3-Axis Digital Compass IC 
HMC5883L 
 
The  Honeywell  HMC5883L  is  a  surface-mount,  multi-chip  module  designed  for 
low-field  magnetic  sensing  with  a  digital  interface  for  applications  such  as  low-
cost  compassing  and  magnetometry.  The  HMC5883L  includes  our  state-of-the-
art,  high-resolution  HMC118X  series  magneto-resistive  sensors  plus  an  ASIC 
containing amplification, automatic degaussing strap drivers, offset cancellation, 
and  a  12-bit  ADC  that  enables  1°  to  2°  compass  heading  accuracy.    The  I2C 
serial bus allows for easy interface. The HMC5883L is a 3.0x3.0x0.9mm surface 
mount  16-pin  leadless  chip  carrier  (LCC).  Applications  for  the  HMC5883L 
include  Mobile  Phones,  Netbooks,  Consumer  Electronics,  Auto  Navigation 
Systems, and Personal Navigation Devices. 
 
Advanced Information 
 
The HMC5883L utilizes Honeywell’s Anisotropic Magnetoresistive (AMR) technology that provides advantages over other 
magnetic  sensor  technologies.  These  anisotropic,  directional  sensors  feature  precision  in-axis  sensitivity  and  linearity.  
These sensors’ solid-state construction with very low cross-axis sensitivity is designed to measure both the direction and 
the magnitude of Earth’s magnetic fields, from milli-gauss to 8 gauss. Honeywell’s Magnetic Sensors are among the most 
sensitive and reliable low-field sensors in the industry. 
 
 FEATURES                                   BENEFITS 
 3-Axis Magnetoresistive Sensors and 
ASIC in a 3.0x3.0x0.9mm LCC Surface 
Mount Package 
 
 
 12-Bit ADC Coupled with Low Noise 
AMR Sensors Achieves 5 milli-gauss 
Resolution in ±8 Gauss Fields 
 
 
 
 
 Built-In Self Test 
 Low Voltage Operations (2.16 to 3.6V) 
and Low Power Consumption (100 μA) 
 
 
 Built-In Strap Drive Circuits 
 
 Small Size for Highly Integrated Products. Just Add a Micro- 
Controller Interface, Plus Two External SMT Capacitors 
Designed for High Volume, Cost Sensitive OEM Designs 
Easy to Assemble & Compatible with High Speed SMT Assembly 
 
 
 Enables 1° to 2° Degree Compass Heading Accuracy  
 
 
 
 Enables Low-Cost Functionality Test after Assembly in Production 
 Compatible for Battery Powered Applications 
 
 
 
 Set/Reset and Offset Strap Drivers for Degaussing, Self Test, and 
Offset Compensation 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I2C Digital Interface 
 
Lead Free Package Construction 
 
 
 
Wide Magnetic Field Range (+/-8 Oe)   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Software and Algorithm Support 
Available 
 
 Fast 160 Hz Maximum Output Rate 
        
 
Popular Two-Wire Serial Data Interface for Consumer Electronics 
 
RoHS Compliance 
 
Sensors Can Be Used in Strong Magnetic Field Environments with a 
1° to 2° Degree Compass Heading Accuracy 
 
Compassing Heading, Hard Iron, Soft Iron, and Auto Calibration 
Libraries Available 
 
 
 
 
 Enables Pedestrian Navigation and LBS Applications 
                            
 
 
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HMC5883L 
 
SPECIFICATIONS (* Tested at 25°C except stated otherwise.) 
Characteristics 
Power Supply 
    Supply Voltage 
Conditions* 
Min 
Typ 
Max 
Units 
 
VDD Referenced to AGND 
VDDIO Referenced to DGND 
 
2.16 
1.71 
 
 
 
3.6 
1.8 
VDD+0.1 
    Average Current Draw 
Idle Mode 
Measurement Mode (7.5 Hz ODR; 
No measurement average, MA1:MA0 = 00) 
VDD = 2.5V, VDDIO = 1.8V 
 
Full scale (FS) – total applied field (Typical) 
3-bit gain control 
VDD=3.0V, GN=2 
±2.0 gauss input range 
±2.0 gauss input range 
Performance 
    Field Range 
    Mag Dynamic Range 
    Resolution 
    Linearity 
    Hysteresis 
    Cross-Axis Sensitivity 
Test Conditions: Cross field = 0.5 gauss,  
Happlied = ±3 gauss 
- 
- 
 
 
-8 
±1 
 
 
 
 
2 
100 
 
 
 
 
5 
 
±25 
±0.2% 
    Output Rate (ODR) 
Continuous Measurment Mode 
0.75 
 
    Measurement Period 
From receiving command to data ready 
Single Measurement Mode 
    Turn-on Time 
    Gain Tolerance 
    I2C Address 
    I2C Rate 
    I2C Hysteresis 
    Self Test 
General 
    ESD Voltage 
 
