Introduction

(1)What is Micro:bit?

Designed by BBC, Micro:bit main board aims to help children aged above 10 years old to have a better learning of programming.

It is equipped with loads of components, including a \(5 \times 5\) LED dot matrix, 2 programmable buttons, a compass, a Micro USB interface and a Bluetooth module and others. Though it is just the size of a credit card, it boasts multiple functions. To name just a few, it can be applied in programming video games,making interactions between light and sound, controlling a robot, conducting scientific experiments, developing wearable devices and make some cool inventions like robots and musical instruments, basically everything imaginable.

The new version, that’s the version 2.0, of Micro:bit main board has a touch- sensitive logo and a MEMS microphone. And there is a speaker built in the other side of the board which makes playing all kinds of sound possible without any external equipment. The golden fingers and gears added provide a better fixing of crocodile clips. Moreover, this board has a sleeping mode to lower power consumption of batteries and it can be entered if users long press the Reset & Power button on the back of it. More importantly, the CPU capacity of this version is much better than that of the V1.5 and the V2 has more RMA.

In final analysis, the Micro:bit main board V2 can allow customers to explore more functions so as to make more innovative products.

(2) Comparison between V2.0 & V1.5

Micro:bit main Board V2.0

Micro:bit main Board V1.5

More details:

V1.5

V2

PROCESSOR

Nordic Semiconductor nRF51822

Nordic Semiconductor nRF52833

MEMORY

256KB Flash, 16KB RAM

512KB Flash, 128KB RAM

INTERFACECHIP

NXP KL26Z, 16KB RAM

NXP KL27Z, 32KB RAM

MICROPHONE

N/A

MEMS microphone and LED indicator

SPEAKER

N/A

On board speaker

TOUCH

N/A

Touch sensitive logo

EDGE CONNECTOR

25pins, PWM, I2C, SPI and Extension interface. 3 ring pins for connecting crocodile clips/banana plugs.

25pins, PWM, I2C, SPI and Extension interface. 3 ring pins for connecting crocodile clips/banana plugs.

3 dedicated GPIO

4 dedicated GPIO, Notched for easier connection

I2C

Shared (mux) I2C bus

Dedicated I2C bus

WIRELESS

2.4GHz Radio/BLE Bluetooth 4.0

2.4GHz Radio/BLE Bluetooth 5.0

POWER

Micro USB 5V power supply, 3V port or battery power supply

Micro USB 5V power supply, 3V port or battery power supply, LED Indicator, Power off (push and hold power button)

CURRENT AVAILABLE

90mA

200mA

MOTION SENSOR

ST LSM 303

ST LSM 303

PROGRAMMING SOFTWARE

C++, Makecode, Python, Scratch

C++, Makecode, Python, Scratch

SIZE

5cm(W) x 4cm(H)

5cm(W) x 4cm(H)

For the Micro: Bit main board V2, pressing the Reset & Power button, it will reset the Micro: Bit and rerun the program. If you hold it tight, the red LED will slowly get darker. When the power indicator flickers into darkness, releasing the button and your Micro: Bit board will enter sleep mode for power saving. This will make your battery more durable. And you could press this button again to ‘wake up’ your Micro: bit.

(3) Pinout

Micro: bit main board V2.0 VS V1.5

( 4 )Notes for the application of Micro:bit main board V2.0

a. It is recommended to cover it with a silicone protector to prevent short circuit for it has a lot of sophisticated electronic components.

b. Its IO port is very weak in driving since it can merely handle current less than 300mA. Therefore, do not connect it with devices operating in large current,such as servo MG995 and DC motor or it will get burnt. Furthermore, you must figure out the current requirements of the devices before you use them and it is generally recommended to use the board together with a Micro:bit shield.

c. It is recommended to power the main board via the USB interface or via the battery of 3V. The IO port of this board is 3V, so it does not support sensors of 5V. If you need to connect sensors of 5 V, a Micro: Bit expansion board is required.

d.When using pins(P3, P4, P6, P7, P10)shared with the LED dot matrix, blocking them from the matrix or the LEDs may display randomly and the data about sensors connected maybe wrong.

e.The battery port of 3V cannot be connected with battery more than 3.3V or the main board will be damaged.

f. Forbid to operate it on metal products to avoid short circuit.

To put it simple, Micro:bit V2 main board is like a micro computer which has made programming at our fingertips and enhanced digital innovation. And about the programming environment, BBC provides a website:

https://microbit.org/code/, which has a graphical MakeCode program easy for use.

( 5 )Kit List

Components

#

Model

QTY

Picture

1

Micro:bit Main Board V2

1

2

Micro USB Cable

1

3

Battery Holder

1

4

Crocodile Clip

10

5

Micro:bit Protective Case

1