A 4-layer PCB with a solid ground plane and a separate analog ground plane is recommended. Keep the analog and digital sections separate, and use a ferrite bead or a 10Ω resistor in series with the VCC pin to filter out noise.
To optimize for low-power operation, set the device to the lowest possible sampling rate, disable the internal oscillator and use an external clock source, and use the shutdown mode when not in use. Additionally, consider using a lower supply voltage and reducing the LED current.
The recommended LED configuration is a single LED with a forward voltage of 1.8V to 2.2V, and a current of 10mA to 50mA. The LED should be connected between the LED+ and LED- pins, with the anode connected to LED+ and the cathode connected to LED-.
Calibration involves adjusting the LED current and the gain of the photodiode amplifier to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio. Use a calibration procedure that involves measuring the DC offset and gain of the photodiode amplifier, and adjusting the LED current and gain accordingly.
The MAX8614AETD+T can tolerate ambient light up to 10,000 lux, but it's recommended to use an ambient light shield or a light-tight enclosure to minimize the effects of ambient light on the measurements.