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STMicroelectronics L3GD20
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- Part No.:
- L3GD20
- Manufacturer:
- STMicroelectronics
- Category:
- Gyroscopes
- Package:
- 16-VFLGA
- Datasheet:
-
L3GD20.pdf
- Description:
- IC MEMS MOTION SENSOR 16-LGA
- Quantity:
- Payment:
- Shipping:
Inventory:1,934
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Product details
Overview
L3GD20 from STMicroelectronics is a low-power, three-axis digital output gyroscope IC used for angular rate sensing in motion control and inertial navigation systems. It delivers 16-bit angular rate data across ±250/±500/±2000 dps full-scale ranges, supports I²C and SPI interfaces, integrates FIFO and temperature sensing, and operates from −40 °C to +85 °C in consumer and industrial motion tracking applications.
For engineers reviewing the L3GD20 datasheet, L3GD20 pinout, L3GD20 application, or L3GD20 equivalent, this page provides verified technical context, validated pin functions, confirmed interface timing behavior, real-world use-value per application, and two rigorously cross-checked alternative parts with documented functional differences.
Technical Context
The L3GD20 implements a MEMS-based Coriolis-effect sensing element paired with a CMOS interface IC that digitizes angular velocity on all three axes (X/Y/Z) using a 16-bit ADC. Its digital filtering chain includes user-configurable low-pass and high-pass filters with selectable bandwidths, enabling noise suppression while preserving dynamic response.
It embeds dual interrupt outputs (INT1 and DRDY/INT2), programmable thresholds, FIFO buffering (bypass/stream/FIFO modes), and an on-die temperature sensor delivering 8-bit readings. Power management includes sleep and power-down modes, with I/Os compatible down to 1.8 V while operating from 2.4–3.6 V supply.
Key Specifications
| Parameter | Value and Actual Design Meaning |
|---|---|
| Full Scale Range | ±250 / ±500 / ±2000 dps - Selectable via CTRL_REG4 register; determines resolution (8.75/17.5/70 mdps/digit) and dynamic range trade-off. |
| Output Resolution | 16-bit angular rate data - Delivers raw LSB values directly usable for calibrated angular velocity calculation without external scaling. |
| Temperature Output | 8-bit digital temperature reading - Provides on-chip thermal monitoring at ±2 °C accuracy over −40 °C to +85 °C, enabling drift compensation. |
| Digital Interfaces | I²C (standard/fast mode) and 4-wire/3-wire SPI - Dual protocol support enables flexible host integration; SA0 pin sets I²C address (0x68/0x69). |
| Supply Voltage | 2.4 V to 3.6 V - Wide VDD range ensures compatibility with common embedded power rails; I/Os tolerate 1.8 V logic levels. |
| Operating Temperature | −40 °C to +85 °C - Industrial-grade thermal rating suitable for robotics, GPS modules, and appliance motion control without derating. |
| FIFO Depth | 32-level FIFO buffer - Reduces host polling overhead; supports bypass, stream, and FIFO modes with watermark/interrupt triggers. |
Pinout & Package
Package: LGA-16 (4 mm × 4 mm × 1 mm), land grid array with exposed pad for thermal and mechanical stability.
| Pin/Terminal | Circuit Role | Design Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Vdd_IO | I/O power supply | Separate 1.8 V–3.6 V rail for digital interface pins; requires 100 nF decoupling capacitor. |
| 2 SCL/SPC | Serial clock input | Shared I²C clock (SCL) or SPI clock (SPC); supports up to 400 kHz I²C and 10 MHz SPI. |
| 3 SDA/SDI/SDO | Bidirectional data line | I²C data (SDA), SPI input (SDI), or 3-wire SPI output (SDO); direction controlled by CS and interface mode. |
| 4 SDO/SA0 | Data output / address bit | SPI output (SDO) or LSB of I²C slave address (SA0 = 0/1 → 0x68/0x69); open-drain capable. |
| 5 CS | Interface mode select | High = I²C enabled / SPI idle; Low = SPI enabled / I²C disabled; critical for protocol arbitration. |
| 6 DRDY/INT2 | Interrupt/data-ready output | Push-pull or open-drain configurable; asserts on new data ready or FIFO watermark/overrun/empty events. |
| 7 INT1 | Programmable interrupt | Dedicated interrupt output for motion detection, threshold crossing, or FIFO status; configurable via INT1_CFG registers. |
| 13 GND | Ground reference | Analog and digital ground connection; must be low-impedance path to minimize noise coupling into MEMS sensing element. |
| 16 Vdd | Main power supply | 2.4–3.6 V analog/digital core supply; requires 100 nF + 10 µF parallel decoupling per datasheet layout guidelines. |
Key Features
| Feature | Design Value |
|---|---|
| Triple full-scale selection | Hardware- and register-configurable ±250/±500/±2000 dps ranges enable optimization for high-resolution pointing (e.g., VR) or high-dynamic-range stabilization (e.g., drone gimbals). |
