Arduino UNO R4 Minima

Description

The Arduino UNO R4 Minima seems to be a significant improvement over its predecessor, the UNO R3, offering several new features and enhancements that make it an attractive choice for both beginners and experienced electronics enthusiasts. Let’s summarize some of the key features and benefits of the UNO R4 Minima:

1. Hardware Compatibility: The UNO R4 Minima maintains compatibility with the UNO form factor, including pinout and the 5 V operating voltage. This ensures that existing shields and projects designed for the Arduino UNO can be seamlessly used with the new board.
2. Increased Processing Power: With a powerful 32-bit microcontroller from Renesas, the UNO R4 Minima offers enhanced processing power. This increased computational capability allows for more precise calculations and handling of complex projects.
3. Expanded Memory: The board comes with expanded memory, which is essential for storing larger programs or handling data-intensive tasks. This feature is particularly useful for projects with significant memory requirements.
4. Faster Clock Speed: The faster clock speed further boosts the board’s processing capabilities, making it well-suited for demanding applications.
5. Additional On-Board Peripherals: The UNO R4 Minima includes new on-board peripherals like a 12-bit DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter), CAN BUS support, and an OP AMP (Operational Amplifier). These additions offer more flexibility and versatility for designing various electronic projects.
6. Extended Voltage Tolerance: The support for a wider input voltage range (up to 24 V) makes it easier to integrate the board with motors, LED strips, and other actuators. This simplifies projects by allowing the use of a single power source.
7. SWD Connector: The inclusion of an SWD (Serial Wire Debug) connector simplifies debugging, allowing you to monitor the inner workings of your system more effectively. Debugging is a crucial aspect of electronics and embedded systems development.
8. HID Support: Built-in HID (Human Interface Device) support is a convenient feature that allows the board to simulate a mouse or keyboard when connected to a computer via a USB cable. This functionality enhances usability and opens up possibilities for human-computer interaction projects.

Overall, the Arduino UNO R4 Minima appears to be a versatile and capable development board that offers a substantial upgrade over its predecessor. Its compatibility with existing shields, expanded features, and improved performance make it an exciting choice for a wide range of electronics projects, from beginner-level experiments to advanced applications.

Technical Specifications for the Arduino UNO R4 Minima:

Microcontroller: Renesas RA4M1 (Arm Cortex-M4)

USB: USB-C Programming Port

Pins:

• Digital I/O Pins: 14
• Analog Input Pins: 6
• DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter): 1
• PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation) Pins: 6

Communication:

• UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter): Yes, 1x
• I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit): Yes, 1x
• SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface): Yes, 1x
• CAN (Controller Area Network): Yes, 1 CAN Bus

Power:

• Circuit Operating Voltage: 5 V
• Input Voltage (VIN): 6-24 V
• DC Current per I/O Pin: 8 mA

Clock Speed:

• Main Core: 48 MHz

Memory:

• RA4M1 Microcontroller: 256 kB Flash, 32 kB RAM

Pin Configuration