This week's EYE ON NPI is more like an "EYE ON Ladyada's Desk" because while the ESP32-C6 has not yet been featured by DigiKey on their New Products Page (https://digikey.com/new) we're starting to spend a little time checking out this new Espressif chip - the ESP32-C6 series - and the ready-to-use modules available from DigiKey, such as the ESP32-C6 WROOM (https://www.digikey.com/short/8vj302rf).

We use the Espressif family of chips (https://www.digikey.com/en/supplier-centers/espressif-systems) in tons of our designs: they're inexpensive, powerful, have excellent low-power sleep modes, and all come with fast and secure WiFi functionality, so they make for excellent IoT devices. Starting with the ESP32 in 2016, a follow-up to their 'accidental microcontroller' the ESP8266, Espressif has focused on Tensilica-based microcontrollers with built in WiFi and/or Bluetooth radio. By combining the silicon for radio and processor, they've been able to come in at disruptively-low pricing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disruptive_innovation) - with chips ranging from $1-$3 and modules from $2-$6.

Over the years they've branched out to include improved BLE, native USB, and many other peripherals like CAN and TFTs. They've also dabbled in RISC-V, adding a co-processor to the ESP-Sx series and finally going 'full RISC-V' in the ESP-Cx series. Now, with the C6, they're adding a new protocol to the mix: in addition to updating to WiFi 6 and BLE 5, the C6 also can talk 2.4GHz 802.15.4 which means it can communicate with Zigbee devices (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zigbee) including Thread and... Matter (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matter_(standard)) an open-source connectivity standard for smart home and Internet of Things devices from the Connectivity Standards Alliance (https://csa-iot.org/) formally the ZigBee Alliance.

Matter is, hopefully, not just the latest, but the last attempt at creating a unified standard for home/business/industrial IoT and automation. It is a higher level protocol that runs on top of WiFi, BLE, or Thread - Thread being a replacement for Zigbee that also runs on 802.15.4 radios. That means that if you want to create a Matter device, you can use any of the three transports (https://learn.adafruit.com/alltheiot-transports) supported by the ESP32-C6: WiFi is medium range, medium cost, high power, medium complexity and high data rate: once you set up the access point, and as long as it's plugged into the wall, it tends to work very well. BLE is lower range, low cost, low power and medium complexity since you still need to pair to another device. Thread/ZigBee is medium range, low power, low cost, and high complexity since you need a gateway to use.

As of this post/video, the Matter API for Espressif chips is only available through the ESP IDF SDK (https://github.com/espressif/esp-matter), and not in Arduino yet, although there is an open issue being worked on (https://github.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/issues/7432). However, if you aren't up for using the ESP-IDF for programming, you can check out ZeroCode (https://zerocode.espressif.com/) Espressif in-browser code generation, compilation and uploading system. At this time only '2-chip' setups are available for code generation, the 'bare' ESP32-C6 support is coming soon, but we tried out the IoT ExpressLink configs (https://www.espressif.com/en/solutions/device-connectivity/esp-aws-iot-expresslink) which have UART commands for setting up and tearing down the Matter device. After filtering for ExpressLink, we selected the C6 Mini module we have on our Feather prototype. A schematic is generated to show how the module will need to be wired for the UART access. Then you can program it directly in the browser. The unique Matter identifier is turned into a QR code: you can scan this with your mobile phone to add the device to your home's Matter-hub. Finally - check out the AT command reference (https://docs.aws.amazon.com/pdfs/iot-expresslink/latest/gettingstartedguide/expresslink-gsg.pdf) for how to start the Matter subsystem and send/receive data.

