Project Overview
This design is a chest-mounted wearable module for monitoring body movement using a Bosch BHI160B 6-axis sensor over I²C. Key elements include:
- Power & Decoupling
- 3.3 V input via the +3V3 net portal
- Three decoupling caps: C1, C2 on VDD, and C3 on the internal VREG
- Sensor
- U1: BHI160B 6-axis IMU (accelerometer + gyroscope)
- I²C & AUX Interfaces
- Main I²C (SDA/SCL) exposed on the 4-pin connector J1
- Sensor-hub AUX SDA/SCL exposed on the 6-pin header J2
- Pull-ups: R1 & R2 on AUX lines
- Address Selection
- Address-select network using R3 & R4 on the SEL_ADR pin
Limitations for Chest-Mounted Equine Monitoring
- Lack of On-Board Power Source
Requires an external 3.3 V supply—no integrated battery or regulator is provided.
- No Wireless or Data Logging
All data must be read via wired I²C; there’s no microcontroller, flash memory, or radio on-board.
- Mechanical & Environmental Protection
No enclosure, waterproofing, or shock-proofing; raw PCB may not withstand sweat, mud, or impact during riding/galloping.
- Orientation & Mounting Sensitivity
Without a defined housing or alignment jig, sensor orientation may vary, complicating consistent motion analysis.
- Accelerometer Range & Bandwidth
The BHI160B’s built-in ±16 g range and its sampling rate may not capture very high-impact events without saturation or aliasing.
- No Input/ESD Protection
I/O lines are exposed directly—no TVS diodes or series protection, risking damage from static or voltage spikes.
- Thermal & Calibration Drift
No temperature sensor or compensation network; prolonged exposure to outdoor conditions could introduce measurement drift.
- No Filtering Beyond Decoupling
High-frequency noise on I²C lines or sensor outputs may require additional RC or ferrite filtering for cleaner data.