SparkFun
3-Axis MEMS Accelerometer - MMA8452Q
The MMA8452Q is a low-power, 3-axis capacitive MEMS accelerometer with 12-bit resolution. Packed with embedded motion-detection functions and configurable in...
Get notified when back in stock
The MMA8452Q is a low-power, 3-axis capacitive MEMS accelerometer with 12-bit resolution. Packed with embedded motion-detection functions and configurable interrupt outputs, it can monitor events autonomously while staying in a low-power state — reducing the need for the host processor to continuously poll data.
User-selectable full-scale ranges of ±2g, ±4g, and ±8g are available with both high-pass filtered and unfiltered data in real time. This is the bare IC in a QFN package — a breakout board or custom PCB is required for use.
Key Features
- 12-Bit Resolution – Also supports 8-bit output for faster reads
- Selectable Range – ±2g, ±4g, or ±8g full-scale
- I2C Interface – Up to 2.25 MHz with 4.7 kΩ pull-ups
- Two Programmable Interrupt Pins – Six configurable interrupt sources
- Embedded Motion Detection – Three channels, plus portrait/landscape orientation with hysteresis
- Ultra-Low Power – 6 µA to 165 µA current consumption
- Output Data Rates – 1.56 Hz to 800 Hz
- Real-Time High-Pass Filter – Filtered data available alongside raw output
Specifications
- Sensor IC: MMA8452Q
- Package: 3 × 3 × 1 mm QFN
- Supply Voltage: 1.95–3.6 V
- Interface Voltage: 1.6–3.6 V
- Interface: I2C
- Current Consumption: 6–165 µA
Ideal For
- Low-power motion and orientation sensing
- Wearable and portable device designs
- Inertial wake-up and tap detection applications
- Custom PCB designs requiring a compact accelerometer
Package Contents
- 1× MMA8452Q Accelerometer IC (QFN package)
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- 12-bit resolution
- 12-bit resolution means a value is represented with 12 binary digits, giving 4096 possible levels. For a sensor, analogue-to-digital converter or similar device, higher resolution divides the measured range into finer steps so smaller changes can be distinguished, provided the device's range and noise allow it.
- breakout
- A breakout board carries a small or fine-pitched component and brings its connections out to standard, breadboard- and header-friendly pins. Describing a part as a breakout means it can be wired into a project without soldering directly to the component's tiny contacts.
- I2C
- I2C is a two-wire communication bus used by many sensors and small modules. It matters because several I2C devices can share the same two wires, but each device needs a compatible address and your controller must support I2C.
- MEMS accelerometer
- A tiny motion sensor made using micro-electromechanical systems technology that measures acceleration and tilt. In a compass module, it helps correct the heading when the board is not perfectly flat.
- Motion detection
- The ability to sense that something has moved, either by comparing successive camera frames or by using a dedicated sensor such as a PIR (infrared) or radar module. When a product lists motion detection, movement can be used as a trigger so a system only acts or records when there is activity rather than running continuously.
- PCB
- A printed circuit board (PCB) is a board, usually rigid, with etched copper tracks that connect electronic components together without loose wiring. Components are mounted on the board and signals route between them through the copper layout.
- UPS
- An uninterruptible power supply is a battery-backed power system that keeps a device running when external power is unplugged or fails. For an embedded computer, it helps prevent sudden shutdowns that can corrupt files or interrupt a project.
Find this product in
Brands
Sensors & Input
Mma8452 Q
Datasheet · 403.0 KB · Click any page to view full size
Supplier page — sparkfun.com
Supplier Description · 473.2 KB · Click any page to view full size
Resources & Downloads
Guides, code examples, and more
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