As Thread/Matter gets adopted as the next-gen IoT transport protocol, the Espressif ESP32-C6 (https://www.digikey.com/short/8vj302rf) is positioned to be the perfect module for fast integration and low cost. With pre-certified and encased modules, plus a ready-to-go SDK, you can spin up a prototype product in just a couple days. We recommend starting with the ESP32-C6-WROOM-1-N8 module to start, with tons of flash memory, you can always downgrade if you end up only needing 4MB of Flash. There's also an affordable ESP32-C6-DevKitC (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/espressif-systems/ESP32-C6-DEVKITC-1-N8/17728861) that has all the basics on already for instant bring-up. Order from DigiKey today to get your ESP32-C6's by tomorrow afternoon so you can be ready for the future of IoT with WiFi, BLE 5 and Thread/Matter support baked in.

This week's EYE ON NPI is teamwork makin' the dream work - a collaboration between our favorite module makers Raytac (https://www.digikey.com/en/supplier-centers/raytac) and our favorite Bluetooth Low Energy designers, Nordic Semiconductor (https://www.digikey.com/en/supplier-centers/nordic-semiconductor).

Together they've created what we think is the best nRF52840 module, the Raytac MDBT50Q-1MV2 (https://www.digikey.com/short/t8hvw1bt). Historically you've had to pick this up direct from Raytac, but now it's stocked by DigiKey which is excellent news for anyone who wants to integrate the powerful nRF52840 with little fuss.

The Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/nordic-semiconductor-asa/NRF52840-QIAA-R/7725407) is not a new chip, we've been selling the Feather nRF52840 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/adafruit-industries-llc/4062/9843410) since 2019 and the chip itself was announced in mid 2017 (https://www.nordicsemi.com/Nordic-news/2017/05/Nordic-Semiconductor-introduces-latest-nRF52-Series-SoC). It builds on the popular nRF52832 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/nordic-semiconductor-asa/NRF52832-QFAB-R/6051565), a chip with an Arm Cortex M4-F / 512K Flash / 64K SRAM, but with a ton more memory: the '840 has 1MB Flash and 256K SRAM. It also comes with native USB device support, which is new to the nRF series but makes product design easier because DFU and computer-interfacing doesn't require a second chip. The only challenge is that the nRF52840 itself is in a funky QFN package with pads underneath, and multiple rows, which requires either very fine traces, 4-layer boards, plugged vias, or a combination, in order to get to the 'inner' traces. Also, you have to get your antenna tuning right - even though the nRF is very forgiving, it's still extra effort!

That's why at Adafruit we have been using Raytac's MDBT50Q-1MV2 Module (https://www.digikey.com/short/t8hvw1bt) for years, in our Feather nRF52840 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/adafruit-industries-llc/4062/9843410), ItsyBitsy nRF52840 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/adafruit-industries-llc/4481/11497502) and CLUE board (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/adafruit-industries-llc/4500/11594501). We like that it pick-and-places cleanly and easily on 2-layer PCBs with 8/8 rule DRC, comes with certifications, and has a couple different built-in antenna options, all tuned and ready.

In particular, if you want a larger and/or external antenna check out the MDBT50Q-U1MV2 (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/raytac/MDBT50Q-U1MV2/13968055) but we like the chip-antenna version the most. Either way, the module footprint is much easier to work with - you still have pads underneath but they're large, and you can easily fit vias in the unused spots. Just make sure you keep ground clearance around the antenna if you're using an on-module version. If you need tips on schematic and layout, just use our open source hardware design files to guide you - or check Nordic's devZone (https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/).

If you've wanted to use the Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840 chip (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/nordic-semiconductor-asa/NRF52840-QIAA-R/7725407) for your ultra low-power Bluetooth LE products, but have hesitated due to the effort of integrating the QFN chip, we can't recommend the Raytac MDBT50Q-1MV2 module (https://www.digikey.com/short/t8hvw1bt) enough! And now that it's for sale through DigiKey, you can pick up some at a great price. Order today and you can BLE-ify your next design by tomorrow afternoon.

This is a USB HID device that is set up to play media and adjust the volume of your speakers. Underneath the knob is a NeoPixel strip that changes color whenever it’s turned up or down.

