A carbon dioxide sensor or CO2 sensor is an instrument for the measurement of carbon dioxide gas. The most common principles for CO2 sensors are infrared gas sensors (NDIR) and chemical gas sensors. Measuring carbon dioxide is important in monitoring indoor air quality, the function of the lungs in the form of a capnograph device, and many industrial processes.
NDIR sensors are spectroscopic sensors to detect CO2 in a gaseous environment by its characteristic absorption. The key components are an infrared source, a light tube, an interference (wavelength) filter, and an infrared detector. The gas is pumped or diffuses into the light tube and the electronics measure the absorption of the characteristic wavelength of light. NDIR sensors are most often used for measuring carbon dioxide. The best of these have sensitivities of 20~50 PPM.
An overview of the SCD40-D-R1 sensor
The SCD4x is a CO2 sensor is built on the photoacoustic sensing principle and Sensirion’s patented PAsens and CMOSens technology to offer high accuracy at an unmatched price and smallest form factor. On-chip signal compensation is realized with the build-in SHT4x humidity and temperature sensor.
The SCD4x enables smart ventilation systems to regulate ventilation in the most energy-efficient and human-friendly way. Moreover, indoor air quality monitors and other connected devices based on the SCD4x can help maintaining low CO2 concentration for a healthy, productive environment.
Specification
Application
- Output Type: Digital-I2C
- Detection Range: 0 to 40000 ppm
For more specifications, please refer to datasheet
- CO2 monitoring applications
SCD40-D-R1 module Key Features
- User-selectable module power supply voltage between 3V3 and 5V
- On Board, ON/OFF LED indicator
- GebraBit Pin Compatible with GEBRABUS
- It can be used as a daughter board of GebraBit MCU Modules
- Featuring Castellated pad (Assembled as SMD Part)
- Separatable screw parts to reduce the size of the board
- Package: GebraBit small (36.29mm x 32.72mm)
GebraBit SCD40-D-R1 module
GebraBit SCD40-D-R1 photoacoustic NDIR CO2 MEASUREMENT MODULE. GebraBit SCD40-D-R1 operates with 3V3 and 5V Supply Voltages that users can easily select with jumper selector of the module. User can interface with GebraBit SCD40-D-R1 by I2C protocol with the module.
Since it’s difficult to access to the sensor pins, user needs a starter circuit and driver for the hardware development and of course the software development of the SCD40-D-R1 sensor. For the convenience of users, this work has been done by implementing the SCD40-D-R1 sensor circuit and providing access to the sensor important pins.
It is enough to put the GebraBit SCD40-D-R1 module in the BreadBoard, then by applying the proper voltage set up the GebraBit SCD40-D-R1 module with any of Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Discovery board, and especially we recommend using GebraBit microcontroller development modules (GebraBit STM32F303 or GebraBit ATMEGA32 module) then receiving the data.
The reason for our recommendation when setting up the GebraBit SCD40-D-R1 module with GebraBit microcontroller development modules (such as GebraBit STM32F303 or GebraBit ATMEGA32), is the presence of an internal 3V3 regulator on these modules and the compatibility of the pin order of all GebraBit modules together (GEBRABUS standard), it’s enough to Put the SCD40-D-R1 in the corresponding socket as shown in the above picture and develop the desired sensor module without the need for wiring.
Introduction of module sections
SCD40-D-R1 sensor
SCD40-D-R1 is the main IC of this module, which is responsible for measuring CO2 and is placed in the center of the module and its circuit is designed.
VDD SEL jumper
According to the state of 0R resistance of this jumper, the main voltage of sensor power supply is selected between 3V3 and 5V.
Power LED
According to the state of the VDD SEL jumper and applying voltage to the module by the corresponding pin, the LED of the module will be lit.
GebraBit SCD40-D-R1 Module pins
Supply pins
- 3V3 and 5V: These pins can supply the sensor main power supply and the logic level of the sensor digital connection (I2C) according to the state of the VDDSEL selector jumper.
- GND: This is the common ground pin for power and logic level of the sensor.
I2C pins
- SDA: This pin is the I2C communication data pin, which is connected to the corresponding data pin in the microcontroller (processor). According to the state of the VDD SEL jumper, you can use the logic level with a voltage of 5V or 3V3.This pin is pulled up with a resistor.
- SCL: This pin is the I2C communication clock pin, which is connected to the corresponding clock pin in the microcontroller (processor). Depending on the state of the VDD SEL jumper, you can use the logic level with a voltage of 5V or 3V3. This pin is pulled up with a resistor.
Connect to the processor
I2C connection with GebraBit STM32F303
For I2C connection of GebraBit SCD40-D-R1 and GebraBit STM32F303 microcontroller module, after defining SDA and SCL on pins PB9 and PB8 (for convenience in STMCUBEMX), follow the below steps:
- Connect the 3V3 pin of the SCD40-D-R1 module to the 3V3 output pin of the microcontroller module. (Red wire)
- Connect the GND pin of the SCD40-D-R1 module to the GND pin of the microcontroller module (Black wire).
- Connect the SCL pin of the SCD40-D-R1 module to the PB8 pin of the microcontroller (SCL) module (Blue wire).
- Connect the SDA pin of the SCD40-D-R1 module to the PB9 pin of the microcontroller (SDA) module. (Yellow wire)
You can see how to connect the above mentioned steps in this picture:
Note: Considering that the PA14 pin of the GebraBit STM32F303 microcontroller module is used to program the microcontroller, I2C setting on the PA14 and PA15 pins is impossible in this version, so in this version for I2C connection with the GebraBit STM32F303 microcontroller module, GebraBit SCD40-D-R1 module cannot be placed on it as Pin to Pin. To make a more convenient connection between the two modules, you can select the SPI protocol by using the on-board jumpers and then place the GebraBit SCD40-D-R1 module as Pin to Pin on the GebraBit STM32F303 module.
I2C connection with GebraBit ATMEGA32A
Considering that the I2C pins of the ATMEGA32A microcontroller are based on the GEBRABUS standard and correspond to the I2C pins of other GEBRABIT modules, the GebraBit SCD40-D-R1 module can be placed pin to pin on the GebraBit ATMEGA32A module and communicate with the GebraBit SCD40-D-R1 module via I2C. Here, for better understanding, the separate connection of these two modules is shown:
Note: If you are using GebraBit microcontroller modules, note that the jumper selectors of the GebraBit SCD40-D-R1 are set to 3V3 so that you can easily power-on the GebraBit SCD40-D-R1 module by getting the 3V3 voltage from the microcontroller module.
I2C Connection with ARDUINO UNO
Follow the below steps to connect the GebraBit SCD40-D-R1 module to the ARDUINO UNO via I2C:
- Connect the 3V3 pin of the SCD40-D-R1 module to the 3V3 output pin of the ARDUINO UNO board. (Red wire)
- Connect the GND pin of the SCD40-D-R1 module to the GND pin of the ARDUINO UNO board (Black wire).
- Connect the SCL pin of the SCD40-D-R1 module to the A5 pin of the ARDUINO UNO board (SCL). (Blue wire)
- Connect the SDA pin of the SCD40-D-R1 module to the A4 pin of the ARDUINO UNO board (SDA). (Orange wire)
You can see how to connect the above mentioned steps in this picture: