SparkFun 9 Degrees of Freedom IMU Breakout – LSM9DS0

Wiring Connections

• VCC: Connect to 3.3V power supply.
• GND: Connect to the ground of the power supply.
• SCL: Connect to the I2C clock line or the SPI clock line.
• SDA: Connect to the I2C data line or the SPI MOSI line.
• CS: (For SPI) Connect to the chip select pin of the microcontroller.
• INT1: Optional interrupt pin for accelerometer/gyroscope data.
• INT2: Optional interrupt pin for magnetometer data.

Power

• Operating Voltage: The LSM9DS0 operates at 3.3V, making it compatible with most modern microcontrollers.
• Power Consumption: The power consumption varies depending on the sensor configuration, typically ranging from 3.5mA to 5mA.
• Low-Power Mode: The sensor supports low-power modes to conserve energy, especially useful in battery-powered applications.

Input and Output

• Input:
  • Power Supply: Requires a 3.3V power input.
  • Control Signals: Receives I2C or SPI signals from the microcontroller for data communication.
• Output:
  • Sensor Data: Outputs raw or processed data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer.
  • Interrupt Signals: Can output interrupt signals based on pre-configured conditions (e.g., threshold crossing).

Physical Characteristics

• Dimensions: The breakout board measures 13mm x 13mm, making it small enough to fit into compact projects.
• Mounting Holes: The module has two mounting holes for easy attachment to your project.
• Weight: The board is lightweight, making it suitable for use in mobile and aerial applications.

Technical Specifications

• Accelerometer:
  • Range: ±2g to ±16g
  • Sensitivity: Configurable for different applications, such as low-g for precise motion detection or high-g for impact detection.
• Gyroscope:
  • Range: ±245 dps to ±2000 dps
  • Sensitivity: Adjustable to cater to slow or fast rotational movements.
• Magnetometer:
  • Range: ±2 gauss to ±12 gauss
  • Sensitivity: Allows detection of the Earth’s magnetic field and orientation relative to magnetic north.
• Communication Speed:
  • I2C: Up to 400kHz
  • SPI: Up to 10MHz

Additional Features

• Interrupt Configuration: The sensor can be configured to trigger interrupts based on various conditions like motion detection, free-fall detection, and more.
• Temperature Compensation: Built-in temperature sensor helps in compensating for temperature-induced drift in sensor readings.
• Multiple Sensor Fusion: The LSM9DS0 supports sensor fusion algorithms, which combine data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer to provide more accurate orientation and motion tracking.

How to Use

• Step 1: Connect the Power.
  • Connect the VCC pin to a 3.3V power source and the GND pin to ground.
• Step 2: Choose Communication Protocol.
  • Decide whether you will use I2C or SPI for communication. Connect the SCL and SDA pins for I2C, or SCL, MOSI, and CS pins for SPI.
• Step 3: Interface with a Microcontroller.
  • Connect the module to a microcontroller that supports I2C or SPI. Popular choices include Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or any other 3.3V-compatible microcontroller.
• Step 4: Install Required Libraries.
  • For Arduino, install the appropriate LSM9DS0 library, which simplifies communication with the sensor and provides functions to read data.
• Step 5: Read Sensor Data.
  • Use the library functions to initialize the sensor, configure the desired ranges, and read the data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer.
• Step 6: Process and Use Data.
  • Implement sensor fusion algorithms or use the raw data for applications like motion tracking, orientation detection, or balancing robots.
• Step 7: Calibrate as Needed.
  • Depending on your application, you may need to calibrate the sensors to improve accuracy. This could involve offset calibration, sensitivity adjustment, or temperature compensation.

The SparkFun 9DOF IMU Breakout – LSM9DS0 is a versatile and powerful sensor module that provides comprehensive motion tracking capabilities in a compact form factor. Whether you are building a drone, robot, or any motion-sensitive project, this IMU breakout offers the accuracy and flexibility needed to get the job done.