SparkFun Releases Miniature Barometer and Accelerometer with Enhanced Accuracy

In today’s world due to global warming and climate change, it is essential to monitor the earth’s environment. Also, there is a market for fitness bands which are devices that track the physical activities of users and their sleep cycle. SparkFun has launched a pair of new boards in the market which will fulfill demands for the environment and fitness monitoring. One of the two boards is an Absolute Digital Barometer board which is developed around STMicro’s LPS28DFW. The other board is a Triple Axis Accelerometer which uses the Bosch Sensortech BMA400 sensor. Users have some options in case space issues are a concern, as Sparkfun offers both standard-size and micro-size versions of the barometer and accelerometer.

Technical Specifications of Barometer and Accelerometer

• The LPS28DFW is a piezoresistive absolute pressure sensor that functions as a digital output barometer in a small form factor.
• The device comprises a sensing element and an IC interface communicating over the I²C or MIPI I3CSM interface from the sensing element to the application. The Devices incorporate I²C, a bus interface connection protocol, for serial communication
• Bosch Sensortec´s triaxial BMA400 is the first ultra-low power acceleration sensor. Wearable devices, which need long-lasting battery life, are especially suited for the BMA400.
• The BMA400 offers a full-scale acceleration range of ±2/±4/±8/±16g with a claimed sub-14.5µA power draw at its highest-performance setting. The supply voltage is 1.72-3.6V, and the digital resolution is 12bit.

The LPS28DFW provides lower power consumption, achieving lower pressure noise than its predecessor. It is guaranteed to operate over a temperature range extending from -40 °C to +85 °C. The standard-size version offers a 0.1”-spaced PTH pin connected to the sensor’s communication interface. The micro-size version does offer such, but the board does route an interrupt and ground pin to a through-hole connection.

Connectivity features

SparkFun’s Qwiic Connect System uses 4-pin JST connectors to quickly interface development boards with sensors, LCDs, relays, and more. This system does not require soldering as Qwiic cables (4-pin JST) plug easily from development boards to sensors, shields, accessory boards, and more, All Qwiic cables have the following color scheme and arrangement where Black represents Ground, Red shows the 3.3V source, Blue shows the SDA pin, and Yellow is for the SCL pin.

Environmental monitoring and movement projects are the intended use for both boards. The boards come with Qwiic connectors. While talking about the barometer, the company claims, “It is the perfect board for pressure measurement applications where the sensor is exposed to or even submerged in water”. The SparkFun Qwiic BMA400 Triple Axis Accelerometer Breakouts offer 3-axis acceleration sensors perfect for ultra-low-power applications. These boards are best for wearable devices like smartwatches, heart rate monitoring devices, etc.

The standard-sized barometer costs $24.95 and the micro-sized variant costs $25.95.  The price for the standard-sized accelerometer is $8.95, and the micro variant is $9.95 For more information visit the product page.

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