Interfacing MKR1010 with the MPU 6050 accelerator/gyroscope sensor

Other Hardware Sensors
1

Hi,
I have been looking for some days now how to connect the MKR1010 with the MPU 6050 sensor but I have not, yet, concluded how it can be done. I always come across with instructions of how to connect it to older arduino boards but I have understood that I have to use I2C. Also, I am confused about the use of suitable resistors at the SCL, SDA connections of the sensor device. Any direction for help would be greatly appreciated.

With best wishes,

Yannis

2

I have been looking for some days now how to connect the MKR1010 with the MPU 6050 sensor but I have not, yet, concluded how it can be done. I always come across with instructions of how to connect it to older arduino boards but I have understood that I have to use I2C.

I2C is surely correct but first you should post a link to the used hardware. I doubt you use the MPU6050 directly (that's a tiny SMD comonent) so I assume you use some breakout board. As there are many dozens of different boards available it's important for us to know which board you use and what component it carries in addition to the MPU.

The MKR1010 has the SDA/SCL pins on pin 11/12. Both have onboard pull-ups to 3V3, so breakout boards with additional pull-ups are not a good choice. The best board to choose is the simplest you can find: only the chip (perhaps a decoupling capacitor) but no additional stuff. Power it directly from the 3V3 pin of the MKR1010 and connect GND, SDA and SCL, then it should work.

If you have a board with more components, post a link to it's schematics.

3

Hi, thank you so much for your reply!

You 're right about the board. I am using this one

https://playground.arduino.cc/Main/MPU-6050

I would greatly appreciate your advice.

With best wishes,

Yannis

4

That board has on-board pull-ups to 3V3 and an onboard 3V3 voltage regulator. It's not a good choice to connect to an MKR1010. If you want to use it, desolder the resistors on the board. If you want to use it in a low power setup, desolder the voltage regulator and short the output to VCC, then connect VCC to 3V3 of the MKR1010.

A simple connection of the board to the MKR1010 probably works but may limit the life time of the Arduino and the MPU (sink current over speification).

5

Hi, thanks!

I see your concerns. I will try to follow your advice then. I now see that it is not as easy as I thought, e.g. as connecting this accelerator board to Arduino Uno.

Thanks again!

With best wishes,

Yannis