MCU-9911 AK09911C Geomagnetic Hall Sensor Module

MCU-9911 AK09911C Geomagnetic Hall Sensor Module delivers exceptional three-axis magnetic field measurement capabilities for high-precision orientation and electronic compass navigation in portable electronics. This high-performance module incorporates the Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) AK09911C integrated circuit, which integrates sensitive Hall effect sensors alongside an internal 14-bit analog-to-digital converter. Consequently, developers can achieve an ultra-fine resolution of 0.6 μT/LSB across a wide dynamic measurement range of ±4900 μT. Furthermore, the onboard digital I2C bus simplifies interfacing with host microcontrollers while consuming minimal power during active tracking. Therefore, engineers frequently select this breakout board for robotic localization, drone flight heading systems, and pedestrian navigation projects requiring compact spatial footprints.

Key Features:

• High-Resolution Sensing: Features 14-bit digital output per axis with a sensitivity of 0.6 μT/LSB to capture subtle heading variations.
• Wide Dynamic Range: Measures geomagnetic fields up to ±4900 μT without encountering magnetic saturation.
• I2C Serial Communication: Supports Standard, Fast, and High-Speed modes up to 2.5 MHz for rapid register readouts.
• Integrated Interrupt Function: Incorporates a dedicated Data Ready (DRDY) pin that notifies the host MCU when fresh conversion samples become available.
• Ultra-Low Power Profile: Consumes only ≈ 2.4 mA during active 100 Hz measurements and drops to ≈ 3 μA in power-down mode.
• Internal Self-Test Mechanism: Validates sensor performance autonomously using an integrated magnetic source on chip.

Technical Specifications:

• Operating Voltage (VDD): 2.4 V to 3.6 V DC
• I/O Interface Voltage (VID): 1.65 V to VDD
• Magnetic Dynamic Range: ±4900 μT
• Output Resolution: 14-bit ADC
• Sensitivity Scale: 0.6 μT/LSB (typical)
• Maximum Output Data Rate (ODR): 100 Hz
• Communication Protocol: I2C (Standard, Fast, High-Speed Mode)
• Default I2C Address: 0x0C (7-bit)
• Operating Temperature: -30°C to +85°C

Mechanical Specifications:

• Module Architecture: Double-sided FR-4 PCB with gold-plated solder pads
• Pin Pitch: Standard 2.54 mm (0.1 inch) header spacing
• Mounting: 2 x M2 mounting holes for rigid mechanical securing
• Soldering: Lead-free RoHS-compliant reflow design

Dimensions:

• Module Length: ≈ 16.0 mm
• Module Width: ≈ 15.0 mm
• Module Thickness: ≈ 2.2 mm (excluding pin headers)
• Weight: ≈ 1.5 g

Pinout and Wiring:

• VCC: Main power input pin (connect to regulated 3.3V power source).
• GND: System common reference ground pin.
• SCL: I2C clock line (connect to host MCU I2C clock pin; requires pull-up resistor to VDD).
• SDA: I2C data line (connect to host MCU I2C data pin; requires pull-up resistor to VDD).
• DRDY: Data Ready interrupt output pin to signal completed conversion cycles to the host processor.
• RSTN: Active-low reset input pin used to reboot the onboard sensor circuitry.
• Wiring Note: However, users must avoid supplying 5V logic directly to the communication lines to prevent irreversible damage to the AK09911C chip.

Datasheet Reference:

• Download AK09911 Datasheet

Commonly Used in:

• Robotics Platforms: Providing dead-reckoning support and absolute yaw estimation for autonomous ground robots.
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Delivering auxiliary heading reference data for multirotor flight controllers.
• Pedestrian Navigation Systems: Calibrating GPS tracks and map heading on portable embedded hardware.
• Wearable IoT Hardware: Supplying low-power spatial orientation data in handheld field devices.

Applications:

• Electronic 3D Compassing: Determining accurate heading angles in variable environmental orientations.
• Inertial Measurement Fusion: Complementing 6-axis IMUs (accelerometer + gyroscope) to generate 9-DOF drift-free orientation data.
• Geomagnetic Field Mapping: Measuring localized Earth magnetic disturbances in scientific data logger systems.
• Tilt-Compensated Direction Sensing: Calculating accurate compass directions when paired with pitch and roll telemetry.

Equivalent Models:

• AK09918C: A newer 16-bit triaxial magnetometer from the same manufacturer offering enhanced 0.15 μT/LSB sensitivity.
• HMC5883L: A legacy 3-axis digital compass IC commonly utilized in older hobbyist electronics, although it provides lower dynamic range.
• QMC5883L: A drop-in pin-compatible successor to the HMC5883L offering integrated temperature compensation.
• LIS3MDL: A high-performance 3-axis magnetic sensor from STMicroelectronics featuring selectable measurement scales.

Package Includes:

• 1 x MCU-9911 AK09911C Geomagnetic Hall Sensor Module
• 1 x 6-Pin Straight 2.54 mm Male Header Strip