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Particle Argon IoT Development Kit (Bluetooth, WiFi, Mesh)
The Particle Argon is a versatile Wi-Fi development kit designed for building IoT applications. It features powerful processors including the Nordic nRF52840 and the Espressif ESP32, making it suitable for a wide range of connected device projects. The board includes built-in charging circuitry for easy integration with Li-Po batteries and offers 20 mixed-signal GPIO pins to interface with sensors, actuators, and other electronics.
Package Includes
- Particle Argon Board
- External Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Antenna
- Micro-USB Cable for power and programming
- Breadboard and basic components (resistors, LEDs)
Features
- Connectivity
- Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n): Provides internet access and cloud communication.
- Bluetooth 5.0 (BLE): Supports low-energy short-range communication with smartphones and other BLE devices.
- Mesh Networking: Supports Thread protocol mesh networking to communicate with other Particle devices without Wi-Fi or cellular.
- Processor
- Nordic nRF52840: 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4F running at 64 MHz.
- Memory
- RAM: 256 KB SRAM.
- Flash: 1 MB flash storage.
- Expansion and Peripherals
- GPIO Pins: Mixed digital and analog GPIO for sensors and actuators.
- I2C, SPI, UART: Standard communication protocols.
- PWM and ADC: Supports pulse-width modulation and analog input.
- Power
- Powered via USB (5V) or Li-Po battery connector.
- Includes low-power modes for energy efficiency.
- Security
- Hardware cryptographic accelerator.
- Built-in secure element for cryptographic key storage.
- Cloud Integration
- Seamless integration with Particle Cloud for remote management, firmware updates, and data logging.
- Development and Support
- Runs Particle Device OS, an open-source RTOS.
- Supports Particle Workbench IDE (based on VS Code).
- Comprehensive documentation and community support.
- Physical Dimensions
- Compact size ideal for embedding in projects.
Hardware Specifications
- Processor: Nordic nRF52840 SoC (ARM Cortex-M4F @ 64MHz)
- Memory: 1MB flash, 256KB RAM
- Bluetooth: BLE with central and peripheral support
- GPIO: 20 mixed signal pins (6 analog, 8 PWM), UART, I2C, SPI
- Extra Features: DSP instructions, hardware FPU, encryption
- Transmit Power: Adjustable from +8 dBm to -20 dBm
- NFC-A Radio
- Wi-Fi Coprocessor: Espressif ESP32-D0WD, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n up to 150 Mbps), 4MB flash onboard
- Board: 4MB SPI flash, micro USB 2.0, Li-Po charging, JTAG debugging, RGB LED, buttons, onboard and external antennas
- Certifications: FCC, CE, ISED, RoHS compliant
Pinout Highlights
| Pin | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Li+ | LiPo battery positive terminal | Powers the device |
| VUSB | USB power (5V) input | Powers device when USB connected |
| 3V3 | 3.3V regulated output | Powers external components |
| GND | Ground | Common ground |
| EN | Enable pin (active high) | Pull low to disable device |
| RST | Reset pin (active low) | Resets device |
| MD | Mode button input (active low) | Setup mode, factory reset |
| RX/TX | UART serial communication or digital GPIO | Serial or GPIO functions |
| SDA/SCL | I2C communication pins or digital GPIO | For I2C or GPIO |
| MO/MI/SCK | SPI interface pins or digital GPIO | SPI or GPIO |
| D2-D8 | General-purpose PWM-capable GPIO | Digital I/O and PWM |
| A0-A5 | Analog inputs, PWM-capable digital GPIO | Analog sensor input or PWM |
Applications
- IoT devices for cloud data collection, monitoring, and control (smart homes, industrial)
- Wearable technology with Bluetooth and low power consumption
- Sensor networks for environmental or agricultural monitoring
- Mesh networking in smart cities or industrial automation
- Rapid prototyping with Particle Cloud and Workbench
- Robotics and drones, controlling motors and actuators via PWM and GPIO
- Secure access control and surveillance systems
- Health monitoring and telemedicine solutions
- Energy management in smart grids or buildings
Resources
Features
- Connectivity
- Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n): Provides internet access and cloud communication.
- Bluetooth 5.0 (BLE): Supports low-energy short-range communication with smartphones and other BLE devices.
- Mesh Networking: Supports Thread protocol mesh networking to communicate with other Particle devices without Wi-Fi or cellular.
- Processor
- Nordic nRF52840: 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4F running at 64 MHz.
- Memory
- RAM: 256 KB SRAM.
- Flash: 1 MB flash storage.
- Expansion and Peripherals
- GPIO Pins: Mixed digital and analog GPIO for sensors and actuators.
- I2C, SPI, UART: Standard communication protocols.
- PWM and ADC: Supports pulse-width modulation and analog input.
- Power
- Powered via USB (5V) or Li-Po battery connector.
- Includes low-power modes for energy efficiency.
- Security
- Hardware cryptographic accelerator.
- Built-in secure element for cryptographic key storage.
- Cloud Integration
- Seamless integration with Particle Cloud for remote management, firmware updates, and data logging.
- Development and Support
- Runs Particle Device OS, an open-source RTOS.
- Supports Particle Workbench IDE (based on VS Code).
- Comprehensive documentation and community support.
- Physical Dimensions
- Compact size ideal for embedding in projects.
Hardware Specifications
- Processor: Nordic nRF52840 SoC (ARM Cortex-M4F @ 64MHz)
- Memory: 1MB flash, 256KB RAM
- Bluetooth: BLE with central and peripheral support
- GPIO: 20 mixed signal pins (6 analog, 8 PWM), UART, I2C, SPI
- Extra Features: DSP instructions, hardware FPU, encryption
- Transmit Power: Adjustable from +8 dBm to -20 dBm
- NFC-A Radio
- Wi-Fi Coprocessor: Espressif ESP32-D0WD, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n up to 150 Mbps), 4MB flash onboard
- Board: 4MB SPI flash, micro USB 2.0, Li-Po charging, JTAG debugging, RGB LED, buttons, onboard and external antennas
- Certifications: FCC, CE, ISED, RoHS compliant
Pinout Highlights
| Pin | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Li+ | LiPo battery positive terminal | Powers the device |
| VUSB | USB power (5V) input | Powers device when USB connected |
| 3V3 | 3.3V regulated output | Powers external components |
| GND | Ground | Common ground |
| EN | Enable pin (active high) | Pull low to disable device |
| RST | Reset pin (active low) | Resets device |
| MD | Mode button input (active low) | Setup mode, factory reset |
| RX/TX | UART serial communication or digital GPIO | Serial or GPIO functions |
| SDA/SCL | I2C communication pins or digital GPIO | For I2C or GPIO |
| MO/MI/SCK | SPI interface pins or digital GPIO | SPI or GPIO |
| D2-D8 | General-purpose PWM-capable GPIO | Digital I/O and PWM |
| A0-A5 | Analog inputs, PWM-capable digital GPIO | Analog sensor input or PWM |
Applications
- IoT devices for cloud data collection, monitoring, and control (smart homes, industrial)
- Wearable technology with Bluetooth and low power consumption
- Sensor networks for environmental or agricultural monitoring
- Mesh networking in smart cities or industrial automation
- Rapid prototyping with Particle Cloud and Workbench
- Robotics and drones, controlling motors and actuators via PWM and GPIO
- Secure access control and surveillance systems
- Health monitoring and telemedicine solutions
- Energy management in smart grids or buildings