B4R Tutorial Glossary for Arduino Development

This is not a tutorial for B4R. I think a glossary of terms might be useful for beginners to electronics and B4R. So I created my own list in GitHub to record the terms that I find need explanation.
If this is not appropriate in this section, please move or delete it. Thanks.

https://github.com/pyhoon/arduino-glossary/blob/main/index.md

Glossary​


NoTermDescriptionsSourceComments
1ArduinoArduino is an open-source hardware and software company, project, and user community that designs and manufactures single-board microcontrollers and microcontroller kits for building digital devices.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arduino
2B4RB4R is a 100% free development tool for native Arduino, ESP8266 and ESP32 programs. B4R follows the same concepts of the other B4X tools, providing a simple and powerful development tool. B4R, B4A, B4J and B4i together make the best development solution for the Internet of Things (IoT).https://www.b4x.com/b4r.html
3BreadboardA breadboard, or protoboard, is a construction base for prototyping of electronics. Originally the word referred to a literal bread board, a polished piece of wood used when slicing bread.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breadboard
4DrainThe pin of a Field Effect Transistor connected to the higher (n channel) or lower (p channel) voltage of i.e load to be controlled.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
5Dual In-line Package (DIP)A type of packaging for integrated circuitshttps://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
6EDBGThe Atmel Embedded Debugger (EDBG) it’s a chip that implements a composite USB device. Consisting of three interfaces...https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
7EEPROMAn Electrically Erasable Programmable Reading Only Memory is a type of memory that retains its data without power, like a Read Only Memory, and that can be erased and written. The amount of memory of an EEPROM is usually of thousands of bytes and it is used to retain some data on microcontrollers between power cycles.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
8ESP32ESP32 is a series of low-cost, low-power system on a chip microcontrollers with integrated Wi-Fi and dual-mode Bluetooth. It is a successor to the ESP8266 microcontroller.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESP32
9ESP8266The ESP8266 is a low-cost Wi-Fi microchip, with built-in TCP/IP networking software, and microcontroller capability, produced by Espressif Systems in Shanghai, China. The chip first came to the attention of Western makers in August 2014 with the ESP-01 module, made by a third-party manufacturer Ai-Thinker.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESP8266
10FirmwareThe Firmware is similar to Software, but it is stored on non volatile memory and can be executed in place - without being copied in RAM - by a microcontroller. It is used in embedded systems and it is made of machine code instructions. Firmware is usually updateable.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
11Flash (Memory)This type of memory is non volatile and it is an evolution of EEPROM. It is electrically erasable. Made with different technologies that offer different speeds and capacities (ML, SL, NAND, NOR), Flash Memory is used inside SD and microSD cards, inside mobile phones and also as program memory in microcontrollers.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
12FTDIFuture Technology Devices International Limited, commonly known by its acronym FTDI, is a Scottish privately held semiconductor device company, specialising in Universal Serial Bus technology.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FTDI
13GateThe pin of a Field Effect Transistor that allows to create a conducting channel between Drain and Source if correctly driven.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
14GroundThe point of a circuit where there is 0 potential electrical energy. Without a ground, electricity will not have a place to flow in a circuit.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
15HC-05HC-05 Bluetooth Module is an easy to use Bluetooth SPP (Serial Port Protocol) module, designed for transparent wireless serial connection setup. Its communication is via serial communication which makes an easy way to interface with controller or PC.https://www.gme.cz/data/attachments/dsh.772-148.1.pdf
16I2CInter Integrated Circuit - is two wires serial synchronous bus that provides communication between two Integrated Circuits., introduced in 1982 by Philips Semiconductor. The I2C can run at different speed: 100 Kbps, 400Kbps and 3.4 Mbps. It’s used to connect also different boards with the simplicity of wiring only two cables, called SDA (Data line), SCL (Clock line). Can support up to 1008 slave devices.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
17ICSPIn-Circuit Serial Programming is the ability of a microcontroller to be programmed directly on the board on which it is mounted. It is also a set of signals and pins used for the programming.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
18IDEStands for "Integrated Development Environment". The Arduino IDE for example, is the place where you write software to upload to an Arduino board.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
19Integrated Circuit (IC)A complex circuit of nano or micro scale with a given package used for a specific purpose.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
20Li-Po BatteryOne of the most recent technologies for rechargeable batteries. This Lithium - Polimer technology offers a very good ratio between capacity and weight, no memory effect and low self discharge rate. Li-Po batteries are charged at constant current.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
21LibraryIts a software extension of the Arduino API that expands the functionality of a program.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
22MicrocontrollerThe brains of the Arduino, this is a small computer that you will program to listen for, process, and display information.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
23MQTTMQTT is a Client Server publish/subscribe messaging transport protocol. It is light weight, open, simple, and designed so as to be easy to implement. These characteristics make it ideal for use in many situations, including constrained environments such as for communication in Machine to Machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) contexts where a small code footprint is required and/or network bandwidth is at a premium.https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/iot-mqtt-protocol.59471/
