Hi,
I’m currently using the MAX30101 sensor to measure signals from the wrist. It works well for individuals with lighter skin tones such as East Asians and Caucasians, typically producing IR values around 170,000. However, when used with individuals with darker skin tones (e.g., African descent), the raw IR, red, and green signals are significantly lower—around 20,000 for IR—presumably due to higher absorption of light by the skin.
As a result, we are unable to extract reliable heart rate and SpO₂ data for these users. We’ve observed that commercial devices like Galaxy Watch, Apple Watch, and Garmin seem to handle this issue successfully.
Could you please advise on how we might address this problem? Are there configuration changes or recommended signal processing techniques to improve signal acquisition for users with darker skin tones?
Thank you in advance for your support.
Best regards,
Json
creamoff developer
