NXP Semiconductors RD4247MAG3110

Overview

RD4247MAG3110 from Freescale Semiconductor is a tilt-compensated eCompass evaluation kit integrating the MAG3110 3-axis digital magnetometer and MMA8451Q 3-axis accelerometer on a sensor board, connected via adapter to an LFSTBUSB USB-interface board for PC-based calibration and navigation demos. It delivers calibrated heading accuracy <2% fit error with hard- and soft-iron compensation, operates at 40 Hz default sampling rate, and supports real-time tilt-compensated compass output in µT and degrees.

For engineers reviewing the RD4247MAG3110 datasheet, RD4247MAG3110 pinout, RD4247MAG3110 application, or RD4247MAG3110 equivalent, this kit enables rapid validation of geomagnetic field measurement, figure-eight calibration workflows, Smart FIFO-based magnetic modeling (108/256-entry options), and Google Maps™-integrated navigation - all with traceable calibration parameters and exportable ASCII log files.

Technical Context

The RD4247MAG3110 kit implements a full eCompass signal chain: MAG3110 provides ±1000 µT magnetic field sensing with 0.1 µT LSB resolution and I²C interface; MMA8451Q supplies ±2g/±4g/±8g accelerometer data at 12-bit resolution for tilt compensation. Sensor Toolbox software executes real-time 10-element magnetic calibration using hard-iron vector subtraction and symmetric inverse soft-iron matrix correction.

Calibration execution is governed by configurable parameters: Min/Max Equations (10–256), Calibration Interval (0.25–4 s), Smart FIFO dimensions (3×6×6 or 4×8×8), and Angles LPF time constant (16 samples = 0.4 s at 40 Hz). Output includes raw B_x/B_y/B_z (µT), calibrated B_x/B_y/B_z (µT), roll/pitch/yaw (degrees), and jam detection with automatic re-measurement recovery.

Key Specifications

Availability

RD4247MAG3110 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for eCompass prototyping, magnetic calibration algorithm development, and embedded navigation system validation requiring stable component supply, repeatable hardware reference, and vendor-supported software toolchain integration.

Supply support for RD4247MAG3110 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

Freescale Semiconductor (now part of NXP Semiconductors) was a leading developer of embedded processing, sensors, and analog solutions for automotive, industrial, and consumer applications before its 2015 acquisition.

The RD4247MAG3110 belongs to Freescale's Xtrinsic sensor platform family, designed specifically to accelerate development of intelligent motion-sensing systems with integrated hardware, firmware, and PC-based evaluation tools.

FAQ

What is the RD4247MAG3110 used for?

The RD4247MAG3110 is a complete evaluation kit for tilt-compensated eCompass functionality, combining the MAG3110 magnetometer and MMA8451Q accelerometer on a hardware platform with USB interface and Sensor Toolbox software. RD4247MAG3110 enables engineers to validate hard- and soft-iron calibration algorithms, visualize raw vs. calibrated magnetic data in 3D, log time-synchronized sensor outputs, and demonstrate navigation use cases including Google Maps™ integration and 3D pointer control - all without custom PCB design or firmware development.

Does the RD4247MAG3110 include both magnetometer and accelerometer hardware?

Yes, the RD4247MAG3110 kit includes the LFSTBEB3110 sensor board containing both the MAG3110 3-axis digital magnetometer and the MMA8451Q 3-axis accelerometer, mounted on an adapter board and connected to the LFSTBUSB USB-interface board. This dual-sensor configuration is essential for tilt-compensated eCompass operation, as the accelerometer provides real-time pitch and roll angles used to correct magnetometer heading output - a core capability demonstrated in the RD4247MAG3110's Navigation and 3D Pointer screens.

What software is required to operate the RD4247MAG3110?

The RD4247MAG3110 requires Freescale's free Sensor Toolbox software, which provides the eCompass application interface, calibration engine, data visualization, and logging functions. RD4247MAG3110 operation also depends on the FTDI USB-to-serial driver for communication and Adobe Shockwave Player for the Google Maps™ navigation demo. All software components are referenced in the official MAG3110UG User's Guide and downloadable from Freescale's archived support site.

Can the RD4247MAG3110 be used for production deployment?

No, the RD4247MAG3110 is strictly an evaluation and development kit - not a production-ready module. RD4247MAG3110 includes demonstration boards (LFSTBEB3110, LFSTBUSB), USB cables, and PC software intended for algorithm validation, educational use, and proof-of-concept testing. For production, designers must implement the MAG3110 and MMA8451Q ICs on their own PCBs using Freescale/NXP reference designs, datasheets, and production-grade firmware.

How does calibration work on the RD4247MAG3110?

RD4247MAG3110 uses a figure-eight motion to populate its Smart FIFO with geomagnetic measurements across multiple orientations. The Sensor Toolbox software then solves a 10-element calibration model: three hard-iron offsets (µT), six symmetric inverse soft-iron matrix coefficients, and geomagnetic field strength (µT). RD4247MAG3110 displays Fit Error % and green calibration bars to indicate solution quality, and allows saving calibration parameters to ASCII files for offline analysis or reuse in custom firmware.