LIS3DH : 3 Axis accelerometer, SPI, I2C - Qwiic/StemmaQt

Using a 3D axis accelerometer with MicroPython (or Arduino)

The LIS3DH is a very popular 3-axis accelerometer because it is both very economical and energy-efficient. Moreover, it offers those little extras that are so appreciated in an accelerometer.

An accelerometer is used to quantify acceleration or deceleration, which inevitably occurs when an object is put in moving or when it is stopped. An accelerometer is therefore also sensitive to a wide variety of shocks, since this produces an acceleration to initiate movement (or a deceleration in reaction when the object is unable to move). Fortunately, there is also the Earth's acceleration vector (called g) directed towards the center of the Earth. Thanks to this, it is possible to measure the orientation of the sensor relative to the center of the earth (and therefore relative to the surface of the earth).

This sensor is designed to operate at 3.3V and is able to communicates with the microcontroller over a SPI bus or an I2C bus. The I2C bus is replicated on the Qwiic/StemmaQt connectors, allowing quick and easy connection to platforms offering such connectivity..

Technical details

• 3 axis accelerometer, sensor with 10 bits precision.
• Selection range +/- 2g/4g/8g/16g
• I2C bus (2 address) or SPI bus
• Innterrupt support (output pinn)
• Various rate option 1Hz or 5 KHz
• Consumption as low as 2µA
• Orientation detection, free fall, Tap & double Tap.
• 3 ADC input (can ve read over I2C).
• LIS3DH datasheet (pdf, anglais)