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BHI385 Smart IMU - Overview

BHI385 Smart IMU Breakout​

The BHI385 Smart IMU Breakout is built around Bosch Sensortec's BHI385, a programmable Smart IMU that combines a 6-DOF inertial measurement unit (3-axis accelerometer + 3-axis gyroscope) with an internal Fuser2 processor (32 bit microcontroller) that runs sensor-fusion firmware. Instead of delivering only raw sensor counts, the BHI385 runs multiple virtual sensor algorithms simultaneously: a Game Rotation Vector (quaternion orientation), a low-power step counter, multi-tap detection (single, double, and triple), and wrist gesture recognition, all computed on-chip, freeing up your microcontroller for other work. The board communicates over I2C at an address of 0x29 by default (or 0x28 via jumper), manages its own 1.8V power domain with an onboard LDO regulator, and includes a bidirectional I2C level-shifter so it is directly compatible with 3.3V systems. Two Qwiic (formerly easyC) connectors let you connect it to a NULA board without soldering a wire.

BHI385 Smart IMU Breakout
BHI385 Smart IMU Breakout

Which products is this documentation for?​

BHI385 Smart IMU Breakout

BHI385 Smart IMU Breakout

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Key Features​

  • 6-DOF IMU: 3-axis accelerometer + 3-axis gyroscope
  • Accelerometer range: ±4g / ±8g / ±16g / ±32g (configurable)
  • Gyroscope range: ±125 / ±250 / ±500 / ±1000 / ±2000 deg/s (configurable)
  • Onboard Fuser2 processor (Synopsys ARC EM4): runs sensor-fusion firmware uploaded at every power-on
  • Virtual sensors: Game Rotation Vector (quaternion), step counter, multi-tap detect, wrist gesture detect
  • Communication: I2C (default address 0x29, selectable to 0x28 via JP5 jumper)
  • Supply voltage: 3.3V (onboard 3.3V regulator generates 1.8V for the BHI385)
  • Logic level: 3.3V (onboard NMOS-dual level-shifter bridges the 1.8V I2C bus)
  • Connectors: 2 × Qwiic (formerly easyC) ports - plug-and-play, no soldering needed
  • Interrupt output: HIRQ pin exposed on a dedicated 2-pin header
  • Mounting: Two M3 screw holes
  • Dimensions: 22 × 22 mm (0.87 × 0.87 in)

You may also need​

Qwiic cable

Qwiic cable

Qwiic (formerly easyC) compatible cables with connectors on both ends, available in various lengths.