NXP Semiconductors BRKTSTBC-P3115

Overview

BRKTSTBC-P3115 from NXP Semiconductors is an evaluation board for the MPL3115A2 I²C precision pressure and altimetry sensor, enabling rapid validation of barometric and altitude measurement in embedded systems. It supports full 20-bit pressure (20–110 kPa), 20-bit altitude (−698 to +11,775 m), and 12-bit temperature (−40 °C to +85 °C) outputs with internal temperature compensation and autonomous FIFO-based data logging up to 12 days.

For engineers reviewing the BRKTSTBC-P3115 datasheet, BRKTSTBC-P3115 pinout, BRKTSTBC-P3115 application, or BRKTSTBC-P3115 equivalent, this board delivers verified hardware integration for MPL3115A2 sensor characterization, interrupt-driven altimetry prototyping, and low-power environmental sensing in wearable, GPS-assisted navigation, and weather station designs.

Technical Context

The BRKTSTBC-P3115 provides direct breakout access to all eight pins of the MPL3115A2 LGA package-including dual programmable interrupts (INT1/INT2), I²C serial interface (SCL/SDL), dual supply rails (VDD/VDDIO), ground (GND), and external capacitor terminal (CAP)-with pre-mounted decoupling capacitors (100 nF ceramic + 10 µF bulk) per NXP's recommended layout. It implements the exact power sequencing, signal routing, and mechanical mounting guidance specified in Section 7 and Section 8 of the MPL3115A2 datasheet Rev. 8.1.

This board operates across the full −40 °C to +85 °C temperature range and supports all MPL3115A2 functional modes: barometer, altimeter, one-shot, FIFO, and interrupt-triggered acquisition-with configurable oversampling ratios (1× to 128×) delivering 0.0625 m altitude resolution or 0.25 Pa pressure resolution. No firmware or configuration changes are required to enable factory-calibrated operation.

Key Specifications

Availability

BRKTSTBC-P3115 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for wearable device development, GPS dead reckoning validation, and environmental monitoring systems requiring stable component supply and immediate sensor evaluation capability.

Supply support for BRKTSTBC-P3115 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

NXP Semiconductors is a global semiconductor leader specializing in secure connectivity solutions for automotive, industrial, and IoT applications, with over 50 years of analog and mixed-signal design heritage.

The MPL3115A2 product line was engineered specifically for ultra-low-power, high-accuracy environmental sensing in space-constrained portable electronics-delivering factory-trimmed pressure, altitude, and temperature data without MCU-side compensation overhead.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the BRKTSTBC-P3115 evaluation board?

The BRKTSTBC-P3115 evaluation board is designed exclusively to accelerate hardware and firmware validation of the MPL3115A2 pressure/altimetry sensor. It provides soldered, correctly decoupled, and mechanically protected access to all eight pins of the MPL3115A2 LGA package, enabling immediate I²C communication, interrupt testing, FIFO logging, and accuracy verification per NXP's datasheet Rev. 8.1 specifications. BRKTSTBC-P3115 does not contain additional processors, radios, or peripherals-it is a dedicated sensor interface platform.

Does BRKTSTBC-P3115 support both barometer and altimeter modes out of the box?

Yes, BRKTSTBC-P3115 supports both barometer and altimeter modes without hardware modification. The onboard MPL3115A2 is factory calibrated and configured via its internal registers; mode selection is performed entirely through I²C commands (e.g., writing 0xB8 to CTRL_REG2 for altimeter mode). BRKTSTBC-P3115 exposes all necessary control lines-including INT1 and INT2-for real-time event-driven operation in either mode. BRKTSTBC-P3115 requires no jumper settings or solder bridges to switch between functions.

What power supply requirements must be met when using BRKTSTBC-P3115?

BRKTSTBC-P3115 requires two independent voltage supplies: VDD (1.95 V to 3.6 V) for the sensor core and VDDIO (1.62 V to 3.6 V) for the I²C interface. These may be supplied separately to match host MCU logic levels (e.g., 1.8 V VDDIO with 3.3 V VDD), or tied together if within spec. The board includes 100 nF and 10 µF decoupling capacitors placed per NXP's layout guidelines. BRKTSTBC-P3115 draws as little as 2 µA in STANDBY mode and up to 2 mA during active conversion-verified per Table 6 of the MPL3115A2 datasheet.

Can BRKTSTBC-P3115 be used for long-term environmental data logging?

Yes, BRKTSTBC-P3115 enables autonomous data logging via the MPL3115A2's embedded 32-sample FIFO. When configured for 1-second acquisition intervals, the FIFO stores up to 32 seconds of data; at lower rates (e.g., one sample per hour), it supports up to 12 days of continuous logging without host interaction. Data is retained during sleep transitions and retrieved via I²C burst reads. BRKTSTBC-P3115 provides direct access to FIFO status and read pointers-no additional memory or controller is needed to implement this capability.

Is the BRKTSTBC-P3115 compatible with standard Arduino or Raspberry Pi I²C interfaces?

Yes, BRKTSTBC-P3115 is electrically and logically compatible with standard 3.3 V and 1.8 V I²C hosts including Arduino (with level-shifting for 5 V boards), Raspberry Pi, STM32 Nucleo, and ESP32 development platforms. Its fixed 0x60 I²C address, open-drain INT1/INT2 outputs, and adherence to I²C timing specs (up to 400 kHz standard mode, 4 MHz fast-mode with 1 kΩ pull-ups) ensure plug-and-play interoperability. BRKTSTBC-P3115 includes no on-board level shifters, so users must verify VDDIO alignment with their host's I/O voltage-BRKTSTBC-P3115 itself imposes no protocol or timing restrictions beyond those defined for the MPL3115A2.