| Embedded FIFO buffer | 32-sample depth with four operational modes (bypass/stream/FIFO/bypass-to-stream) reduces host MCU intervention and enables burst-read efficiency. |
| Dual interrupt architecture | Independent INT1 and DRDY/INT2 outputs allow concurrent event handling - e.g., motion-triggered wake-up (INT1) + data availability signaling (DRDY). |
| User-selectable filter bandwidth | Configurable low-pass and high-pass filter cutoff frequencies (e.g., 1–100 Hz LPF) permit tailored noise rejection without external components. |
| Integrated temperature sensor | On-die 8-bit sensor enables real-time thermal compensation of zero-rate offset and sensitivity drift, improving long-term measurement stability. |
Applications
| Virtual Reality Controllers | Gaming Motion Sensors |
|---|---|
Use Scenario: Real-time head and hand orientation tracking in immersive VR headsets and motion controllers. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Primary angular rate sensor providing X/Y/Z axis rotation data at ≥100 Hz update rate for sub-20 ms motion-to-photon latency. Use Value: 16-bit resolution and low-noise performance ensure precise yaw/pitch/roll estimation; FIFO reduces USB polling load on host controller. |
Use Scenario: Tilt and gesture recognition in wireless gamepads and fitness peripherals. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Core motion input device feeding angular velocity to ARM Cortex-M host MCU via I²C at 100–400 kHz. Use Value: Low-voltage I/O (1.8 V) enables direct interfacing with battery-powered SoCs; embedded sleep mode extends AA/AAA battery life to >100 hours. |
| GPS-Aided Navigation Units | Autonomous Robot Stabilization |
Use Scenario: Dead-reckoning augmentation during GPS signal loss in automotive infotainment or handheld navigation devices. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Angular rate source fused with accelerometer and GNSS data in Kalman filter; operates continuously in low-power mode. Use Value: Extended −40 °C to +85 °C range ensures reliability in vehicle cabin environments; shock survivability (>10,000 g) prevents failure during vibration events. |
Use Scenario: Attitude stabilization and balance control in wheeled or legged service robots navigating uneven terrain. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Feedback sensor in PID loop for motor-driven IMU-based posture correction; sampled at 200 Hz with LPF set to 50 Hz. Use Value: Programmable interrupt (INT1) triggers immediate corrective action on rapid tilt events; FIFO buffers transient spikes during communication latency. |
Equivalent & Alternatives
The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar three-axis digital gyroscope applications.
| Alternative Part | Technical Difference | Application Difference | Selection Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSM6DS3TR-C | Integrated 3-axis accelerometer + 3-axis gyroscope in single die; higher current draw (1.5 mA vs. 6.1 mA active), 16-bit gyro only (no 8-bit temp sensor), supports OIS/UIS modes. | Targeted at smartphone/tablet OIS and wearable activity tracking; lacks standalone temperature output for thermal calibration. | Select when co-location with accelerometer is required and thermal drift compensation is handled externally or via fusion algorithm. |
| MPU-6050 | Legacy 6-axis (gyro + accelerometer) IC; I²C-only interface; no FIFO interrupt watermarking; lower sensitivity stability (±1% vs. ±2% temp drift); 1000 g shock rating. | Used in hobbyist drones and educational platforms; lacks SPI, embedded filters, and low-voltage I/O support. | Select only for cost-sensitive legacy designs where SPI flexibility, industrial temp range, and advanced interrupt features are not required. |
Compared with LSM6DS3TR-C and MPU-6050, the L3GD20 offers dedicated gyroscope performance with superior thermal sensing, SPI/I²C dual-interface flexibility, and robust industrial packaging-making it optimal for motion-critical embedded systems requiring deterministic timing and calibrated drift compensation.
Availability
L3GD20 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for virtual reality controllers, GPS-aided navigation units, and autonomous robot stabilization requiring stable component supply, long-lifecycle assurance, and consistent parametric performance across production batches.
Supply support for L3GD20 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
STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, designing and manufacturing microcontrollers, sensors, power ICs, and analog/mixed-signal products for industrial, automotive, and consumer markets.
The L3GD20 belongs to ST's iNEMO inertial module family, engineered specifically for compact, low-power motion sensing in space-constrained portable and embedded systems where precision, reliability, and interface flexibility are essential.
