SparkFun’s newest Factor Plus board goals to speed up IoT and good residence machine improvement. The new Factor Plus Matter board combines their agile {hardware} improvement platform with a Matter-compatible wi-fi module from Silicon Labs.
SparkFun designed the Factor Plus Matter round a Silicon Labs MGM240P Multi-protocol Wi-fi Module. It comprises an EFR32MG24 Wi-fi SoC. The core has an Arm Cortex-M33 core working at 39 MHz with 1,536 kilobytes of flash and 256 kilobytes of RAM. Moreover, the module has a built-in antenna for two.4 GHz wi-fi connectivity.
The MGM240P helps IEEE 802.15.4, the idea for Zigbee and Thread protocols. It additionally helps Bluetooth Low Power (BLE) 5.3. This mix of protocols makes it appropriate for Matter. Whereas not a wi-fi protocol, Matter operates as an software layer on prime of different applied sciences, permitting units throughout IoT ecosystems to speak. For instance, it permits integrating Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and others with IoT units.
Since Factor Plus is a Feather-compatible type issue, the brand new board bodily measures (58.42mm x 22.86mm) and has constant electrical connections. For instance, Factor Plus Matter has 13 GPIOs, serial interfaces like I2C/SPI/UART, and an analog-to-digital enter. These pins are organized in order that a variety of shields can join on to the board.
Factor Plus Matter, highlighting Mini Simplicity and Qwiic (📷: SparkFun)
Alternatively, all Factor Plus boards embody SparkFun’s Qwiic Join System for interfacing with sensors, shows, actuators, and different I2C-based units — with out soldering!
Silicon Labs’ IDE, Simplicity Studio, helps the Factor Plus Matter. SparkFun supplies a getting-started information for programming their board with the IDE. Onboard is a devoted EFM32 microcontroller that acts as a J-Hyperlink programmer and debugger. This mix means you’ll be able to develop code and debug points instantly from Simplicity Studio. Nonetheless, the Factor Plus Matter additionally has unpopulated pins for an exterior programmer by way of a Mini Simplicity Connector.
SparkFun says the Factor Plus Matter attracts solely 15 microamps in low-power mode. Moreover, when powered by a LiPo battery, an onboard circuit displays the battery’s cost degree.
SparkFun Factor+ Matter (📷: SparkFun)
The Factor Plus Matter is accessible now from SparkFun’s retailer for $24.95. For added technical element, take a look at the getting began information.
