What is an Arduino Board?

What is an Arduino Board?

Here is an overview of the whole Arduino board. Anybody who has worked on Arduino will know that is a small board consisting of multiple components like ICs, and USB which are interconnected to form a whole connection. Here is a list of all the components...

Microcontrollers

The microcontroller used on the Arduino board is essentially used for controlling all major operations. The microcontroller is used to coordinate the input taken and execute the code written in a high-level language. This code is then implemented and relevant output is generated. The choice of microcontroller varies on the requirements of the project....

Communication Interface

To function optimally, the Arduino needs to communicate with external devices like computers, sensors, and LEDs. By adding a communication interface, we can ensure that Arduino can receive and transfer data to external devices and therefore generate the required output. Let’s understand the components that make up the Communication Interface of Arduino....

Digital Pins

In general, digital pins are used for general purposes like taking input or generating output. The commands that are used for setting the modes of the pins are pinMode(), digitalRead(), and digitalWrite() commands....

Analog Pins

In general, the analog pins are used for general purposes like supporting 10-bit analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) which is performed using analog the Read() function. These analog inputs can also be used as digital pins: analog input 0 as digital pin 14 through analog input 5 as digital pin 19. Analog pins are particularly helpful since they can store 0-255 bits which is not possible using digital pins. This feature is not available on every Arduino board....

Power Pins

The power pins are used to supply the power needed for operating the Arduino. In case some external source like a jack is being used to drive the power then it can be connected to this PIN. The supply of power that each board can take varies from one design to another and it is necessary to know this range for the board that you are using. Some Arduinos don’t have the VIN pin since they only accept a regulated input, one such example is lililyPad...

Other Pins

AREF: The analog reference pin is often used to set an upper limit to the voltage for analog pins. This is set using the analogReference() function. Reset: This pin is used to reset the state of the microcontroller by setting all values to their default values. Once all the actions have been performed or some wrong program is executed then you might want to reset the Arduino so you can use this pin for that....

Crystal Oscillator

The crystal oscillator is a device on Arduino that deals with issues involving time. The Arduino calculates time using this oscillator only. If you observe, you will see the number ‘16.000H9H’ printed on top of the Arduino crystal. This indicates that the Arduino operates at a frequency of 16,000,000 Hertz pf. Crystal oscillators are very precise and accurate devices. For example, a crystal oscillator is also present on he Arduino to provide clock pulses to the microcontroller Atmega 328 and help it control all commands and order of execution....

Applications of Arduino

Arduino finds its applications in various fields due to their ability to perform different things. Let us see some of its applications:...

Conclusion

We have seen how Arduino is made of various components that control the entire working of Arduino. These components are connected to coordinate all the tasks and ensure the Arduino can work as required. Apart from the microcontroller, which is the Braun of the Arduino, we studied various components like the pins and the oscillators. It is important to know the different components that make the hardware and software parts work together. Readers are advised to refer to the frequently asked questions in case of any doubts....

Arduino UNO Components – FAQs

What are the major components of the Arduino?...