Micro:bit and BMP280 barometric pressure sensor example

BMP280 is an absolute barometric pressure sensor especially designed for mobile applications. The sensor module is housed in an extremely compact package. Its small dimensions and its low power consumption allow for the implementation in battery powered devices such as mobile phones, GPS modules or watches.

As its predecessor BMP180, BMP280 is based on Bosch’s proven Piezo-resistive pressure sensor technology featuring high accuracy and linearity as well as long term stability and high EMC robustness. Numerous device operation options offer highest flexibility to optimize the device regarding power consumption, resolution and filter performance. A tested set of default settings for example use case is provided to the developer in order to make design-in as easy as possible.

Applications

– Enhancement of GPS navigation (e.g. time-tofirst-fix improvement, dead-reckoning, slope detection)

– Indoor navigation (floor detection, elevator detection)

– Outdoor navigation, leisure and sports applications

– Weather forecast

– Health care applications (e.g. spirometry)

– Vertical velocity indication (e.g. rise/sink speed)

Parts List

Layout

This is a layout diagram using an adafruit part, my module had clearly marked SDA and SCL connections

microbit and bmp280

Code

This example requires https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_BMP280_Library and https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_Sensor

[codesyntax lang=”cpp”]

/***************************************************************************
This is a library for the BMP280 humidity, temperature & pressure sensor

Designed specifically to work with the Adafruit BMEP280 Breakout
----> http://www.adafruit.com/products/2651

These sensors use I2C or SPI to communicate, 2 or 4 pins are required
to interface.

Adafruit invests time and resources providing this open source code,
please support Adafruit andopen-source hardware by purchasing products
from Adafruit!

Written by Limor Fried & Kevin Townsend for Adafruit Industries.
BSD license, all text above must be included in any redistribution
***************************************************************************/

#include <Wire.h>
#include <SPI.h>
#include <Adafruit_Sensor.h>
#include <Adafruit_BMP280.h>

Adafruit_BMP280 bme; // I2C


void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
Serial.println(F("BMP280 test"));

if (!bme.begin()) {
Serial.println("Could not find a valid BMP280 sensor, check wiring!");
while (1);
}
}

void loop() {
Serial.print("Temperature = ");
Serial.print(bme.readTemperature());
Serial.println(" *C");

Serial.print("Pressure = ");
Serial.print(bme.readPressure());
Serial.println(" Pa");

Serial.print("Approx altitude = ");
Serial.print(bme.readAltitude(1013.25)); // this should be adjusted to your local forcase
Serial.println(" m");

Serial.println();
delay(2000);
}

[/codesyntax]

Output

Open the serial monitor and you should see something like this – I sometimes get strange altitude readings – negative values, not sure why

Temperature = 27.65 *C
Pressure = 100592.44 Pa
Approx altitude = 61.17 m

Temperature = 28.72 *C
Pressure = 100589.25 Pa
Approx altitude = 61.44 m

Temperature = 29.31 *C
Pressure = 100590.25 Pa
Approx altitude = 61.35 m

Temperature = 29.70 *C
Pressure = 100588.21 Pa
Approx altitude = 61.53 m

Temperature = 30.01 *C
Pressure = 100581.49 Pa
Approx altitude = 62.09 m

Temperature = 28.95 *C
Pressure = 100601.21 Pa
Approx altitude = 60.44 m

Link

https://ae-bst.resource.bosch.com/media/_tech/media/datasheets/BST-BMP280-DS001-18.pdf

1 piece I2C/SPI BMP280 3.3 Digital Barometric Pressure Altitude Sensor Module High Precision Atmospheric Module for Arduino