MAX30102 Heart Rate and Pulse Oximeter Sensor Module

The MAX30102 combines red and infrared LEDs with a sensitive photodetector to measure how much light passes through (or reflects off) blood-perfused tissue, the same photoplethysmography technique a hospital pulse oximeter uses, giving a project both heart rate and blood oxygen (SpO2) readings from a fingertip or earlobe placement. That makes it a popular sensor for DIY fitness trackers, wearable health-monitoring projects, and sleep or activity logging builds that want real physiological data rather than just a basic accelerometer-based step count. Its I2C interface and onboard ambient-light cancellation keep the signal processing manageable for a hobbyist microcontroller project, though getting clean readings still depends on steady, gentle contact with skin rather than a loose or moving sensor placement.