What is AD8232 ECG Sensor : Working and Its Applications

The electrocardiography or ECG is a technique for gathering electrical signals which are generated from the human heart. When someone experiences physiological arousal then the ECG sensor allows us to recognize the level, however, it is also used for understanding the psychological state of humans. So an AD8232 sensor is used to calculate the electrical activity of the heart. This is a small chip and the electrical action of this can be charted like an ECG (Electrocardiogram). Electrocardiography can be used to help in diagnosing different conditions of the heart. This article provides an overview of the AD8232 ECG Sensor.


What is an AD8232 ECG Sensor?

The AD8232 ECG sensor is a commercial board used to calculate the electrical movement of the human heart. This action can be chart like an Electrocardiogram and the output of this is an analog reading. Electrocardiograms can be very noisy, so to reduce the noise the AD8232 chip can be used. The working principle of the ECG sensor is like an operational amplifier to help in getting a clear signal from the intervals simply.

AD8232-ecg-sensor
AD8232-ECG-sensor

The AD8232 sensor is used for signal conditioning in ECG as well as other measurement applications of biopotential. The main purpose of this chip is to amplify, extract as well as filter biopotential signals which are small in the noisy conditions like those formed through the replacement of remote electrode as well as motion.

AD8232 Pin Configuration

The heart rate monitoring sensor like AD8232 includes the pins like SDN pin, LO+ pin, LO- pin, OUTPUT pin, 3.3V pin, and GND pin. So that we can connect this IC to development boards like Arduino by soldering pins.

Additionally, this board includes pins like the right arm (RA), left arm (LA) & right leg (RL) pins to connect custom sensors. An LED indicator in this board is used to indicate the heartbeat rhythm of humans.

The AD8232 sensor comprises a function like quick restore, used to decrease the length of long resolving tails of the HPFs. This sensor is accessible in a 4 mm × 4 mm size, and the package of this sensor is 20-lead LFCSP. It operates from −40°C -to- +85°C but the performance is specified from 0°C -to- 70°C.

Features and Specifications

The features of this sensor mainly include the following.

  • Operation of single supply ranges from 2V to 3.5V
  • The front end is integrated fully with only lead ECG
  • The virtual ground can be generated through integrated reference
  • RFI filter is used internally
  • The current supply is low like 170 µA
  • The output is rail to rail
  • Shutdown pin
  • CMRR is 80 dB
  • Incorporated RLD amplifier (right leg drive
  • Electrode configurations are 2 or 3
  • The operational amplifier is uncommitted
  • It accepts half cell potential up to ±300 mV
  • Three-pole adaptable LPF with adaptable gain
  • The signal gain is high using DC blocking capacity
  • Filter settling can be improved by quick restore
  • Two-pole adaptable HPF
  • 4 mm × 4 mm and 20-lead LFCSP package

Applications of AD8232 ECG Sensor

The applications of the AD8232 ECG sensor include the following.

  • Monitoring of heart and fitness activity
  • Handy ECG
  • Monitoring of remote health
  • Used in gaming devices
  • Acquisition of biopotential signal
  • Biometrics
  • Physiology studies
  • Prototyping of biomedical instruments
  • Variability of heart rate
  • Interaction of human-computer
  • Psychophysiology

Thus, the AD8232 ECG sensor is a precise small chip used for measuring the electrical movement of the heart that can be charted like an Electrocardiogram (ECG). It is used for assisting in diagnosing a variety of heart conditions?