NXP Semiconductors FRDMSTBC-A8491

Overview

FRDMSTBC-A8491 from NXP Semiconductors is a Freescale Freedom development board built around the MMA8491Q 3-axis digital accelerometer IC. It provides immediate evaluation of tilt-sensing and I²C-based acceleration measurement with ±8 g full-scale range, 14-bit resolution (1 mg/LSB), and ultra-low-power operation (<400 nA/Hz). Designed for rapid prototyping in tamper detection, white goods tilt monitoring, and remote control orientation sensing.

For engineers reviewing the FRDMSTBC-A8491 datasheet, FRDMSTBC-A8491 pinout, FRDMSTBC-A8491 application, or FRDMSTBC-A8491 equivalent, this board delivers validated hardware integration for the MMA8491Q accelerometer - including pre-routed I²C signals, EN pulse control, bypass capacitor support, and push-pull tilt outputs - enabling direct firmware validation and system-level timing analysis without custom PCB design.

Technical Context

The FRDMSTBC-A8491 implements the MMA8491Q in ACTIVE and STANDBY operational modes, using an external microcontroller to drive the EN pin for single-sample acquisition and read status/data registers via I²C at up to 400 kHz. The board routes all 12 pins of the QFN-12 package, including dual ground pins, dedicated Byp capacitor pad, and three push-pull tilt outputs (Xout/Yout/Zout) with defined trip threshold of 0.688 g (≈43.5°).

It supports both tilt-detection mode (logic-level outputs per axis) and digital-accelerometer mode (14-bit I²C data), with hardware-configured pull-up resistors on SDA/SCL, decoupling capacitors per NXP recommendations (0.1 μF on Byp, 1.0–4.7 μF on VDD), and direct access to all functional pins for signal probing and system integration testing.

Key Specifications

Availability

FRDMSTBC-A8491 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for tamper detection systems, white goods tilt monitoring, remote control orientation sensing, and industrial anti-theft applications requiring stable component supply and rapid evaluation platform access.

Supply support for FRDMSTBC-A8491 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 company specializing in secure connectivity solutions for automotive, industrial, and IoT applications, with leadership in sensor signal conditioning and low-power mixed-signal ICs.

The FRDMSTBC-A8491 belongs to NXP's Freedom Development Platform family, designed to accelerate firmware development and hardware validation for motion-sensing applications using the MMA8491Q accelerometer - emphasizing ease of use, interoperability with Kinetis MCUs, and out-of-box tilt and acceleration evaluation.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the FRDMSTBC-A8491 evaluation board?

The FRDMSTBC-A8491 evaluation board is a Freescale Freedom platform designed specifically to demonstrate and validate the MMA8491Q 3-axis digital accelerometer. It enables immediate testing of both tilt-sensing (via Xout/Yout/Zout push-pull outputs) and high-resolution acceleration measurement (via I²C interface), with all necessary support circuitry - including Byp capacitor pad, VDD decoupling, and EN pulse control - pre-integrated for rapid prototyping.

Does the FRDMSTBC-A8491 support both tilt-detection and raw acceleration data modes?

Yes, the FRDMSTBC-A8491 fully supports both operational modes of the MMA8491Q. In tilt-detection mode, it delivers logic-level outputs on Xout/Yout/Zout based on a fixed 0.688 g threshold (≈43.5°). In digital-accelerometer mode, it provides 14-bit acceleration data (±8 g range, 1 mg/LSB) readable over I²C from registers 0x01–0x06, with status flag ZYXDR (register 0x00) indicating data readiness.

What are the key hardware features included on the FRDMSTBC-A8491 board?

The FRDMSTBC-A8491 includes direct access to all 12 pins of the MMA8491Q QFN-12 package, onboard 0.1 μF bypass capacitor footprint for Pin 1 (Byp), configurable VDD decoupling (1.0 μF or 4.7 μF), pre-installed I²C pull-up resistors on SDA/SCL, dual GND connections (Pins 6 & 7), and test points for EN, VDD, and each tilt output. It is mechanically compatible with Freedom development ecosystems and supports standard ARM Cortex-M debug interfaces.

Can the FRDMSTBC-A8491 be used with microcontrollers other than NXP Kinetis devices?

Yes, the FRDMSTBC-A8491 is hardware-agnostic for host communication. Its I²C interface (SCL/SDA, 7-bit address 0x55) and digital tilt outputs (Xout/Yout/Zout) are electrically standard and compatible with any microcontroller supporting I²C Fast Mode (400 kHz) and 1.8–3.6 V logic levels. The EN pin is driven by an external MCU GPIO, making integration straightforward across ARM, RISC-V, PIC, and ESP32 platforms.

What is the maximum recommended output data rate (ODR) achievable with the FRDMSTBC-A8491?

The FRDMSTBC-A8491 supports an effective ODR up to 800 Hz, as specified in the MMA8491Q datasheet. This is achieved by pulsing the EN pin at the desired frequency - each rising edge triggers one sample acquisition in ACTIVE mode, followed by data validity in STANDBY mode. Timing constraints require EN pulse width ≥1 ms and minimum inter-pulse interval consistent with target ODR, with turn-on time ≤720 μs ensuring deterministic sampling.