The Top 10 Motion Sensors (Accelerometers)

Whether you’re building a wearable device, or an industrial system, chances are you’ll be integrating an accelerometer. Accelerometers are electromechanical devices that measure acceleration across one, or multiple, axes. Some common uses are to detect position, velocity, vibration, and to determine orientation (for example, to orient the display in your smartphone or tablet). 

The most important factors to consider when selecting an accelerometer are output type (analog or digital), number of axes, output range, sensitivity, dynamic range, bandwidth, amplitude stability, and mass.

Among the most popular accelerometers on SnapEDA, some are 3-axis (meaning that it can measure acceleration in all 3 directions), 6-axis (meaning a 3-axis accelerometer and a 3-axis gyroscope ) or 9 axis (meaning a 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyroscope and 3-axis magnetometer); the resolution is typically specified as bits; the range of forces can vary from ±1g up to ±250g (the smaller the range, the more sensitive the readings); all of these features are included within a single IC package.

Note: this data was collected via SnapEDA’s analytics by looking at downloads from its part model library (symbols, footprints, and 3D models). Millions of parts are evaluated on SnapEDA annually, however if a part isn’t in our database it will not show up on this list. We’re continually increasing coverage, and will update this list periodically.

Let’s take a look at the Top 10 motion sensors on SnapEDA!

 

#10-MMA8451QR1 by NXP

A 3-axis accelerometer, 14-bit, I2C interface, XYZ, ±2g/±4g/±8g, 16-pin QFN, Reel packaging.

Average price across distributors at time of publish:  $1.52 USD

 Download Symbol & Footprint on SnapEDA (Eagle, Altium, OrCad, Allegro, KiCad, PADS)

 

#9-BMI055 by Bosch

A 6-axis inertial sensor, 12-bit acceleration sensor, ±2000°/s gyroscope, ultra-small footprint: 3 x 4.5 mm², LGA-16 package.

Average price across distributors at time of publish:  $3.91 USD

 Download Symbol & Footprint on SnapEDA (Eagle, Altium, OrCad, Allegro, KiCad, PADS)

 

#8-ADXL345BCCZ-RL by Analog Devices

A 3-axis accelerometer, 13-bit, ±2/±4/±8/±16g, SPI and I2C digital interfaces, LGA-14 package.

Average price across distributors at time of publish:  $5.09 USD

 Download Symbol & Footprint on SnapEDA (Eagle, Altium, OrCad, Allegro, KiCad, PADS)

 

#7-FIS1100 by Fairchild Semiconductor

A 3-axis gyroscope and 3-axis accelerometer Inertial Measurement with Motion Processing, LGA-16 package.

Average price across distributors at time of publish:  $5.50 USD

 Download Symbol & Footprint on SnapEDA (Eagle, Altium, OrCad, Allegro, KiCad, PADS)

 

#6-LSM303DLHC by STMicroelectronics

A 3D digital linear acceleration sensor, I2C interface, ±2/±4/±8/±16g, available LGA-14 package.

Average price across distributors at time of publish:  $3.70 USD

 Download Symbol & Footprint on SnapEDA (Eagle, Altium, OrCad, Allegro, KiCad, PADS)

 

#5-MPU-6000 by InvenSense

3-axis gyroscope, 3-axis accelerometer in a 4×4 package, I2C or SPI interface, ±2/±4/±8/±16g, QFN-24 package.

Average price across distributors at time of publish:  $7.32 USD

 Download Symbol & Footprint on SnapEDA (Eagle, Altium, OrCad, Allegro, KiCad, PADS)

 

#4-BMI160 by Bosch

6-axis inertial MEMS sensor, 16-bit acceleration sensor and 16-bit gyroscope, ±2/±4/±8/±16g, LGA-14 package.

Average price across distributors at time of publish:  $3.12 USD

 Download Symbol & Footprint on SnapEDA (Eagle, Altium, OrCad, Allegro, KiCad, PADS)

 

#3-BNO055 by Bosch

9-axis motion sensor, 14-bit accelerometer, ±2000°/s 16 bit gyroscope, 5.2 x 3.8 x 1.1 mm³, LGA-28 package.

Average price across distributors at time of publish:  $8.17 USD

 Download Symbol & Footprint on SnapEDA (Eagle, Altium, OrCad, Allegro, KiCad, PADS)

 

#2-MPU-6050 by InvenSense

A 3-axis gyroscope and a 3-axis accelerometer, ±2/±4/±8/±16g,  4 x 4 x 0.9 mm³ QFN-24 package.

Average price across distributors at time of publish:  $7.38 USD

 Download Symbol & Footprint on SnapEDA (Eagle, Altium, OrCad, Allegro, KiCad, PADS)

 

 And the top accelerometer on SnapEDA is…

 

#1- MPU-9250 by InvenSense

Average price across distributors at time of publish: $6.33 USD

A 9-axis MotionTracking device, Gyroscope/Accelerometer/Magnetometer Sensor; 3 x 3 x 1mm³ QFN-24 package.

 Download Symbol & Footprint on SnapEDA (Eagle, Altium, OrCad, Allegro, KiCad, PADS)