A heart rate detection method for low power exercise intensity monitoring device

Exercise is important for health, however inappropriate exercise would harm our body or get nothing affects. Therefore, a wearable exercise intensity monitoring device can assist user to manage their exercise intensity. Heart rate (HR) is an index to indicate the exercise intensity. In this paper, we proposed a high accuracy HR detection method and implemented it on a wearable and low power device for exercise intensity monitoring. This device consists of a two-electrode ECG amplifier, a MSP430 microprocessor and a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) module. Moreover, the device can transmit the HR to a Smart-phone via the BLE. The accuracy of HR detection method is verified in both resting and dynamic conditions. For resting condition, we use a commercial ECG simulator as signal input and the accuracy of HR detection is 100 percents. For dynamic condition, we use treadmill test. Three subjects (2 male, 1 female) walking in six speeds from 1.8 km/h until 6.3 km/h and running in 7.2 km/h. The accuracy of HR detection is 99.7 percents.