Adafruit PMSA003I Air Quality Breakout - STEMMA QT / Qwiic

Jargon buster

Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.

breakout

A breakout is a small circuit board that makes a tiny or hard-to-solder component easier to connect to with standard pins. It matters because this OLED module can be wired into a microcontroller project without needing to solder directly to the display’s fine 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.

microcontroller

A microcontroller is a small computer on a chip that runs your program and controls connected inputs and outputs. For this product, it is the part that reads buttons and sensors, drives the display and speaker, and communicates over Bluetooth.

particulate matter

Particulate matter means tiny particles suspended in the air, such as dust, smoke, pollen, or pollution. A sensor that measures it is useful for air-quality projects because particle levels can affect comfort and health.

PM1.0

PM1.0 refers to airborne particles with a diameter of about 1 micrometre or smaller. This size category matters because smaller particles can stay airborne longer and may come from sources such as smoke or combustion.

PM10

PM10 refers to airborne particles with a diameter of about 10 micrometres or smaller. It includes larger dust and pollen-like particles, so it is useful for detecting coarser airborne pollution.

PM2.5

PM2.5 refers to airborne particles with a diameter of about 2.5 micrometres or smaller. It is a common air-quality measurement because these fine particles can be breathed deep into the lungs.

Qwiic

Qwiic is a plug-in connector system for I2C devices that uses small 4-pin cables, so you can connect compatible sensors without soldering. It matters because your controller or adapter also needs Qwiic, or you will need a cable or breakout to wire it up.

single-board computer

A complete computer built onto one circuit board, usually including the processor, memory, ports, and connectors. This matters because accessories like heatsinks must match the board’s layout and mounting holes to fit properly.

STEMMA

A plug-and-cable connection system used on some maker electronics boards to make wiring simpler. If a product uses STEMMA, you need the matching cable or connector type to plug it in without soldering.

STEMMA QT

A small plug-in connector system for I2C boards that lets you connect compatible sensors and controllers without soldering. It matters because it can make wiring faster and less error-prone, especially when adding several small modules to a project.

UART

UART is a simple serial connection that sends data over separate transmit and receive wires, often labelled TX and RX. It matters because this module is designed to replace a wired UART cable with a wireless link while keeping the same serial data format.