Ready for I2C commands 
All gain/dynamic range settings 
7-bit address 
8-bit read address 
8-bit write address 
Controlled by I2C Master 
Hysteresis of Schmitt trigger inputs on SCL 
and SDA  -  Fall (VDDIO=1.8V) 
Rise (VDDIO=1.8V) 
X & Y Axes 
Z Axis 
X & Y Axes (GN=100) 
Z Axis (GN=100) 
Human Body Model (all pins) 
Machine Model (all pins) 
    Operating Temperature 
Ambient 
    Storage Temperature 
Ambient, unbiased  
    Reflow Classification 
MSL 3, 260  C Peak Temperature 
    Package Size 
    Package Height 
 
 
 
Length and Width 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
-30 
-40 
 
2.85 
0.8 
6 
200 
±5 
0x1E 
0x3D 
0x3C 
 
 
0.2*VDDIO 
0.8*VDDIO 
±1.16 
±1.08 
510 
 
 
 
 
 
3.00 
0.9 
- 
- 
 
 
+8 
±8 
 
0.1 
 
 
75 
160 
 
 
 
 
400 
 
 
 
 
TBD 
TBD 
85 
125 
 
3.15 
1.0 
 
Volts 
Volts 
μA 
μA 
 
 
gauss  
gauss 
milli-gauss 
±% FS 
ppm 
%FS/gauss 
Hz 
Hz 
msec 
μs 
% 
hex 
hex 
hex 
kHz 
 
Volts 
Volts 
gauss 
LSb 
 
Volts 
°C 
°C 
 
mm 
mm 
2                                                                                                                                                             
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HMC5883L 
 
Absolute Maximum Ratings (* Tested at 25°C except stated otherwise.) 
Characteristics 
Min 
Max 
4.8 
4.8 
Units 
Volts 
Volts 
-0.3 
-0.3 
Description 
    Supply Voltage VDD 
    Supply Voltage VDDIO 
 
PIN CONFIGURATIONS  
Pin 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
Name 
SCL 
VDD 
NC 
S1 
NC 
NC 
NC 
SETP 
GND 
C1 
GND 
SETC 
VDDIO 
NC 
DRDY 
SDA 
Serial Clock – I2C Master/Slave Clock 
Power Supply (2.16V to 3.6V) 
Not to be Connected 
Tie to VDDIO 
Not to be Connected 
Not to be Connected 
Not to be Connected 
Set/Reset Strap Positive – S/R Capacitor (C2) Connection 
Supply Ground 
Reservoir Capacitor (C1) Connection 
Supply Ground 
S/R Capacitor (C2) Connection – Driver Side 
IO Power Supply (1.71V to VDD) 
Not to be Connected 
Data Ready, Interrupt Pin.  Internally pulled high.  Optional connection.  Low for 250 
µsec when data is placed in the data output registers. 
Serial Data – I2C Master/Slave Data 
 
Table 1: Pin Configurations 
Arrow indicates direction of magnetic field that generates a positive output reading in Normal Measurement configuration. 
 
 
 
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                                                                                                                                                       3                                                                                      
 
 
HMC5883L 
 
PACKAGE OUTLINES 
 
PACKAGE DRAWING HMC5883L (16-PIN LPCC, dimensions in millimeters) 
 
MOUNTING CONSIDERATIONS 
 
The following is the recommend printed circuit board (PCB) footprint for the HMC5883L.  
 
 
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北京华信昊通科技有限公司 地址:北京市石景山区杨庄东路126号星宇大厦520  Tel:010-51620429 51620428  e-mail:13911707235@139.com  http://www.cgs-tech.com/
 
 
                                                              
 
0.1001.2751.2750.5003.0003.0000.4500.300x 8x 12HMC5883 Land Pad Pattern(All dimensions are in mm)
 
 
HMC5883L 
 
PCB Pad Definition and Traces 
 
The HMC5883L is a fine pitch LCC package.  Refer to previous figure for recommended PCB footprint for proper package 
centering. Size the traces between the HMC5883L and the external capacitors (C1 and C2) to handle the 1 ampere peak 
current pulses with low voltage drop on the traces. 
 
Stencil Design and Solder Paste 
A 4 mil stencil and 100% paste coverage is recommended for the electrical contact pads.  
 
Reflow Assembly 
This  device  is  classified  as  MSL 3  with  260 C  peak  reflow  temperature. A  baking  process  (125 C,  24 hrs)  is  required if 
device is not kept continuously in a dry (< 10% RH) environment before assembly. No special reflow profile is required for 
HMC5883L,  which  is  compatible  with  lead  eutectic  and  lead-free  solder  paste  reflow  profiles.  Honeywell  recommends 
adherence to solder paste manufacturer’s guidelines.  
 
