Adafruit
Adafruit TLV493D Triple-Axis Magnetometer - STEMMA QT / Qwiic
The Adafruit TLV493D is a 3-axis magnetometer designed for detecting and tracking nearby magnets in three dimensions. Manufactured by Infineon, this sensor m...
The Adafruit TLV493D is a 3-axis magnetometer designed for detecting and tracking nearby magnets in three dimensions. Manufactured by Infineon, this sensor measures magnetic fields across the X, Y, and Z axes with 12-bit resolution — ideal for applications like DIY joysticks, position sensing, or detecting the movement of magnet-equipped objects.
The breakout board includes an onboard voltage regulator and logic level shifting for compatibility with both 3.3V and 5V microcontrollers. STEMMA QT / Qwiic connectors on both sides allow solderless I2C connections and easy daisy-chaining with other sensors. Arduino and CircuitPython/Python libraries are available for quick setup.
Key Features
- 3-Axis Magnetic Field Sensing – Measures Bx, By, and Bz linear fields up to ±130 mT
- 12-Bit Resolution – High-precision digital output for each measurement axis
- I2C Interface – Standard 2-wire I2C up to 1 Mbit/sec, shareable with other I2C devices
- Accurate Angle Sensing – Excellent X/Y measurement matching for precise angular detection
- Onboard Voltage Regulation – 3.3V regulator and level shifting for 3V or 5V microcontrollers, with a spare 3.3V output pin
- STEMMA QT / Qwiic Compatible – Solderless connectors for plug-and-play setup and daisy-chaining
Ideal For
- DIY joysticks and 3D position controllers
- Detecting magnet-equipped objects (lids, latches, moving parts)
- Rotary angle and position sensing
- Proximity detection with magnets
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit TLV493D Triple-Axis Magnetometer Breakout
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- 12-bit resolution
- 12-bit resolution means the sensor’s measurement is divided into 4096 possible digital values. Higher resolution can make small changes in motion or tilt easier to detect, as long as the sensor range and noise are suitable for the project.
- 3.3V regulator
- A 3.3V regulator is a power circuit that provides a steady 3.3 volts for parts that need that supply voltage. On a breakout board, it can let the sensor run safely even when the connected microcontroller or power source uses a higher voltage.
- 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.
- CircuitPython
- A beginner-friendly version of Python designed to run directly on microcontroller boards. If a product supports CircuitPython, you can often program it by copying code files onto the board rather than setting up a more complex toolchain.
- 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.
- magnetometer
- A sensor that measures magnetic fields, often used to work out compass direction. It matters because nearby magnets, motors, or metal objects can affect readings and may require calibration.
- 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.
- 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.
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Related Tutorials
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