You can single-click to play and pause media, double-click to skip to the next track. If you long press, it’ll mute the speaker's volume.

The electronics are housed in our 3D printed snap fit enclosure that features a new design. The knob features a built-in LED diffuser with textured knurling on the outer edge.

We used the filament swap technique to make a multi-material print so there’s no need for a multi-extruder. Just use white PLA filament to diffuse the LEDs.

Code, libraries and assembly instructions are documented in the project Learn Guide links below.

Learn Guide

https://learn.adafruit.com/usb-rotary-media-dial/

QT Py RP2040

https://www.adafruit.com/product/4900

STEMMA QT Rotary Encoder

https://www.adafruit.com/product/5880

NeoPixel Side Light Strip 120/m

https://www.adafruit.com/product/3634

STEMMA QT Cable

https://www.adafruit.com/product/4399

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JP’s Product Pick of the Week 5/21/24 Flora NeoPixel v3 Sheet RECAP

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https://www.adafruit.com/product/1559

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Every week we'll 3D print designs from the community and showcase slicer settings, use cases and of course, Time-lapses! This Week:

Floppy Piggy Bank

By BB11

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6604353

CR10S Pro V2

Purple PLA

18hr 13mins

X:262 Y:180 Z:139mm

.25mm layer / .4mm Nozzle

6% Infill / 1mm Retraction

200C / 60C

186g

60mm/s

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3D Printing Projects Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjF7R1fz_OOWD2dJNRIN46uhMCWvNOlbG

3D Hangout Show Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjF7R1fz_OOVgpmWevin2slopw_A3-A8Y

Layer by Layer CAD Tutorials Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjF7R1fz_OOVsMp6nKnpjsXSQ45nxfORb

Timelapse Tuesday Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjF7R1fz_OOVagy3CktXsAAs4b153xpp_

Connect with Noe and Pedro on Social Media:

Noe's Twitter / Instagram: @ecken

Pedro's Twitter / Instagram: @videopixil

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Music by Bartlebeats https://soundcloud.com/adafruit

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We're working on an updated version of our soil sensor, and thinking of making a version that has a coin cell battery on the back. However, we can't use the common 'retainer' style of CR2032 coin cell holder because we will have traces on the back that would make routing hard.

Let's search for a battery holder that comes on tape - so we can pick and place it - but is SMT and is a proper holder that has small positive and negative pads. We want a slim and unobtrusive style if possible, and low cost so we can keep our BOM minimal.

See the chosen part here https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/assmann-wsw-components/A-BAT-CH-C8-EA-ZSR3/19721188

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Notes document is available here: https://github.com/adafruit/adafruit-circuitpython-weekly-meeting/blob/main/2024/2024-05-20.md

Join here for the chat all week: http://adafru.it/discord

The CircuitPython Weekly normally is held at 2pm US ET/11am us PT on Mondays. Check the #circuitpython-dev channel on Discord for notices of change in time and links to past meetings. Meeting times are also available in iCal format using the following link: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/adafruit/adafruit-circuitpython-weekly-meeting/master/meeting.ical or view it in your browser: https://open-web-calendar.herokuapp.com/calendar.html?url=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/adafruit/adafruit-circuitpython-weekly-meeting/master/meeting.ical

CircuitPython development is sponsored by Adafruit. Please support them by purchasing hardware from https://adafruit.com.

Reminders: Podcast available on most services. Let us know if we’re missing some.

