Samsung Electronics (LON:BC94) today launched its Bio-Processor, a health and fitness monitoring chip which processes 5 different biometric signals, hoping the chip will accelerate development of wearable health tech.
The new processor is already in mass production, and is the industry’s 1st all-in-one health solution chip, according to the Japanese electronics giant.
“With improvements in smart, fitness devices and an increase in consumer health consciousness, more and more people are looking for ways to monitor various personal bio-data, or fitness data, to constantly manage their health. Samsung’s Bio-Processor, which can process 5 different biometric signals, is the most versatile health and fitness monitoring chip available on the market today and is expected to open up many new health-based service options for our customers,” System LSI biz marketing veep Ben Hur said in a press release.
The chip allows for monitoring of bioelectrical impedance analysis, photoplethysmogram, electrocardiogram, skin temperature and galvanic skin response. The chip can also measure body fat, skeletal muscle mass, heart rate, heart rhythm, skin temperature and stress level, Samsung said.
The Bio-Processor has integrated analog front ends, a microcontroller unit, a power management integrated circuit, digital signal processor and eFlash memory, allowing it to measure bio-signals with no need for extrernal processing, Samsung said. The unit is small, the company reports, at 1/4th the total combined size, to allow for design and integration into new wearable devices.
Samsung said that the processor is already seeing mass production and will be available during the 1st half of 2016.