Important Note

This entire repo was AI created - including all of the data within. The intent was to A) help me with my personal electronics inventory; and B) see how I could use AI to make that process a bit easier. DO NOT TRUST!

Adafruit LIS3DH Accelerometer

Ultra-low-power 3-axis accelerometer with advanced motion detection features and configurable interrupt system for battery-powered applications.

Overview

The Adafruit LIS3DH is a triple-axis accelerometer breakout board featuring ST’s LIS3DH sensor. This accelerometer is designed for ultra-low-power applications while providing advanced motion detection capabilities including tap detection, orientation sensing, and free-fall detection.

Key Features

Low Power Operation

• Ultra-low power consumption down to 2μA
• Multiple power modes for different applications
• Sleep and wake-up functionality
• Battery-friendly operation
• Power-down mode when not in use

Advanced Motion Detection

• Tap detection (single and double tap)
• Free-fall detection with configurable threshold
• Motion/position recognition (6D/4D orientation)
• Activity/inactivity detection
• Configurable interrupts for all features

Technical Specifications

Electrical Characteristics

• Operating Voltage: 1.71V to 3.6V (3.3V recommended)
• Supply Current: 2μA to 11μA (depending on mode)
• Interface: I²C (up to 400kHz) or SPI (up to 10MHz)
• I²C Address: 0x18 (default) or 0x19 (configurable)

Accelerometer Performance

• Measurement Range: ±2g, ±4g, ±8g, ±16g (selectable)
• Resolution: 8-bit, 10-bit, or 12-bit (mode dependent)
• Output Data Rate: 1Hz to 5.376kHz
• Zero-g level: ±40mg
• Sensitivity: 1mg/LSB (±2g, 12-bit mode)

Physical Specifications

• Package: 3mm × 3mm × 1mm LGA
• Operating Temperature: -40°C to +85°C
• Shock Survival: 10,000g for 0.2ms
• Vibration: 20g (20Hz to 2kHz)

Applications

Wearable Devices

• Fitness trackers and activity monitors
• Smartwatches with motion sensing
• Health monitoring devices
• Sleep tracking applications
• Step counting and distance calculation

IoT and Battery-Powered Devices

• Asset tracking with motion detection
• Security systems with tamper detection
• Environmental monitoring with orientation sensing
• Smart home devices with presence detection
• Wireless sensor networks

Consumer Electronics

Wiring Diagrams

I2C Connection (Recommended)

Arduino Uno Connection

LIS3DH         Arduino Uno
------         -----------
VIN       →    3.3V or 5V
GND       →    GND
SCL       →    A5 (SCL)
SDA       →    A4 (SDA)
INT       →    Pin 2 (optional)

Note: Board has built-in level shifting for 5V compatibility

Raspberry Pi Pico Connection

LIS3DH         Pico
------         ----
VIN       →    3V3
GND       →    GND
SCL       →    GP5 (I2C0 SCL)
SDA       →    GP4 (I2C0 SDA)
INT       →    GP2 (optional)

Note: Add 4.7kΩ pull-up resistors on SDA and SCL if needed

ESP32 Connection

LIS3DH         ESP32
------         -----
VIN       →    3.3V
GND       →    GND
SCL       →    GPIO22 (SCL)
SDA       →    GPIO21 (SDA)
INT       →    GPIO4 (optional)

Note: ESP32 has built-in I2C pull-up resistors

SPI Connection (High Speed)

Arduino Uno SPI Connection

LIS3DH         Arduino Uno
------         -----------
VIN       →    3.3V or 5V
GND       →    GND
SCK       →    Pin 13 (SCK)
MISO      →    Pin 12 (MISO)
MOSI      →    Pin 11 (MOSI)
CS        →    Pin 10 (CS)
INT       →    Pin 2 (optional)

ESP32 SPI Connection

LIS3DH         ESP32
------         -----
VIN       →    3.3V
GND       →    GND
SCK       →    GPIO18 (SCK)
MISO      →    GPIO19 (MISO)
MOSI      →    GPIO23 (MOSI)
CS        →    GPIO5 (CS)
INT       →    GPIO4 (optional)

• Gaming controllers with motion input
• Mobile device orientation sensing
• Camera stabilization systems
• Remote controls with gesture input
• Portable electronics with auto-sleep

Programming Example

Arduino Basic Usage

#include <Adafruit_LIS3DH.h>
 
Adafruit_LIS3DH lis = Adafruit_LIS3DH();
 
void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
 
  if (!lis.begin(0x18)) {
    Serial.println("Could not start LIS3DH");
    while (1) yield();
  }
 
