health devices.
The WS023-HMONITORREFZ Health Monitor Band Reference Design from Renesas Electronics Corporation provides a comprehensive hardware and software framework for building low-power wearable monitoring systems. Designed to reduce time-to-market, this reference solution integrates sensing, signal conditioning, processing, wireless communication, and power management into a compact and optimised architecture suitable for wrist-worn bands and health patches. It serves as a practical blueprint for developers aiming to create reliable, battery-efficient monitoring products without starting from scratch.
At the core of the platform is a high-sensitivity bio-signal acquisition system capable of detecting subtle physiological signals such as heartbeat vibrations. A programmable mixed-signal device performs analog signal conditioning, thereby reducing the computational burden on the primary controller and enhancing overall energy efficiency. System control and data processing are handled by the RA4E1 microcontroller, which is engineered for low-power operation and high performance. The MCU processes conditioned sensor inputs, executes health-monitoring algorithms, and manages system functions while maintaining the energy profile required for wearable applications.
For wireless communication, the design incorporates the DA14531MOD Bluetooth Low Energy module. This ultra-low-power module enables seamless real-time data transmission to smartphones or cloud-connected devices. BLE connectivity enables reliable data exchange with minimal energy consumption, enabling users to monitor heart rate and related biometric parameters via companion applications.
Power optimization is a key focus throughout the design. Careful component selection, low-power firmware strategies, and support for wireless charging through an NFC-based receiver eliminate the need for exposed charging connectors. This enhances durability, user convenience, and device longevitycritical attributes in wearable products subjected to daily use.
With its modular architecture, the design can be adapted to various applications, including fitness trackers, remote patient monitoring systems, and industrial wellness devices. By providing validated schematics, design resources, and integration guidance, Renesas helps developers minimize risk, shorten development cycles, and accelerate the transition from concept to production-ready wearable solutions. This reference design is a practical starting point for engineers building wearable products that require low-power operation, reliable biometric sensing, and wireless connectivity, helping accelerate design cycles and reduce development risk. To read more about this reference design, click here.