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ESP32 with ADXL335 Accelerometer


  •  11-06-2025
The ADXL335 is a small, thin, low-power 3-axis analog accelerometer manufactured by Analog Devices. It is widely used in embedded systems and electronics projects for sensing acceleration in the X, Y, and Z directions.

🔧 Key Features of ADXL335

FeatureDescription
TypeAnalog 3-axis accelerometer
Measurement Range±3 g (g = gravity, approx. 9.81 m/s²)
Power Supply1.8V to 3.6V
Output TypeAnalog voltage
Sensitivity~300 mV/g (at 3V supply)
Low Power~350 µA typical
Operating Temp-40°C to +85°C
BandwidthAdjustable via external capacitors

📊 How It Works

  • The ADXL335 uses a micro-machined structure suspended by springs inside a silicon chip.
  • As the device accelerates, the structure deflects, changing the capacitance between fixed plates.
  • This change is converted into an analog voltage signal on each of the X, Y, and Z output pins.

📈 Typical Output

Each axis outputs a voltage that is approximately:

  • 0V to Vcc (depending on acceleration)
  • At 0g, each axis outputs about Vcc/2
    • E.g., for 3.3V Vcc, 0g = ~1.65V
  • ±1g will cause an increase or decrease of about 300 mV from the 0g level.

⚙️ Applications

  • Tilt sensing
  • Motion and vibration detection
  • Gaming and user interface devices
  • Wearables
  • Robotics and drones
  • Automotive crash detection or car alarms

🔌 Connecting ADXL335 to a Microcontroller (e.g., Arduino)

ADXL335 PinArduino
VCC3.3V
GNDGND
X OUTA0
Y OUTA1
Z OUTA2

📌 Summary

  • The ADXL335 is a simple, reliable, analog accelerometer.
  • Ideal for detecting orientation and motion in low-power embedded systems.
  • Requires an ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) to read data (like in Arduino).
  • Easy to use, but needs calibration for precise results.

HOW TO OPERATE

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