I'm using KiCad and don't really have a strong understanding of how to make this happen.. any advice would be very hepful.

 

so what kind of help you are looking for? circuit design? pcb design? what are you interfacing it with?

 

i guess you need schematics symbol and footprint. what package you are trying to use and how are you planning to solder it? would you be doing that yourself or you plan on using PCBA?

 

Hey panic mode, thank you for your reply! I downloaded a symbol and footprint from SnapMagic , I plan to use a PCBA. I am trying to make a group of sensors that I can use to measure their output over a small area (24 x 24 mm square).

 

That device only has two I2C address pins (A0,A1) so only four devices can be connected to the I2C bus. If you want to connect more you need to use SPI and decode the CS signals, but watch the bus capacitance.

 

here is what I have so far..

 

Have you read post #5?

 

View attachment 351992here is what I have so far..

All the I2C addresses at 00 ?
No, it won’t work.

If you require to 16 individual I2C devices, which themselves only have four available addresses, you will require a quad I2C switch to expand your addressing range, like the PCA9545A.

 

Wait!
The MLX90395 has an SPI, not an I2C interface. Decoding of the CS signal will be required.

https://www.melexis.com/en/documents/documentation/datasheets/datasheet-mlx90395

 

Wait!
The MLX90395 has an SPI, not an I2C interface. Decoding of the CS signal will be required.

https://www.melexis.com/en/documents/documentation/datasheets/datasheet-mlx90395

It has both SPI and I2C, so use either SPI with CS decoded, or I2C with addresses expanded.

 

You are correct!!
It is a dual protocol device. Missed that fact during a cursory glance at the data sheet.

Anyway, our initial recommendations about address expansion or CS decoding are still valid.

 

I sincerely thank you all for your advice, I will add a quad I2C switch for expansion

 

I am rather late joining this thread, so bear with me. The TS should at least describe what the desired result would be, and also mention what the " MLX90395 " is, for those of us who do not recognize every single device type number.

 

Hello @MisterBill2, thank you for chiming in. The MLX90395 Triaxis Magnetic Node is a miniature monolithic sensor IC sensitive to the three orthogonal components of the flux density applied to the IC (i.e. BX, BY and BZ) and to temperature. My desired result is to group 16 of these sensors to create a device that is capable of providing output to sensory touch.

 

touch by what?

 

@panic mode touched by anything. Imagine a keypad that could tell how firmly someone pressed the keys as an example.

 

if anything is a soldering iron or a magnet or car bumper, then MLX sensors may be the right choice. but temperature of human body is rather stable. only extremities (fingers) tend to vary a bit more. and even that is not a big change to make it reliable reliable since heat of passing reflection or shadow may cause same degree of change. but that is the temperature and... humans are not particularly magnetic. so i am not convinced that choice of sensor is suitable for the application unless you have an idea of some particular arrangement in mind.

 

Hello @MisterBill2, thank you for chiming in. The MLX90395 Triaxis Magnetic Node is a miniature monolithic sensor IC sensitive to the three orthogonal components of the flux density applied to the IC (i.e. BX, BY and BZ) and to temperature. My desired result is to group 16 of these sensors to create a device that is capable of providing output to sensory touch.

OK, the devices are "tri-axial MAGNETIC flux sensors." Those devices are not likely to respond to the touch, or even the proximity, of a non-magnetic entity, such as most humans and animals. So I see some major challenges ahead for this development project. It certainly could work with some industrial robots, and possibly even some of the more "humanoid" versions.
I suggest providing a much more detailed description of the proposed system, along with a description of the anticipated benefits, in order to gain support from a suitable venture capitalist.

 

I appreciate the feedback @MisterBill2 and @panic mode. I will incorporate magnets between the sensor and the surface that is to be touched. Once I have a functioning prototype, I can elaborate a bit more on the overall design proposal as I will have some reason of measure to which I can apply this design.

 

What is not at all clear to me is how (what I assume) a human touch will affect any magnetic flux.