Teensy LC Review A Powerful Arduino Alternative
Introduction
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Let's say you just got yourself a rather powerful single board computer like the Latte Panda, which you hook up to a portable LCD screen. With this setup, you can run Windows 10 easily and thus use this operating system to play some games.
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Now, of course, you could hook up an ordinary gaming controller to the system and play like that. But if you later want to convert this setup into a Nintendo Switch-like hardware configuration, you got yourself a problem. Since you would require controller inputs on the left and right sides, you would need to cut your game controller in half.
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One solution to this problem is to place a microcontroller in the middle and then simply connect all buttons and triggers to it from the left and right sides. Sadly though, the microcontroller of my trusty Arduino Nano does not feature a USB interface and thus cannot be easily utilized as a game controller.
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But luckily, tons of my viewers advised me to have a look at the Teensy development boards, which I did on their website. The one that caught my eye was the Teensy LC, and in this article, we'll be exploring its features and capabilities.
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Unboxing and First Impressions
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The Teensy LC comes in a small package, containing the board itself, a USB cable, and some documentation. My first impression was that it's tiny compared to other microcontrollers I've worked with.
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Upon closer inspection, you'll notice that it has a lot of features packed into its small size, including a USB connector, a reset button, and several rows of GPIO pins.
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Getting Started with the Teensy LC
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To get started with the Teensy LC, you'll need to download and install the Arduino IDE. Once installed, you can select the Teensy LC as your board in the Tools menu.
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Next, you can start writing code using the Arduino programming language. The Teensy LC supports most of the standard Arduino functions, making it easy to get started if you're already familiar with Arduino.
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Analog Write and Read
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One of the features that sets the Teensy LC apart from other microcontrollers is its ability to perform high-resolution analog writes. I tested this feature by creating a function that outputs sine wave values with a 12-bit resolution on pin 26.
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As you can see on the oscilloscope, the output signal is a beautiful 12-bit sine wave. This is thanks to the Teensy LC's built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC).
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Next, I hooked up a potentiometer to 3.3 volts on one side and ground on the other side, while connecting the middle pin to an analog input. Using standard Arduino functions, I was able to output the changing voltage at the analog pin through the serial monitor.
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However, this was only a 10-bit value, even though the ADC (analog-to-digital converter) supports up to 16 bits. The solution was to alter the resolution with the analogReadRes function, which worked like a charm.
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Interrupts and Timers
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I also tested the Teensy LC's interrupt capabilities by setting up an interrupt on pin 2, which activates when the pin gets pulled to ground. The function outputs the word "triggered" over the serial monitor.
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As you can see, by connecting the pin to ground, the function gets executed successfully. And best of all, you can attach an interrupt to pretty much all pins of the Teensy.
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Finally, I wanted to create a precisely timed event using the Metro library. I created a function that turns an LED on for one second and then turns it off for precisely 250 milliseconds.
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As you can see, after uploading, the LED does just that. Of course, you could use the provider timer libraries of the Teensy to even execute timer interrupts easily.
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Using the Teensy as a Game Controller
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To get back to the game controller problem, I added two buttons and a joystick to the Teensy's digital pins and analog inputs. Using the joystick commands of the board, I assigned the x-axis to the analog stick and a button number to each digital input.
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Afterwards, I simply selected the USB type as a joystick and uploaded the code. Just like that, my Teensy board got recognized as a game controller!
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Conclusion
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In conclusion, the Teensy LC is an incredibly powerful and feature-rich microcontroller that's perfect for a wide range of projects. Its high-resolution analog writes, built-in DAC, and interrupt capabilities make it stand out from other boards in its class.
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| Introduction |
The Teensy is a line of microcontrollers developed by PJRC, a company founded by Paul Stoffregen in 2006. The first Teensy board was released in 2008 and was designed to be small, affordable, and easy to use. |
| Design and Features |
The Teensy microcontroller is based on the Freescale Kinetis and MKL26Z series of microcontrollers. It features a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4 processor, up to 64 KB of RAM, and up to 512 KB of flash memory. The board also includes a USB interface, analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, and a variety of GPIO pins. |
| Programming |
The Teensy can be programmed using the Arduino IDE, which provides a user-friendly interface for writing code. The board also supports programming in C++ and other languages. |
| Applications |
The Teensy is designed for use in a wide range of applications, including robotics, wearable technology, and IoT devices. Its small size and low power consumption make it an ideal choice for projects where space and energy efficiency are important. |
| Models |
There have been several models of the Teensy released over the years, including the Teensy 1.0, Teensy 2.0, Teensy 3.0, and Teensy 4.0. Each new model has introduced improved performance, additional features, and increased memory. |
