Breaking News | Maxic Unveils Optical Sensor MT3118 for Skin Liveness Detection

With the growing adoption of TWS/OWS earbuds, AI smart glasses, and XR devices, users increasingly demand not only reliable wear detection and precise interaction, but also the ability to monitor physiological conditions. Leading global brands have already introduced skin recognition technologies in latest earbuds, marking a technological evolution in wearable interaction—from traditional proximity detection to a new dimension that integrates liveness detection and continuous biometric signals.

In response to the trend of sensing fusion, Maxic officially launches the MT3118, an optical sensor for skin liveness detection. The sensor integrates a dual-wavelength infrared optical system, distinguishing between skin and other objects based on moisture absorption characteristics, thus achieving highly reliable wear detection. It further combines high-precision liveness detection with biometric data acquisition, providing core hardware support for the next evolution of wearable devices.

MT3118 adopts a dual-wavelength skin detection technology (940nm and 1450nm), accurately distinguishing skin from non-skin surfaces such as clothing and desktops, significantly improving the reliability of wear detection. It enables a transition from simply determining “whether the device is worn” to identify “who is wearing it and the condition of the skin.” In addition, the sensor features excellent skin moisture sensing capability and can be extended to support the acquisition of multi-dimensional physiological data, such as heart rate.

• High-sensitivity receiver with programmable gain
  

• High-performance emitter with programmable drive current

• Ultra-low standby current: < 2 µA

• Up to 1 Mbps I²C interface

• On-chip e-fuse for calibration data storage

• Supports single-shot and continuous measurement modes

• Self-calibrated ambient light cancellation capability

• OLGA8 package (RoHS compliant)

MT3118 adopts an OLGA8 package with dimensions of only 1.95mm×1.95mm×0.70mm. At 20 fps operating mode, the power consumption is as low as 20µA. With minimal external components required, the sensor is well-suited for space-constrained wearable designs, offering greater flexibility in product structural design.

MT3118 integrates an infrared receiver, laser emitter, and high-precision ADC into a single sensor. It also features built-in OTP and a factory calibration mechanism, effectively eliminating assembly-related baseline noise. This significantly improves measurement accuracy and batch consistency, providing a strong foundation for overall product quality.

MT3118 integrates 940nm and 1450nm dual infrared channels. The 940nm channel is suitable for conventional reflective detection, while the 1450nm channel leverages strong water absorption characteristics to accurately quantify skin surface moisture. Through dual-wavelength data fusion and adaptive algorithms, the sensor enables high-accuracy human skin recognition, effectively mitigating in-pocket false triggers. In addition, it supports non-invasive evaluation of skin hydration, providing a reliable data foundation for innovative applications such as personalized skincare reminders.

Through dual-wavelength data fusion, MT3118 can further extract subcutaneous blood flow information and dynamic physiological signals, enabling extended functions such as continuous heart rate monitoring. In addition, the sensor features excellent ambient light rejection capability, maintaining stable signal performance under various indoor and outdoor lighting conditions, ensuring reliable all-day operation.