7Semi BME680 Temperature, Humidity, Pressure & Air Quality Sensor Breakout

7Semi BME680 Temperature, Humidity, Pressure & Air Quality Sensor Breakout (Qwiic) Technical Information

Overview

The module is based on the Bosch BME680 environmental sensor IC, a multi-sensor MEMS device integrating four environmental sensing functions:

• Temperature

• Relative Humidity

• Barometric Pressure

• Gas (VOC-based air quality)

The Qwiic interface version simplifies connection using plug-and-play I2C cabling.

Working Principle

Temperature Sensing

• Uses bandgap temperature sensing

• Converts temperature variations digital output

Humidity Sensing

• Uses a cchanges capacitance digital RH

Pressure Sensing

• Uses a MEMS piezoresistive pressure sensor

• Detects atmospheric pressure via diaphragm deformation

Gas / Air Quality Sensing

MOX (Metal-Oxide) Gas Sensor

• Includes a micro-heater

• Measures resistance changes when exposed to gases

Detection Mechanism

• VOC gases interact with heated sensing layer

• Resistance varies converted into gas signal

• Processed into IAQ (Indoor Air Quality index)

Detects broad VOC presence, not specific gases.

Measurement Characteristics

Temperature

• Range: 40C to +85C

• Accuracy: ~>c0100% RH

• Accuracy: 3% RH

Pressure

• Range: 3001100 hPa

• Accuracy: ~0.6 hPa

Gas / Air Quality

• Measures:

  • VOC levels (indirect via resistance)

• Output:

  • IAQ index (relative air quality)

• Response time: < 1 second (gas sensing)

Electrical Characteristics

• Supply voltage: 1.71V to 3.6V

• Power consumption:

  • A level (environment sensing)

  • Higher (up to mA) when gas heater active

Communication Interface

I2C Interface (Qwiic System)

• Standard I2C li>

  0x76 or 0x77

Qwiic Connector

• 4-pin JST connector:

  • VCC, GND, SDA, SCL

• Enables:

  • Solderless connection

  • Daisy-chaining multiple sensors

Internal Features

Multi-Sensor Integration

• Combines 4 sensors in one compact IC

IAQ Algorithm Support

• Works with software (e.g., BSEC) to compute:

  • IAQ

  • CO equivalent

  • Breath VOC

Independent Sensor Control

• Temperature, humidity, pressure, and gas sensors can operate independently

High Resolution

• Temperature: 0.01C resolution

• Pressure: 0.18 Pa resolution

Low Power0.15 A consumption

Operating Behavior

Multi-Parameter Measurement

• Simultaneous sensing of environmental conditions

Gas Measurement Cycle

• Requires:

  • Heater activation

  • Stabilization period

   

Environmental Compensation

• Gas readings compensated using:

  • Temperature

  • Humidity

   

Air Quality Output

• Provides relative IAQ index, not exact ppm values

Environmental Characteristics

• Operating conditions:

  • Temperature: 40C to +85C

  • Humidity: 0100% RH

  • Pressure: 3001100 hPa

   

Limitati

Requires:

• Calibration algorithms for meaningful IAQ

Sensitive to:

• Environmental changes

• Sensor self-heating (minor temperature offset)

Typical Pin / Connector

Qwiic Connector (4-pin)

• VCC

• GND

• SDA

• SCL

Functional Role

The module acts as a:

• Environmental monitoring sensor

• Air quality (VOC-based) sensor

• Weather and altitude sensing component

• Multi-parameter IoT sensing node

Summary

The 7Semi BME680 Qwiic Breakout is a compact, multi-functional environmental sensor module that:

temperature, humidity, pressure, and VOC-based air quality

Uses MEMS + MOX sensing technologies

Provides digital output via I2C (Qwiic interface)

Supports IAQ processing for air quality monitoring

Offers low power consumption with high integration

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