On-Board Features of the Feather nRF52840 Sense

Table of contents

1. Overview
2. Install Libraries to Use On-board Components
3. Demonstrations of On-board Components
4. Advanced Features
   1. Data logging over Bluetooth
   2. Data logging via python

Overview

The Adafruit Feather nRF52840 Sense is an Arduino-compatible board built around the nRF52840 System on a Chip. This web site demonstrates the basic built-in features of the Adafruit Feather nRF52840 Sense using the Arduino IDE. The Feather nRF52840 Sense can also be programmed with Circuit python, but that approach is not discussed further on this web site.

The Adafruit Feather family of development boards are physically smaller than the classic Arduino UNO. Many of the Feather boards, including the nRF52840 Sense are much more powerful than the classic UNO, despite the smaller size. The following image compares a SparkFun Redboard – a modern Arduino UNO – on the left and the Feather nRF52840 Sense on the right.

Install Libraries to Use On-board Components

The Adafruit Feather nRF52840 Sense has several built-in (or on-board) components that can be used without any additional wiring. Before writing sketches that use those components, you need to add one or more libraries to the Arduino IDE on your computer.

The recommended procedure for adding libraries is to use the Library Manager which is accessible from the Tools menu of the Arduino IDE. By following the links for NeoPixel and sensor demonstrations (next section), you will find detailed instructions to install the libraries for each of the on-board components of the Feather nRF52840 Sense.

Demonstrations of On-board Components

Adafruit provides libraries and demonstration programs (sketches) for each of the on-board components of the Feather nRF52840 Sense. The following web pages provide details of installing the libraries and Arduino codes that demonstrate the basic NeoPixel or sensor features.

• Blink a NeoPixel – Adafruit NeoPixel
• Read the accelerometer – LSM6DS chip
• Read ambient light levels – APDS9960 chip
• Read the proximity sensor – APDS9960 chip
• Read the temperature sensor – BMP280 chip

Advanced Features

The Feather nRF52840 Sense has additional features not (yet) covered in this web site.

Data logging over Bluetooth

See examples here: https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-feather-sense/software-resources. Desktop apps for Mac OS are available that allow you to connect over Bluetooth and log data. Options for connecting via python are also available.

Data logging via python

Programming the Feather nRF52840 Sense via Circuit Python makes it easy to store data in memory of the Feather. This gives the Feather nRF52840 Sense data logging features that are harder to implement in C/C++ with the classic Arduino IDE.

Here are some links that describe how to use Circuit Python for data logging.

• https://learn.adafruit.com/gdocs-sensor-logging-from-your-pc
• https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-libraries-on-any-computer-with-mcp2221
• https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-on-any-computer-with-ft232h

Note that storage on a removable SD card requires an additional SD card device, which is not built into the Feather nRF52840 Sense.