Abstract
A pressure sensor in pulse measurement system is a core component for precisely measuring the pulse waveform of radial artery. A pulse sensor signal that measures the pulse wave in contact with the skin is affected by the temperature difference between the ambient temperature and skin surface. In this study, we found experimentally that the signal changes of the pressure sensors and a temperature sensor were caused by the temperature of the wrist surface while the pressure sensor was contacted on the skin surface for measuring pulse wave. To observe the signal change of the pulse sensor caused by temperature increase on sensor surface, Peltier device that can be kept at a set temperature was used. As the temperature of Peltier device was kept at $35^{\circ}C$ (the maximum wrist temperature), the device was put on the pulse sensor surface. The temperature and pressure signals were obtained simultaneously from a temperature sensor and six pressure sensors embedded in the pulse sensor. As a result of signal analysis, the sensor pressure was decreased during temperature increase of pulse sensor surface. In addition, the signal difference ratio of pressure and temperature sensors with respect to thickness of cover layer in pulse sensor was increased exponentially. Therefore, the signal of pressure sensor was modified by the compensation equation derived by the temperature sensor signal. We suggested that the thickness of cover layer in pulse sensor should be designed considering the skin surface temperature.