Embedded Computing
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    • Which Platform?
    • Controller Platforms >
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    • Computer Platforms >
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    • Peripherals >
      • Shields
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      • Sensors
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  • Software
    • Exploring RTOS with Galaxia >
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    • Ultra-Low Power with EnergyTrace >
      • Ultra-Low Power with MSP430
      • Ultra-Low Power with Energia MT and Galaxia
    • Using Integers Instead of Reals
    • Going Python?
  • IoT
    • IoT Platforms: Which Hardware? >
      • Matter with Silicon Labs MG24
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      • Recommended IoT Solutions
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    • Get Date and Time from Internet with NTP
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  • Tools
    • How to Start?
    • Reference >
      • Asking for Help
      • Boards Pins Maps
      • Ruler
      • Boards and Plugs
      • I²C Logic Level Converter
      • Standards for Connectors
    • Training >
      • Texas Instruments Workshops
      • Embedded Systems: Shape The World — MOOC edX UTAustinX UT.6.02x
      • Embedded Systems - Shape The World: Microcontroller Input/Output — MOOC edX UTAustinX UT.6.10x
      • Embedded Systems - Shape The World: Multi-Threaded Interfacing — MOOC edX UTAustinX UT.6.20x
      • Real-Time Bluetooth Networks: Shape the World — MOOC edX UTAustinX UT.RTBN.12.01x
      • Systems Thinking with Texas Instruments Robotics System Learning Kit
    • Books >
      • Getting Started with the MSP430 LaunchPad
      • Getting Started with Arduino
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    • IDE >
      • The Battle of IDEs
      • More Options
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      • Tools for Documentation
    • Equipment >
      • Saleae Logic Analyser
      • Rigol DS1102E Oscilloscope
      • XDS110 Debug Probe with EnergyTrace​
      • Segger J-Link Programmer-Debugger
      • Nordic Power Profiler Kit II
  • Projects
    • Libraries >
      • Master I²C Software Library
      • Date and Time Library
      • highView Library Suite
      • Others Libraries
    • smartDevices >
      • I²C smartColours Smart Sensor
      • I²C smartRFID Smart Sensor
      • I²C smartLED Display
      • I²C smartControls Smart Device
      • I²C smartWiFi Smart Device
      • I²C smartBLE Smart Device
      • I²C smartNode Smart Device
    • IoT Projects >
      • Remote E-Paper Weather and Message Board
      • Typie-Walkie with LoRa and E-Paper Screen
      • Typie-Walkie with E-Paper Screen
      • Remote e-Paper Pictures Panel
      • Remote e-Paper Messages Panel
      • Industrial IoT Project
      • Remote Contactless Temperature Monitor
      • Using Node-RED for IIoT
      • Low Power Home Network Weather Monitoring
      • Updated Low Power Home Network Weather Monitoring
      • Weather and Security Station with Blynk
      • SensorTag to Blynk Using Node-RED
      • Pervasive Reporting
    • AI Projects >
      • Colour Recognition with Neural Network
    • Other Projects >
      • Air Quality Monitoring
      • Driving a Large E-Paper Display with a Compact Xiao RP2040
      • Low-Power E-Paper Weather Station
      • Portable Particulate​ Matter Monitor
      • FRAM-based E-Paper Screen Controller
      • General Purpose 3.5" Screen
      • Colour Recognition with Neural Network
      • A Low Power Weather Station
      • Digital Volt-Amp-Watt Meter
      • Mobile Measurement with LCD Display
      • Screen with SRAM for GUI
      • Volt-Amp-Watt-Meter for Grove
      • Multi-Touch Project with CapTIvate

Peripherals

I use the generic term of peripherals for shields, sensors and actuators that can be attached to a board.

Protocols

The most common protocols are:
  • Analog connection only requires one connection for the signal. The signal could be a voltage or a frequency. This kind of connection is often prone to interferences if the sensor is far away from the MCU or if two sensors have close cables. So digital connection is preferred.
  • Parallel is not widely used as it uses 8 or 16 connections in parallel, plus additional connections for control. Main benefit is speed that fits screens and cameras well.
  • Serial connection is a very easy to use interface. Standard configuration is 9600 8N1, 9600 bauds, 8 bis, no parity, one bit stop. Speed can be really fast at 115200bps, about 11 KB per second. Each serial device requires a specific dedicated serial port.
  • SPI is a serial bus with three connections, one for clock, two for data plus an optional chip select active low. The bus consists on a master and different slaves. Data goes on two different connection, MISO or    master in slave out, MOSI or data master out slave in. In case of multiple devices attached to the same bus, each device requires a chip select connection: the master select one specific device by setting the chip select low. Common speeds go up to 8 MHz.
  • I²C bus only requires two connections, one for clock and another for data, for many different peripherals attached to that bus. Each peripheral has its own address and the master calls each slave using that address. Standard speed is 100 kHz and the bus can include about 100 different devices, the addresses ranging from 0x08 to 0x7f.
  • Other standards exist but I haven't explored them already!

Tools

The most useful tools include:
  • A multi-meter measures analog values.
  • Digital connections may require logic level converters if the sensor and the MCU operate at different voltage levels.
  • A logic analyser is very useful to debug digital connections.
  • An oscilloscope plots values on a time axis.

Next

  • Shields
  • Sensors
  • Actuators
  • Displays
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