This shield is based on Microchip MGC3130 chip, which enables the Raspberry Pi with 3D gesture recognition and motion tracking function. It can capture x y z position information, can also do proximity sensing and touch sensing, support tap and double click.
As shown in the figure below, the recognition area is divided into two parts: the strip area distributed around and a central panel.
The strip areas can sense the orientation change, including the North, South, West, and East. The central area can sense touch, tap, double click, and gestures in the air above. That's why we call it 3D Gesture & Tracking Shield, you don't even need to touch the central area directly, just wave your hand above the central area, and this shield can sense your movements.
Thanks to the Microchip’s patented GestIC technology, this shield utilizes electrical near-field sensing to detect movements. The shield generates a magnetic field above the central panel when the hand approaches, it will interfere with the magnetic field, and the magnetic field receiver below the shield can detect the change.
This hat communicates with Raspberry Pi via the I2C interface, also we have reserved a I2C connector in case you need to work with other modules.
What an amazing module, with the help it, you can use gestures to control lights, TV, speakers... Just unleash your imagination and create more magical projects.
Feature
Recognition of 3D Hand Gestures and x, y, z Positional Data
Proximity and Touch Sensing
Built-in Colibri Gesture Suite (running on chip)
Advanced 3D Signal Processing Unit
Detection Range: 0 to 10 cm
On-chip Auto Calibration
Compatible with various models of Raspberry Pi 2, 3, 4, and zero
Specification
Item Value
Operating Voltage 3.3V
Main Chip MGC3130
Detection range 0 to 10 cm
Temperature Range -20°C to +85°C
Receiver Sensitivity <1 fF
Position Rate 200 positions/sec
Spatial Resolution up to 150 dpi
Carrier Frequency 44 kHz to 115 kHz
Output Interface I2C(Default I2C address: 0X42)
Gross Weight 55g
Net Weight 17.6g
Package Size 115mm*75mm*25mm
Size 65mm*56mm
Applications
Notebooks/Keyboards/PC Peripherals
Home Automation
Game Controllers
Audio Control
Hardware Overview
Pin Out
Enable I2C
Step 1. Run sudo raspi-config.
Step 2. Use the down arrow to select 5 Interfacing Options.
Step 3. Arrow down to P5 I2C.
Step 4. Select yes when it asks you to enable I2C.
Step 5. Also select yes if it asks about automatically loading the kernel module.
Step 6. Use the right arrow to select the button.
Step 7. Select yes when it asks to reboot.
Install ncurses-6.1.tar.gz and extract, then
./configure
make
sudo make install
#Check if ncurse is installed successfully
ncurses6-config --version
Run Demo
Step 1: Install mgc3103 and run mgc3103.
cd ~
git clone Seeed-Studio/Seeed_mgc3x30.git @ github
cd Seeed_mgc3x30
make clean && make
./mgc3130
Step 2: Here is the output.
*
* *
* Position X : 65534 *
* Position Y : 0 *
* Position Z : 38465 *
* *
* Gesture : *
* *
* Airwheel angle : -1530 *
* *
* Touch electrode :
* Tap electrode :
* Double Tap electrode :
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
*
Position X/Y/Z: Lower left corner is X=0, Y=0. Z is the height. Max is 65535.
Gesture: Wave your hands over the module, you can see the wave direction as West to East, East to West, South to North and North to South.
Airwheel：The number will increase with clockwise direction and reduce with counterclockwise direction. It will have some delay on the display.
Touch electrode: Put your finger on the specific area, you will get Center, East, West, South and North.
Tap electrode: Tap your finger on the specific area, you will get Center, East, West, South and North.
Double Tap electrode: Double Tap your finger on the specific area, you will get Center, East, West, South and North.