
Make sure that proper logic levels are matched, especially with the digital interfaces. These different modes can make accelerometers well suited for battery powered applications. The current consumption can vary depending on the settings (e.g., power saving mode versus standard operating mode). The required current typically falls in the micro (µ) or milli-amp range, with a supply voltage of 5V or less. Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) - Accelerometers that output data over pulse-width modulation (PWM) output square waves with a known period, but a duty cycle that varies with changes in acceleration.Īccelerometers are generally low-power devices. These tend to have more functionality and be less susceptible to noise than analog accelerometers. These are generally less expensive than digital accelerometers.ĭigital - Accelerometers with a digital interface can either communicate over SPI or I 2C communication protocols. An ADC on a microcontroller can then be used to read this value. These values generally fluctuate between ground and the supply voltage level. If youre sitting still reading this, your body is experiencing. It is used for sustained accelerations, that cause a perception of weight. G-force is a measure of acceleration or deceleration, which is the change in speed over time. Communication InterfaceĪccelerometers will communicate over an analog, digital, or pulse-width modulated connection interface.Īnalog - Accelerometers with an analog interface show accelerations through varying voltage levels. The g-force or gravitational force equivalent is mass-specific force (force per unit mass), expressed in units of standard gravity (g, not to be confused with 'g', the symbol for grams). As always, read the datasheet to ensure proper connections are made. For most accelerometers, the basic connections required for operation are power and the communication lines.
