Datasheet

Motion sensor
The micro:bit has a combined accelerometer and magnetometer chip that provides 3-axis
sensing and magnetic field strength sensing. It also includes some on board gesture
detection (such as fall detection) in hardware, and additional gesture sensing (e.g. logo-
up, logo-down, shake) via software algorithms. A software algorithm in the standard
runtime uses the on-board accelerometer to turn readings into a board orientation
independent compass reading. The compass must be calibrated before use, and the
calibration process is automatically initiated by the runtime software. This device is
connected to the application processor via the I2C bus.!
The micro:bit has a footprint for two different motion sensors: one made by ST (the
LSM303AGR) and one by NXP (FXOS8700CQ). The micro:bit DAL supports both of these
sensors, detecting them at runtime. Only one sensor will ever be placed.!
Temperature sensing
The NRF52 application processor has an on board core temperature sensor. This is
exposed via the standard runtime software, and provides an estimate of ambient
temperature.!
Sensing
ambient light estimation via software algorithm
Colour sensitivity
red centric, red is 700nm
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Model
LSM303AGR
Features
3 magnetic field and 3 acceleration axis , 2/4/8/16g
ranges
Resolution
8/10/12 bits
On board gestures
‘freefall’
Other gestures
Other gestures are implemented by software
algorithms in the runtime.
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Type
on-core NRF52
Sensing range
-40C .. 105C
Resolution
0.25C steps
6
© Micro:bit Educational Foundation 2020