LG Innotec has put out pulse sensors and is targeting wearable markets. Its goal is to continuously supply components and material that are necessary for wearable devices such as Smart Bands or Smart Watches. As its first start, pulse sensors are commercialized.
LG Innotec made an announcement on the 16th that it has succeeded in developing world’s best ultra-slim pulse sensor modules. Pulse sensor modules modualize PD (Photo Diode), LED (Light-Emitting Diode), and semiconductor chips into one and their characteristics are their thicknesses, which are only 1mm.
Pulse sensors help to make finished products slimmer. ‘Embedded PCB’ technology that stores semiconductor chips inside of PCB is utilized.
Electricity consumption was improved while thickness has become smaller. A method of minimizing amount of light loss by gilding inside of LED was used and this has helped to reduce battery consumption by 20% compared to previous products.
These sensors also have higher accuracy in measurement and have only margin of error of 5bpm (heartbeat per minute) of heartbeat during an workout. Margin of error for previous modules was 8bpm.
8bpm indicates that measurement value of wearable device is between 112 and 128bpm when actual heartbeat of an user is 120bpm.
“When heartbeat is measured when a heart is in a stable condition, these sensors’ margin of error is only 2bpm, which is the same level as medical devices.” said a representative for LG Innotec.
This is the first time LG Innotec has developed pulse sensors. It is a product that has come out to go after wearable markets and this indicates that commercialization will be on full-scale real soon.
It is heard that LG Innotec has been preparing components and material that are related to wearable after noticing the possible growth of global wearable markets.
“It is known that LG Innotec is also developing material that can be easily bent and easily attached to wearable devices.” said a representative for this industry. “LG Innotec views these components and material as new driving forces that will replace Smartphone parts.”
As Smartphone markets’ growth is being stagnant, LG Innotec is pushing for components and material that can be used in wearable field as future businesses that will bring in profits.
According to a market research company called Gartner, there will be about 274.6 million wearable devices this year that is 18.4% more than lat year. Size of sales will be worth $28.7 billion (about 35 trillion KRW) this year.
Indication is that Smart Watches will take up the highest percentage (40%) out of all wearable devices at $11.5 billion (about 14 trillion KRW). It is expected that LG Innotec is thinking about supplying pulse sensor modules to main products that are in same market as Apple Watch.
“Sensors that can collect and analyze information are becoming more important.” said Director Kim Chang-hwan of LG Innotec’s Material Component Research Development Center. “Our plan is to develop high-tech sensors that can increase customers’ values and apply them to wearable, vehicles, household appliances and others.”
Pulse sensors are usually installed in wearable devices and Smartphones and are used to measure heartbeat, stress index, oxygen saturation and others.
Staff Reporter Yun, Kunil | benyun@etnews.com