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Join Scott as he starts working on ESP BLE pairing and bonding (aka initiating encrypted connections), demonstrates building CircuitPython with asyncio python scripts and answers questions.

https://github.com/tannewt/circuitpython/tree/embedded-build

https://github.com/tannewt/embedded

Thanks to dcd for timecodes:

0:00 Getting Started

1:56 Hello - welcome to Deep Dive w/Scott

3:00 Adafruit Feather nRF25840 bluefruit feather example

3:09 We will talk about Bluetooth Low Energy today

4:47 Join #live-broadcast-chat on Discord at http://adafrui.it/discord

5:15 BLE vs Bluetooth "Classic" (older devices)

6:06 ESP32-S2-DevKitC-1 V1.o S2 SOLO N4R2 (bad example, no BLE support :-) )

6:16 ESPS3 BLE + WiFi

7:43 LED Glasses nRF52840

8:42 Creating Servers and Dynamic Services - from two weeks ago

10:00 Pull Request to add ability to create services (e.g. HID services )

10:45 Pairing & Bonding / services / characteristics (create a keyboard)

12:20 esp-matter protocol - hamslabs

13:35 PR: Add ESP BLE GATT server support #9222

13:46 also issue Add ESP BLE GATT server support #5926

14:41 Code review process inner workings

15:29 ESP32-H4 and ESP32-P4 annonuncement on espressif.com (not available yet) - but see ESP-IDF SDK

16:14 also added C2 support to circuitpython ( but it ran out of memory ) maybe only one of WiFi or BLE at a time

17:08 and C6 - no RMT neopixel support, but it does have BLE

19:45 using TinyUSB on devices with SPI but no USB

21:03 BLE_EXT_ADV ( extended advertising feature of BLE 5)

24:39 yesterdays ESP32 issue - better debugging by enabling better debug logging

25:40 pondering interrupt handlers and weak functions

26:27 Review files changed in PR9222

26:35 Trade-off OTA for BLE on new 4MB boards

28:00 adding -u to LDFLAGS to deal with weak symbols

29:18 Pairing and Bonding not supported yet

29:50 then maybe look at building CP with new build systems

31:29 Pairing and Bonding ...

33:35 ESP IDF stores bonding information in NVS partion

34:03 look on github circuitpython/tests/circuitpyton-manual for example code (but no BLE code)

34:14 adafruit/Adafruit_CircuitPython_BLE/examples/ble_hid_central.py ( all commented out)

36:13 adafruit/Adafruit_CircuitPython_BLE/examples/ble_current_time_service.py

36:37 iPhone pairing can deliver time

37:08 github espressif/esp-idf/examples/bluetooth/nimble blecent and bleprph

38:38 bleprph/tutorial bleprph_walkthrough.md

41:35 watch running CP and BLE and updating time

43:38 view example for bleprph/main/main.c code

44:14 CP repo ports/espressif/common-hal/_bleio/PacketBuffer.c

44:26 and ports/espressif/common-hal/_bleio/Connection. ( TODO:Implement this )

46:58 using copilot to make printf debugging faster!

50:54 also Adapter.c

53:39 refer to online CP docs for _bleio

56:20 git switch ble_bonding

58:03 clangd feature for genertated tags in editor ( mentioned a few weeks ago )o

59:54 S3 WROOM-2 N32R8V

1:01:02 set up window for serial output capture and CP serial REPL

1:06:21 update code.py - start test / paired - decode connections

1:09:20 CP doesn't have audio over BLE

1:17:36 use chatgpt to convert C #defines to switch statement function

1:25:54 save the work in process and switch to embedded-build git repo

1:27;20 fetch and pip install the build tool

1:31:28 review the build code in build_circuitpython.py

1:34:44 build tool uses python asyncio to get parallelism

1:35:38 return to the perfetto.dev chart of the threads to see basic trace information

1:43:02 when you call an async function, it doen't even begin to execute it - it just wraps it so you can run it later1:44:20 discussion of zig build system