 
INTERNAL SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM 
HMC5883L 
 
 
 
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                                                                                                                                                       5                                                                                      
 
 
HMC5883L 
 
DUAL SUPPLY REFERENCE DESIGN 
 
 
 
SINGLE SUPPLY REFERENCE DESIGN 
 
 
 
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HMC5883L 
 
PERFORMANCE 
 
The following graph(s) highlight HMC5883L’s performance. 
 
Typical Resolution 
 
 
 
Typical Measurement Period in Single-Measurement Mode 
 
  
* Monitoring of the DRDY Interrupt pin is only required if maximum output rate is desired.
 
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                                                                                                                                                       7                                                                                      
 
 
HMC5883L 
 
BASIC DEVICE OPERATION 
 
Anisotropic Magneto-Resistive Sensors 
 
The Honeywell HMC5883L magnetoresistive sensor circuit is a trio of sensors and application specific support circuits to 
measure magnetic fields. With power supply applied, the sensor converts any incident magnetic field in the sensitive axis 
directions to a differential voltage output. The magnetoresistive sensors are made of a nickel-iron (Permalloy) thin-film and 
patterned  as  a  resistive  strip  element.  In  the  presence  of  a  magnetic  field,  a  change  in  the  bridge  resistive  elements 
causes a corresponding change in voltage across the bridge outputs. 
 
These  resistive  elements  are  aligned  together  to  have  a  common  sensitive  axis  (indicated  by  arrows  in  the  pinout 
diagram) that will provide positive  voltage change with magnetic fields increasing in the sensitive direction. Because the 
output  is  only  proportional  to  the  magnetic  field  component  along  its  axis,  additional  sensor  bridges  are  placed  at 
orthogonal directions to permit accurate measurement of magnetic field in any orientation.  
 
Self Test 
 
To check the HMC5883L for proper operation, a self test feature in incorporated in which the sensor is internally excited 
with a nominal magnetic field (in either positive or negative bias configuration).  This field is then measured and reported. 
This  function  is  enabled  and  the  polarity  is  set  by  bits  MS[n]  in  the  configuration  register  A.  An  internal  current  source 
generates DC current (about 10 mA) from the VDD supply.  This DC current is applied to the offset straps of the magneto-
resistive sensor, which creates an artificial magnetic field bias on the sensor.   
 
See SELF TEST OPERATION section later in this datasheet for additional details. 
 
Power Management 
 
This  device  has  two  different  domains  of  power  supply.  The  first  one  is  VDD  that  is  the  power  supply  for  internal 
operations and the second one is VDDIO that is dedicated to IO interface. It is possible to work with VDDIO equal to VDD;  
Single Supply mode, or with VDDIO lower than VDD allowing HMC5883L to be compatible with other devices on board.  
 
I2C Interface 
 
Control of this device is carried out via the I2C bus.  This device will be connected to this bus as a slave device under the 
control of a master device, such as the processor. 
 
This device is compliant  with I2C-Bus Specification,  document number:  9398 393 40011.  As an I2C compatible device, 
this device has a 7-bit serial address and supports I2C protocols.  This device supports standard and fast modes, 100kHz 
and  400kHz,  respectively,  but  does  not  support  the  high  speed  mode  (Hs).  External  pull-up  resistors  are  required  to 
support these standard and fast speed modes.  
 
Activities required by the master (register read and write) have priority over internal activities, such as the measurement.  
The purpose of this priority is to not keep the master waiting and the I2C bus engaged for longer than necessary. 
 
Internal Clock  
 
The device has an internal clock for internal digital logic functions and timing management. 
 
H-Bridge for Set/Reset Strap Drive 
 
The  ASIC  contains  large  switching  FETs  capable  of  delivering  a  large  but  brief  pulse  to  the  Set  /  Reset  strap  of  the 
sensor.    This  strap  is  largely  a resistive  load.    There  is  no  need  for  an  external  Set/Reset circuit. The  controlling  of  the 
Set/Reset  function  is  done  automatically  by  the  ASIC  for  each  measurement.  One  half  of  the  difference  from  the 
measurements taken after a set pulse and after a reset pulse will be put in the data output register for each of the three 
axes.  By  doing  so,  the  sensor’s  internal  offset  and  its  temperature  dependence  is  removed/cancelled  for  all 
measurements. 
 
Charge Current Limit 
 
The  current  that  reservoir  capacitor  (C1)  can  draw  when  charging  is  limited  for  both  single  supply  and  dual  supply 
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