24PIR Motion SensorPIR sensors allow you to sense motion. They are used to detect whether a human has moved in or out of the sensor’s range. They are commonly found in appliances and gadgets used at home or for businesses. They are often referred to as PIR, "Passive Infrared", "Pyroelectric", or "IR motion" sensors.https://www.tutorialspoint.com/arduino/arduino_pir_sensor.htm
25PotentiometerA potentiometer is a three-terminal resistor with a sliding or rotating contact that forms an adjustable voltage divider. If only two terminals are used, one end and the wiper, it acts as a variable resistor or rheostat.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potentiometer
26PWMPulse Width Modulation (PWM) A way to simulate a varying static voltage.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
27RTCThe Real Time Clock is a circuit that uses either a quartz crystal or a laser trimmed oscillator to keep the time inside a computer or in an embedded system. The circuit has its own power source - usually a lithium battery - and has a very low power consumption. Once set, the RTC can be queried to get date and time through serial interfaces like I2C.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
28SensorA component that measures one form of energy (like light or heat or mechanical energy) and converts it to voltage or current.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
29ShieldsShields are boards that can be plugged on top of the Arduino PCB extending its capabilities.https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/arduinoShields
30SketchThe term given to programs written in the Arduino IDE.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
31SoCSystem on Chip is an evolution of embedded systems, where in a single package and substrate are hosted all the parts necessary to create a fully functional computer. The package contains a microprocessor, the various types of memory, interfaces for communication and peripheral management, converters and so on. With a SoC is possible to build a very cost effective computer that runs an operating system like Linux and connects to the usual set of I/O peripherals (mouse, keyboard, monitor ...).https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
32Source (transistor)The pin of a Field Effect Transistor connected to the lower (n channel) or higher (p channel) voltage of i.e load to be controlled.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
33SPISerial Peripheral Interface (SPI) is a synchronous serial data protocol used by microcontrollers for communicating with one or more peripheral devices quickly over short distances.https://www.arduino.cc/en/reference/SPI
34TTLA type of electronic logic circuitry that works with 5V/0V logic levels. Transistor-Transistor Logic was developed during the sixties of the last century and became a worldwide standard. Low power and low voltage applications are now replacing 5V TTL with new technologies.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
35Toolchain (IDE)A toolchain is a set of programming tools that is used to perform a complex set of operations. In the Arduino Software (IDE) the toolchain is hidden from the user, but it is used to compile and upload the user Sketch. It includes compiler, assembler, linker and Standard C & math libraries.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
36TransistorA 3 terminal (usually) electronic device which can act as either an amplifier or a switch. A control voltage or current between two leads controls a (usually) higher voltage or current between a different pair of leads. Common types of transistors include the Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) and the Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET).https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
37UARTAn Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter is an hardware device or module inside a microcontroller that implements serial communication with speeds and data format fully configurable.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
38Ultrasonic Range FinderAn ultrasonic range finder sensor enables a robot to detect obstacles in its path by utilizing the propagation of high-frequency sound waves. The sensor emits a 40kHz sound wave, which bounces off a reflective surface and returns to the sensor.https://www.vexrobotics.com/276-2155.html
39UNO (Arduino)The Arduino Uno is an open-source microcontroller board based on the Microchip ATmega328P microcontroller and developed by Arduino.cc. The board is equipped with sets of digital and analog input/output pins that may be interfaced to various expansion boards and other circuits.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arduino_Uno
40USBStands for Universal Serial Bus. It's a generic port that is standard on most computers today. With a USB cable, it's possible to program and power an Arduino over a USB connection.https://www.arduino.cc/glossary/en/
41WeMos D1The WeMos D1 R1 is actually a Wi-Fi development board based on ESP8266-12E, which looks like an Arduino Uno board but the core part is the ESP-12E chip. Surprisingly boards purchased almost at the same time had different looks! In some boards, WEMOS D1 is printed, and in some other boards, only D1 Wi-Fi is printed.https://www.electroschematics.com/d1-wi-wi-board/
 

KiloBravo

Active Member
Licensed User
Looks great, nice work!

I would make the distinction that I2C is two wires and SPI is usually four wires.

Also, add a reference for the Dallas One Wire Protocol. A lot of temperature sensors use that.
https://wiki.seeedstudio.com/One-Wire-Temperature-Sensor-DS18B20 <<< IMHO

I will add, the part I struggle with the most with the ESP32 devices is getting the proper pin out.
The modules I get from AliExpress are occasionally labeled one way but work under a different pin out.
My adventures with the ESP32 Cam modules reinforce my belief this is a common frustration point. Again, IMHO!

Maybe add something about resistors to limit current.
Also, a flyback diode for snubber circuits for motors and relays.

Also, ground straps to eliminate electrostatic discharge.
Most ICs protect against this now. But I smoked plenty of ESP boards last winter without using a proper ground strap.

 

aeric

Expert
Licensed User
Longtime User
Thanks for sharing the tips.
 
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