The EEPROM library (https://docs.arduino.cc/learn/built-in-libraries/eeprom) has functions for reading and writing single bytes but no function for erasing. The EEPROM in the AVR microcontrollers are capable of erasing and writing single bytes and 100,000 erase/write cycles in a location is the design maximum before the EEPROM will wear out. To maintain compatibility, the EEPROM functions in …
Today I got the new Arduino Uno R4 boards in the mail. This includes the Minima and Wifi models, but this post will just concern itself with the Minima. The R4 Minima is much less expensive than the R3, but still a bit more than a good R3 clone like the Elegoo. You can see …
A friend of mine, David Sparks, is using a SAMD based board (a Seeedstudio XIAO) to be a real time clock. You can see his project here: https://github.com/IowaDave/SAMD21-RTC-Clock. The SAMD has a Real Time Counter which can be configured as a Real Time Clock (RTC=RTC!) eliminating the need for a second component. However when run …
I’ve touted the Arduino Nano Every and the Arduino Nano 33 IoT as the two best buys in the Arduino lineup, and that they should be preferred when appropriate to the application. But why are these such good deals? First, they are both in the “Nano” form factor. This smaller board is less expensive to …
As I’ve been going far inside the SAMD21 Arduino boards, I’ve realized the main distinction of the ARM-core SAMD21 compared to the AVR architecture ATMega microcontrollers, and indeed to other microcontrollers I’ve used in the past. The ARM-core microcontrollers are actually a two part design. There is the ARM designed processor core, and the vendor …
Like most of the AVR-based Arduino boards, there is a bootloader program resident on the SAMD boards (Arduino Zero, Arduino Nano 33 IoT, and the Arduino MKR series) to handle the loading of programs (AKA “Scripts”) via the USB-serial port. This program can erase and write into the Flash ROM in the microcontroller, and start …
Catchy title, and the answer is certainly “yes” because of generally better price/performance and that people like newer designs. But let’s back off a little. Currently the lowest price genuine Arduino (not clone) board is the Arduino Nano Every. It’s less than half the price of the traditional Arduino Uno, and can replace the Uno …
While testing out the 37 sensor kits, I’ve got three of them with different sensors, I have discovered some design shortcomings which might end up in destroying either the sensor or the attached microcontroller (the Arduino board). The issues are with some of the sensors that aren’t sensors in the traditional sense. These are output …
I recently got enthused to check out all of the sensors in my Elegoo 37 Sensor Kit (version 1) I bought 5 years ago. I suppose I should have checked them all out at the time because seven of the sensors, the ones on the red circuit boards, didn’t function at all. I’ve heard that …
A few years ago (I don’t remember exactly when) the US raised the tariff rate on Chinese electronics by a large amount, yet I never saw much or any change in price on Chinese Arduino clone boards. Until now. Looking at my favorite importer, Elegoo, their prices went up enormously this month. Most other clones …