Teensy LC Review: A Powerful Arduino Alternative |
| Introduction |
The Teensy LC is a microcontroller board that has gained popularity among hobbyists and professionals alike due to its impressive specs and affordability. In this review, we'll take an in-depth look at the features and capabilities of the Teensy LC and see how it stacks up against other popular Arduino alternatives. |
| Key Features |
The Teensy LC is based on the ARM Cortex-M0+ processor, which provides a significant boost in processing power compared to traditional Arduino boards. Some of its key features include: |
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- 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0+ processor running at 48 MHz
- 62 KB of RAM and 128 KB of flash memory
- 27 digital I/O pins, including 13 high-current drive pins
- 14 analog input pins with 12-bit resolution
- 2x SPI, 2x I2C, 1x UART, and 1x CAN bus interface
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| Performance Comparison |
In terms of processing power, the Teensy LC is significantly faster than most Arduino boards. Here's a comparison of its performance with some popular Arduino alternatives: |
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| Board |
CPU Speed (MHz) |
RAM (KB) |
Flash Memory (KB) |
| Teensy LC |
48 |
62 |
128 |
| Arduino Uno |
16 |
2 |
32 |
| Raspberry Pi 3 |
1200 |
1024 |
4096 |
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| Software Compatibility |
The Teensy LC is compatible with the Arduino IDE, making it easy for hobbyists and professionals to develop projects using their existing knowledge. Additionally, the board also supports other popular frameworks like MicroPython and CircuitPython. |
| Conclusion |
In conclusion, the Teensy LC is an impressive microcontroller board that offers a significant boost in processing power compared to traditional Arduino boards. Its affordability, ease of use, and compatibility with popular frameworks make it an attractive option for hobbyists and professionals looking for a powerful Arduino alternative. |
| Q: What is Teensy LC? |
The Teensy LC is a microcontroller board that is similar to Arduino, but with more powerful features and capabilities. |
| Q: Who makes the Teensy LC? |
The Teensy LC is made by PJRC, a company founded by Paul Stoffregen, who is also the creator of the Teensy board series. |
| Q: What processor does the Teensy LC use? |
The Teensy LC uses a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0+ processor, which provides more processing power and memory compared to Arduino boards. |
| Q: How much flash memory does the Teensy LC have? |
The Teensy LC has 62KB of flash memory, which is significantly more than most Arduino boards. |
| Q: What are some of the key features of the Teensy LC? |
The Teensy LC features a USB port, serial communication capabilities, I2C and SPI interfaces, and support for audio and MIDI applications. |
| Q: Is the Teensy LC compatible with Arduino code? |
Yes, the Teensy LC is fully compatible with Arduino code and can run most Arduino sketches without modification. |
| Q: How does the Teensy LC compare to other microcontroller boards in terms of price? |
The Teensy LC is generally priced lower than other high-performance microcontroller boards, making it a more affordable option for makers and hobbyists. |
| Q: Can I use the Teensy LC for audio applications? |
Yes, the Teensy LC has built-in support for audio applications, including a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and an audio codec. |
| Q: Is the Teensy LC suitable for beginners? |
While the Teensy LC is a powerful board, it may not be the best choice for complete beginners. However, those with some experience in microcontrollers and programming can easily adapt to using the Teensy LC. |
| Rank |
Pioneers/Companies |
Description |
| 1 |
Arduino |
Laid the foundation for microcontroller-based DIY electronics and prototyping. |
| 2 |
Atmel (now Microchip) |
Developed the AVR microcontroller series used in Arduino boards. |
| 3 |
PJRC |
Created the Teensy series of microcontrollers, known for their high performance and feature set. |
| 4 |
STMicroelectronics |
Produces a wide range of microcontrollers, including the popular STM32 series. |
| 5 |
SparkFun |
A leading online retailer and distributor of DIY electronics and maker supplies. |
| 6 |
Adafruit Industries |
A pioneering company in the maker movement, offering a wide range of DIY electronics kits and components. |
| 7 |
Espressif Systems |
Developed the popular ESP32 and ESP8266 microcontrollers with built-in Wi-Fi capabilities. |
| 8 |
NXP Semiconductors |
Produces a wide range of microcontrollers, including the popular LPC and Kinetis series. |
| 9 |
Circuit Cellar |
A pioneering magazine and community focused on DIY electronics and microcontrollers. |
| 10 |
Digi-Key Electronics |
A leading online retailer and distributor of electronic components, including microcontrollers and DIY electronics supplies. |
| Specification |
Description |
| Microcontroller |
ARM Cortex-M0+ CPU, PJRC's proprietary chip based on NXP LPC1114FN28 |
| Clock Speed |
48 MHz |
| Flash Memory |
62 KB |
| RAM |
8 KB |
| EEPROM |
None (uses Flash for emulation) |
| GPIO Pins |
27 (including 13 analog inputs, 2 serial, and 1 I2C) |
| Analog Input Resolution |
12-bit SAR ADC |
| Digital Outputs |
27 (including PWM on 13 pins) |
| UARTs |
2 (with optional FIFO buffering) |
| I2C |
1 master and 1 slave interface, with clock stretching support |
| SPI |
1 (with optional FIFO buffering) |
| USB |
Serial emulation over USB (CDC ACM), with 12 Mbps bandwidth |
| Reset Options |
Pushbutton reset, serial command reset, and watchdog timer reset |
| Power Supply |
USB-powered (5V) or external power supply (3.6-5.5V) |
| Dimensions |
35.56 x 17.78 mm (1.4 x 0.7 inches) |
| Weight |
3 grams (approximate) |
| Operating Temperature |
-40 to +85°C (-40 to +185°F) |
| Teensy LC Features |
Description |
| Development Environment |
Arduino-compatible, with Teensyduino add-on for Arduino IDE |
| Library Support |
Extensive library support, including Arduino libraries and PJRC's proprietary libraries |
| Example Projects |
Many example projects available, showcasing various features of the Teensy LC |
| Lively community with many forums and resources for learning and troubleshooting |
| Documentation |
Detailed documentation available, including datasheets, tutorials, and API references |
| Comparison to Arduino Boards |
Description |
| Clock Speed |
Faster than most Arduino boards (48 MHz vs. 16 MHz or 20 MHz) |
| Memory and Storage |
More flash memory and RAM compared to many Arduino boards |
| Analog Input Resolution |
Higher resolution analog inputs (12-bit vs. 10-bit) |
| Digital Outputs |
More digital outputs, including PWM on more pins |
| Serial Communication |
Faster serial communication (12 Mbps vs. 1 Mbps) |
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