STMicroelectronics LSM320DL

Overview

LSM320DL from STMicroelectronics is a system-in-package 3D accelerometer and 2D gyroscope sensor module with integrated temperature sensing, SPI/I²C digital interface, and programmable motion interrupts. It delivers ±2g/±4g/±8g/±16g acceleration full-scale ranges and ±250/±500/±2000 dps angular rate ranges, operating from 2.4–3.6 V analog and 1.8 V digital supplies. Used in GPS navigation systems for orientation correction and motion-activated power management in handheld devices.

For engineers reviewing the LSM320DL datasheet, LSM320DL pinout, LSM320DL application, or LSM320DL equivalent, this page provides verified technical context, validated pin functions, confirmed mechanical and electrical specifications, real-world use scenarios across six distinct motion-sensing applications, and two documented alternative parts with precise functional differences.

Technical Context

The LSM320DL integrates independent MEMS accelerometers (X/Y/Z axes) and gyroscopes (pitch/yaw axes) on a single die, each with factory-trimmed CMOS interface circuitry optimized for matching sensor characteristics. Its dual-mode serial interface supports both I²C (standard/fast mode) and SPI (3- or 4-wire), with register-mapped control of data rates, high-pass filtering, FIFO buffering, and interrupt generation.

Acceleration and gyroscope subsystems operate independently-enabling selective activation or power-down per sensor group to minimize current draw. The embedded temperature sensor provides on-chip thermal compensation reference, and motion detection logic supports free-fall, click, and 6D orientation events via configurable thresholds and timing windows.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

LSM320DL is housed in a 28-pin plastic land grid array (LGA) package measuring 7.5 × 4.4 × 1.1 mm, optimized for compact PCB layouts and robust reflow soldering. Pin functions are defined per STMicroelectronics Doc ID 018845 Rev 1, Section 1.2 and Table 2.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar motion-sensing applications.

Compared with LSM6DS3TR-C, LSM320DL provides targeted pitch/yaw + 3-axis motion sensing at lower power and cost, while LIS3DH eliminates gyroscope overhead entirely-making LSM320DL optimal for balanced IMU applications requiring both linear and rotational dynamics without AI processing.

Availability

LSM320DL is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for GPS navigation systems, impact recognition systems, gaming input devices, and vibration monitoring equipment requiring stable component supply across industrial and consumer production cycles.

Supply support for LSM320DL 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 specializing in MEMS sensors, microcontrollers, and power management ICs, with over two decades of mass-production expertise in motion sensing.

The LSM320DL belongs to ST's "iNEMO" family of inertial modules, designed specifically for compact, low-power consumer and industrial motion-tracking applications where co-location of accelerometer and gyroscope improves alignment accuracy and reduces system-level calibration effort.

FAQ

What communication interfaces does the LSM320DL support?

The LSM320DL supports both I²C and SPI serial interfaces. I²C operates at standard (100 kHz) and fast (400 kHz) modes with a fixed 7-bit slave address (0x3A or 0x3B depending on SA0 state). SPI supports 3-wire and 4-wire configurations with up to 10 MHz clock rate, and uses dedicated CS, SPC, SDI, and SDO pins. Interface selection is hardware-configured at power-up.

How is power managed between the accelerometer and gyroscope blocks?

Power states for the accelerometer and gyroscope are controlled independently via CTRL_REG1_A (bit 7–4) and CTRL_REG1_G (bit 7–4). Each block can be set to active, low-power, or power-down mode. This allows asymmetric operation-for example, keeping the accelerometer in low-power wake-on-motion mode while the gyroscope remains powered down until user interaction begins.

Does the LSM320DL include built-in self-test capability?

Yes, the LSM320DL implements MEMS self-test for both accelerometer and gyroscope via dedicated registers (CTRL_REG2_A bit 2 and CTRL_REG2_G bit 2). Activating self-test applies electrostatic forcing to the sensing structures, producing predictable output shifts (e.g., ~1.5g for accelerometer, ~120 dps for gyroscope) that can be verified by reading OUT_X_L/H registers-enabling production-line functional validation without external stimulus.

What is the purpose of the embedded temperature sensor?

The on-die temperature sensor (accessible via OUT_TEMP_G register) provides calibrated readings with ±5 °C accuracy across −40 to +85 °C. Its primary design role is to feed thermal compensation algorithms for accelerometer and gyroscope offset drift-especially critical in applications like electronic compassing or inertial navigation where temperature-induced bias directly impacts heading accuracy.