1:45:30 rerun the build - this time with some more parallel tasks

2:01:43 TODO: add memoization to the build system in the future

2:04:01 push the code tannewt embedded build and wrap up

2:11:10 have a great weekend

Visit the Adafruit shop online - http://www.adafruit.com

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Mini Leaded 60/40 Solder Spool - 0.3mm Diameter - 50 grams (0:10)

https://www.adafruit.com/product/5941

On-Off Key Lock Switch - 12mm Diameter (0:39)

https://www.adafruit.com/product/5926

2.54mm / 0.1" Pitch Press-Fit Male Pin Header (2:16)

https://www.adafruit.com/product/5938

Adafruit Proto Tripler PiCowbell for Pico and PicoW (4:51)

https://www.adafruit.com/product/5967

Adafruit TRRS Trinkey - USB Key for Assistive Technology (8:35)

https://www.adafruit.com/product/5954

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This week's EYE ON NPI will take you to Infinity and Beyond, with Infineon PSoC™ 4000T Microcontrollers (https://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/i/infineon/psoc-4000t-microcontrollers) and the CY8CPROTO-040T eval board (https://www.digikey.com/short/qhfjbt39) specifically designed to get you started with the 4000t series microcontrollers and using the Infineon-neé-Cypress CapSense technology for capacitive touch buttons and slider.

The Infineon PSoC™ 4000T series of microcontrollers are based around the classic Arm Cortex M0+ core, running at 48 MHz and with 64K flash, 8K of SRAM. So, a great microcontroller for simple products/white goods that don't need USB or a graphical display, like headphones, rice cookers, tea kettles or electric toothbrushes. The chip is optimized for capacitive touch sensing, with timers and lots of capsense inputs, but not a ton of other peripherals: there's only two serial blocks that can be configured as I2C/UART/SPI, and no ADC/DAC or USB or CAN. As long as your product is intended to be low-cost, and simple, that's probably just fine!

The real star of the show on these chips is the CapSense peripheral (https://www.infineon.com/cms/en/product/microcontroller/sensing-controller/capsense-controllers/capsense/), which has up to 16 inputs - out of 21 GPIO! These can be configured as "CSD-type" self-capacitance sigma-delta buttons or sliders, or as "CSX-type" mutual-capacitance X-Y grids (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOOZII8cvT4). Capacitive sensing is great when you want products that react to touch without needing large and breakable tactile switches. For example, touch sensors on headphones can determine when they are inserted into the ear and when a finger is touching the body to pause or adjust volume (https://www.infineon.com/dgdl/Infineon-The_touch_sensing_HMI_in_wearable_and_IoT_devices-Whitepaper-v01_00-EN.pdf?fileId=8ac78c8c8a44f57b018a5f0711243a0f). Unlike buttons or encoders, there's no risk of eventual mechanical failure, rending a product useless: with a smooth clean surface you can still provide a full UI with low cost and maintenance.

The Infineon PSoC™ 4000T series comes with the 5th generation of CapSense, which features autonomous DMA function in deep sleep, great responsivity, and moisture resistance. One downside of classic capacitive touch solutions is false 'ghost' triggering or sluggish 'touch blindness' when the touch surface is wet. This is a common issue with products that end up being used in a kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, while exercising or outside. That's because droplets of water have capacitance on the order of the human finger and so each droplet looks like a touch. Most capacitive sense implementations have a slow self-zeroing drift calibration procedure, but they don't handle sudden water sprays. CapSense 5th gen, by comparison, will maintain the same raw capacitive count even when there's spray, mist or droplets!

Another neat feature is the autonomous sensing block, which allows ultra low deep sleep current of 6uA with touch-to-wake. Instead of powering up the whole core to do the capacitive touch reading and averaging in the main process thread, readings are done in a zombie mode so that we only wake up when touches are detected.

If your next product design needs a reliable capacitive touch interface, the CapSense 5th gen-powered Infineon PSoC™ 4000T series (https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/infineon-technologies/CY8CPROTO-040T/22158824) is an excellent low-power Cortex M0+ chip that can act as the main processor of your product with high integration for a tiny BOM at an attractive price. You can get started fast by picking up a CY8CPROTO-040T eval board (https://www.digikey.com/short/j5hfb704) that has a programming/debug interface as well as button, slider and proximity sensing CapSense element. Order today and your CY8CPROTO will ship immediately, so that you can get started with your development by tomorrow afternoon!