High Precision, ±1.5g, Dual Axis Accelerometer# ADXL203CE Technical Documentation
## 1. Application Scenarios
### Typical Use Cases
The ADXL203CE is a low-power, dual-axis accelerometer from Analog Devices designed for precise tilt and motion sensing applications. Key use cases include:
Industrial Tilt Sensing
- Platform leveling systems in construction equipment
- Solar panel orientation tracking
- Antenna positioning systems
- Structural health monitoring
Motion Detection & Analysis
- Industrial machinery vibration monitoring
- Predictive maintenance systems
- Shock and impact detection
- Motion-activated equipment control
Inertial Navigation
- GPS-aided navigation systems
- Autonomous vehicle stabilization
- Robotics positioning and orientation
- Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight control
### Industry Applications
Automotive Industry
- Electronic stability control systems
- Airbag deployment sensors
- Anti-theft alarm systems
- Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS)
Aerospace & Defense
- Aircraft attitude indicators
- Missile guidance systems
- UAV flight control
- Platform stabilization
Consumer Electronics
- Smartphone screen rotation
- Gaming controller motion sensing
- Wearable fitness trackers
- Virtual reality headset orientation
Industrial Automation
- Robotic arm positioning
- Conveyor belt monitoring
- Crane angle detection
- Vibration analysis for predictive maintenance
### Practical Advantages and Limitations
Advantages:
- Low Power Consumption : Typically 700 μA at 5V supply
- High Resolution : Capable of measuring inclination changes less than 1.0°
- Wide Temperature Range : -40°C to +125°C operation
- Dual-Axis Sensing : Simultaneous X and Y axis measurement
- Analog Output : Direct voltage proportional to acceleration
- Small Package : 8-lead LCC package (8 mm²)
Limitations:
- Limited Bandwidth : Maximum 2.5 kHz bandwidth may be insufficient for high-frequency vibration analysis
- Cross-Axis Sensitivity : Typical 2% cross-axis sensitivity requires calibration
- Temperature Drift : Zero-g offset and sensitivity vary with temperature
- No Digital Interface : Requires external ADC for digital systems
- Limited Shock Survival : 10,000 g shock rating may be inadequate for extreme environments
## 2. Design Considerations
### Common Design Pitfalls and Solutions
Power Supply Noise
- Pitfall : High-frequency noise from switching regulators affecting accuracy
- Solution : Use LDO regulators with proper decoupling (10 μF tantalum + 0.1 μF ceramic)
Mechanical Mounting Issues
- Pitfall : PCB flexure causing erroneous readings
- Solution : Secure mounting near board supports, use rigid PCB material
Temperature Compensation
- Pitfall : Ignoring temperature effects on offset and sensitivity
- Solution : Implement temperature sensing and software compensation algorithms
Signal Conditioning
- Pitfall : Inadequate filtering leading to noisy measurements
- Solution : Implement appropriate low-pass filtering based on application requirements
### Compatibility Issues with Other Components
Microcontroller Interfaces
- Issue : Analog outputs require high-quality ADC with sufficient resolution
- Resolution : Use 12-bit or higher ADCs with proper reference voltages
Mixed-Signal Systems
- Issue : Digital noise coupling into analog signals
- Resolution : Implement proper ground separation and filtering
Wireless Systems
- Issue : RF interference affecting sensitive analog measurements
- Resolution : Shielding and proper frequency planning
### PCB Layout Recommendations
Power Supply Layout
- Place decoupling capacitors (0.1 μF and 10 μF) as close as possible to VDD pin
- Use separate power planes for analog and digital sections
- Implement star grounding at the device ground pin
Signal Routing
- Keep analog output traces short and