  // Set range and data rate
  lis.setRange(LIS3DH_RANGE_4_G);
  lis.setDataRate(LIS3DH_DATARATE_50_HZ);
 
  Serial.println("LIS3DH found!");
}
 
void loop() {
  lis.read();
 
  Serial.print("X: "); Serial.print(lis.x);
  Serial.print(" Y: "); Serial.print(lis.y);
  Serial.print(" Z: "); Serial.println(lis.z);
 
  delay(100);
}

Motion Detection Setup

// Configure tap detection
lis.setClick(1, 80);  // Single tap, threshold 80
 
// Configure free-fall detection
lis.setFreeFallThreshold(0x30);
lis.setFreeFallDuration(0x05);
 
// Enable interrupts
lis.enableDRDY(true, 1);  // Data ready on INT1

Pinout and Connections

Standard Connections

Pin	Signal	Description
VIN	VCC	Power input (1.8V to 5.5V with regulator)
3V3	3V3	3.3V regulated output
GND	GND	Ground
SCL	SCL	I²C Clock / SPI Clock
SDA	SDA	I²C Data / SPI MOSI
SDO	SDO	SPI MISO / I²C Address Select
CS	CS	SPI Chip Select

Interrupt Pins

Pin	Signal	Description
INT	INT1	Interrupt 1 output

Power Modes and Consumption

Power Mode Options

• Power-down mode: 2μA (all functions off)
• Low-power mode: 2μA (1Hz data rate)
• Normal mode: 11μA (10Hz data rate)
• High-resolution mode: 25μA (50Hz data rate)
• High-speed mode: 140μA (1.344kHz data rate)

Data Rate vs Power Consumption

Data Rate	Current Consumption
Power-down	2μA
1Hz	2μA
10Hz	11μA
25Hz	11μA
50Hz	25μA
100Hz	25μA
200Hz	50μA
400Hz	90μA

Motion Detection Features

Tap Detection

• Single tap and double tap recognition
• Configurable threshold and timing
• X, Y, Z axis selection
• Interrupt generation on detection
• Debouncing and filtering

Free-Fall Detection

• Configurable threshold (typically 300-400mg)
• Duration setting for validation
• All-axis monitoring for true free-fall
• Interrupt on detection
• Low false-positive rate

Orientation Detection

• 6D orientation (face up/down, portrait/landscape)
• 4D orientation (portrait/landscape only)
• Position recognition interrupts
• Configurable thresholds
• Hysteresis for stability

Activity/Inactivity Detection

• Motion threshold detection
• Inactivity timer for sleep mode
• Wake-up on motion
• Configurable sensitivity
• Power management integration

Calibration and Setup

Basic Calibration

1. Offset calibration: Measure in all orientations
2. Sensitivity verification: Check against known acceleration
3. Temperature compensation: Account for temperature effects
4. Noise characterization: Determine baseline noise levels

Motion Detection Tuning

1. Threshold setting: Adjust for application sensitivity
2. Duration tuning: Set appropriate time windows
3. False positive reduction: Optimize parameters
4. Environmental testing: Validate in real conditions

Design Considerations

Power Supply Design

• Low-noise supply: Minimize power supply noise
• Decoupling capacitors: 100nF ceramic near sensor
• Voltage regulation: Use clean 3.3V supply
• Ground plane: Solid ground connection

Mechanical Design

• Secure mounting: Prevent vibration and shock
• Axis alignment: Align with measurement axes
• Isolation: Isolate from high-frequency vibrations
• Environmental protection: Protect from moisture

Software Design

• Interrupt handling: Efficient interrupt service routines
• Data filtering: Implement appropriate filters
• Power management: Optimize for battery life
• Calibration storage: Store calibration in EEPROM

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

• High power consumption: Check data rate and mode settings
• False motion detection: Adjust thresholds and duration
• Communication errors: Verify I²C/SPI connections
• Noisy readings: Check power supply and mounting

Performance Optimization

• Power mode selection: Choose appropriate mode for application
• Interrupt configuration: Use interrupts to minimize polling
• Data rate optimization: Balance power and performance
• Mechanical isolation: Minimize external vibrations

Storage Information

• Location: Cabinet 3, Bin 28
• Quantity: 2 units
• Condition: New, unused
• Features: Ultra-low power, motion detection, STEMMA QT compatible