Key Features
- Features of programmable devices and microcontroller-type systems-on-chips in one package
- Two onboard processors: a CY8C5868LTI-LP039 and a CY8C5888AXI-LP096
- Write code for the board in the standard Arduino IDE
- Both processors contain a Cortex-M3 core, 256kB of flash memory, 64kB of SRAM and 2kB of EEPROM
This is the FreeSoC2 Development Board, SparkFun’s take on the PSoC5LP ARM Cortex. The PSoC (Programmable System-on-Chip) allows any function to be routed to any pin and includes a number of programmable blocks, which allow the user to define arbitrary digital and analog circuits for their specific application.
SparkFun’s FreeSoC2 board has two processors onboard: a CY8C5868LTI-LP039 and a CY8C5888AXI-LP096. The former serves as a debugger/programmer for the latter, which is the target upon which your application code will be installed. The only significant differences between the two are package size and clock speed. The target is in a TQFP-100 package, which provides 72 I/O pins versus the debugger’s QFN-68 package and 48 I/O pins, and the target can operate at 80MHz versus the debugger’s 67MHz limit. Additionally, the FreeSoC2 can support 5V and 3.3V I/O voltages.
With a simple upload of new firmware, the Arduino core has been ported to the PSoC5LP, so you can write code for the board in the standard Arduino IDE. The board duplicates the functionality of an Arduino Uno R3’s various hardware peripherals on the pins, so many examples, libraries and shields will work on this board. However, to get the most out of the device, you will need to use the PSoC Creator IDE.
Item Specific
256kB of Flash Memory (each core)
64kB of SRAM (each core)
2kB of EEPROM (each core)
Arduino Uno R3-type headers
Some basic soldering skills required
Experienced programming skills required
PSoC Creator software is Windows-only