Adafruit
I2CMini by Excamera Labs
I²CMini is an easy-to-use, open-source tool for controlling I²C devices over USB, 100% compatible with I²CDriver. Its a small friend that will make working w...
I²CMini is an easy-to-use, open-source tool for controlling I²C devices over USB, 100% compatible with I²CDriver. Its a small friend that will make working with I2C a breeze, especially if they have a Qwiic/Stemma QT or even Grove I2C connector!
- USB to I²C interface in a tiny 18x18mm board
- Can act as a I²C controller, passive monitor, and capture-to-PC supported at 400 kHz
- Two I²C ports: one on 0.1" header; one Qwiic/Stemma QT
- Supplied with 100mm Qwiic/Stemma QT to socket jumper set
- Flexible control: GUI, command-line, C/C++, and Python 2/3 host software provided for Windows, Mac, and Linux
It uses a standard FTDI USB serial chip to talk to the PC, so no special drivers need to be installed. The board includes a separate 3.3 V supply, on-chip temperature monitoring, and programmable pull-ups for both I²C lines.
I²CMini is particularly well-suited for applications like IoT and drones, cleanly separating your SBC from the I²C bus. Because it is totally compatible with I²CDriver, you can develop on the I²CDriver and deploy on the I²CMini.
Like I²CDriver, it works equally well with Windows, Mac, and Linux. It uses a standard FTDI USB serial chip to talk to the PC, so no special drivers need to be installed. The board includes a separate 3.3 V supply for your I²C sensors and peripherals.
On the I²C side, I²CMini has the same four-pin header for connecting to peripherals as the I²CDriver. You can solder directly to this .1" header, and because it is castellated, you can use I²CMini as a module to add instant USB access to an I²C subsystem.
By controlling I²C hardware using the PC tools you're most comfortable with, you can get devices doing what you want in a fraction of the development time. Calibrating devices like accelerometers, magnetometers, and gyroscopes is much easier when done directly on the PC.
I²CMini has a Sparkfun Qwiic STEMMA QT-compatible connector so any of our QT sensors or devices can be plugged right in with no soldering. You can also use a QT-to-Grove adapter cable to use Grove I2C devices
I²CMini comes with free software to control it from:
- a GUI
- the command-line
- C and C++ using a single source file
- Python 2 and 3, using a module
Like I²CDriver, it can both drive and listen on the I²C bus, and it has the same programmable pull-up resistors for both I²C lines.
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- Grove
- Grove is a plug-in connector ecosystem for sensors and modules that avoids soldering and jumper wires. Grove compatibility matters because it can make it quicker to add supported I2C devices, as long as the cable and voltage are suitable.
- 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.
- IoT
- Short for Internet of Things, meaning physical devices that connect to networks or the internet to send data or be controlled remotely. It matters if you want projects such as connected sensors, remote controls or classroom data-logging activities.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
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