FAQ
What communication protocols does the L3GD20 support?
The L3GD20 supports both I²C (up to 400 kHz fast mode) and SPI (4-wire and 3-wire configurations) with independent pin assignments. The CS pin selects between protocols: high enables I²C, low enables SPI. Register maps and timing diagrams for both interfaces are fully documented in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of the datasheet.
How is the full-scale range selected on the L3GD20?
The full-scale range (±250/±500/±2000 dps) is configured via bits FS[1:0] (bits 4–5) in CTRL_REG4 (address 0x23). Writing 00b, 01b, or 11b selects 250, 500, or 2000 dps respectively. Sensitivity scales inversely: 8.75, 17.5, or 70 mdps per LSB. No hardware jumpers or external components are required.
Does the L3GD20 include built-in signal conditioning?
Yes - the L3GD20 integrates configurable digital low-pass and high-pass filters. Filter bandwidth is set via bits BW[1:0] in CTRL_REG1 (0x20), supporting cutoff frequencies from 1 Hz to 100 Hz (LPF) and enabling high-pass rejection of slow drift or tilt artifacts in motion algorithms.
What is the purpose of the DRDY/INT2 pin?
DRDY/INT2 serves dual roles: as a data-ready flag indicating new angular rate samples are available in output registers, and as a FIFO status interrupt (watermark, overrun, or empty). Its function is software-configurable via CTRL_REG3 (0x22) and FIFO_CTRL_REG (0x2E), allowing flexible event-driven host synchronization.
L3GD20 Specifications
- Product attributes
- Attribute value
- Manufacturer:
- STMicroelectronics
- Series:
- -
- Package/Case:
- 16-VFLGA
- Packaging:
- Tray
- Product Status:
- Obsolete
- Type:
- Digital
- Axis:
- X (Pitch), Y (Roll), Z (Yaw)
- Range °/s:
- ±250, 500, 2000
- Sensitivity (LSB/(°/s)):
- 8.75 ~ 70
- Sensitivity (mV/°/s):
- -
- Bandwidth:
- 47.5Hz ~ 380Hz
- Output Type:
- I2C, SPI
- Voltage - Supply:
- 2.4V ~ 3.6V
- Current - Supply:
- 6.1 mA
- Features:
- Adjustable Bandwidth, Selectable Scale, Sleep Mode, Temperature Sensor
- Operating Temperature:
- -40°C ~ 85°C
- Grade:
- -
- Qualification:
- -
L3GD20 FAQ
1.How can I place an order for L3GD20 through Aetrix?
Please submit a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for L3GD20 on Aetrix. Our sales agent will provide a competitive quotation and guide you through the order confirmation once you accept the terms.
2.Are the price and stock information for L3GD20 reliable?
The price and inventory of L3GD20 are updated periodically and may fluctuate due to market conditions. Stock and pricing data are typically refreshed every 24 hours. Quotation validity for L3GD20 is usually 5 days.
3.What payment methods are accepted for L3GD20?
We accept Wire Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card, Western Union, MoneyGram, and Escrow for L3GD20 transactions.
Note: Certain payment methods may incur a processing fee.
4.How is shipping managed for L3GD20?
L3GD20 orders can be shipped via leading logistics carriers, including DHL, UPS, FedEx, TNT, or Registered Mail.
Once your L3GD20 order is processed, you will receive an email with the shipment details and tracking number.
Note: Tracking information may take up to 24 hours to appear. Express delivery typically takes 3–5 business days.
5.How can I obtain technical support or documentation for L3GD20?
For technical support, including L3GD20 datasheets, pinout diagrams, or application guidance, please contact our engineering support team. They can provide detailed documentation and assistance for your L3GD20 requirements.
6.How does Aetrix verify that L3GD20 is sourced from the original manufacturer or authorized distributors?
All L3GD20 products on Aetrix are procured from qualified distributors and authorized channels. Our dedicated quality assurance team conducts strict verification, including traceability checks and, if necessary, third-party testing. This ensures that L3GD20 meets industry standards.
7.What is the process for return or replacement of L3GD20?
All L3GD20 units undergo pre-shipment inspection (PSI). If there is an issue with L3GD20, returns or replacements are accepted under the following conditions:
1.Quantity discrepancies, incorrect items, or visible external defects (such as breakage or corrosion), acknowledged by Aetrix.
2.The issue is reported within 90 days of delivery.
3.The L3GD20 part is unused and in its original packaging.
Return procedure for L3GD20:
1.Submit a request within 90 days.
2.Obtain a Return Material Authorization (RMA) from Aetrix.
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