BMA400 low power mode Single tap and double tap INT.

Hello Bosch Sensortec team,

I am currently evaluating the BMA400 using an ESP32 and would like some guidance on implementing a battery-optimized configuration using the sensor's built-in tap detection and interrupt functionality.

The required functionality is:

  • Single-tap detection

  • Double-tap detection

  • Hardware interrupt output

  • Low-power operation for battery-powered applications

  • Automatic transition between low-power and normal operation, if appropriate

  • Minimum practical current consumption while maintaining reliable tap/double-tap detection

I understand that the BMA400 low-power mode operates at a fixed 25 Hz ODR and has a typical current consumption of approximately 0.8 µA in the referenced configuration, while normal operation has a higher current consumption of approximately 3.5 µA, depending on the configuration.

I am considering an operating sequence similar to:

Low-power mode → wake-up → normal mode → tap/double-tap detection → interrupt → return to low-power mode

I would like to confirm whether this is the recommended approach.

Specifically:

  1. Can the BMA400 use low-power mode for activity monitoring and then switch to normal mode for reliable single-tap/double-tap detection?

  2. What ODR and filter configuration is recommended for the BMA400 tap engine?

  3. Is there a recommended configuration sequence for combining:

    • Auto-wakeup

    • Single tap

    • Double tap

    • Interrupt

    • Auto-low-power

  4. When the device wakes from low-power mode, can the previously configured normal-mode settings be restored automatically, or does the host need to reconfigure the sensor?

  5. What current consumption should I expect for this type of operating sequence, rather than only the standalone low-power-mode current?

  6. Are there any important restrictions or interactions between low-power mode, auto-wakeup, and tap/double-tap detection that should be considered?

  7. For the interrupt output, what configuration is recommended for reliable single-tap and double-tap detection?

I am also looking at the Zephyr RTOS BMA4xx driver, which already recognizes the BMA400. I would like to understand whether this existing driver can be extended to support the required BMA400 tap/double-tap functionality, or whether Bosch recommends using a different driver/API approach.

For initial evaluation, I am using an ESP32 with an I²C connection to the BMA400 and can provide non-confidential register configurations, measurements, or test results if required.

I cannot share proprietary application details or company-specific code because of confidentiality requirements.

Thank you for your guidance.

Sensor
BMA400
Application
Others
Use case
Door
Development Platform
Zephyr
Project Phase
Other
Label
Software
Volume
10000
regional information
Vijayavda
1 reply
BMA400