SparkFun Thing Plus - RA6M5

SKU: WRL-24243 Brand: Sparkfun

Clocking in at 200MHz, the SparkFun RA6M5 Thing+ is a high-performance development board perfect for real-time applications...

$87.05 AUD, inc GST

$79.14 AUD, exc GST

Available with a lead time
Expect dispatch between May 12 and May 15

Quantity Discounts:

5+ $76.76 (exc GST)
25+ $75.18 (exc GST)
100+ $72.02 (exc GST)

It's time to supercharge your next project with the SparkFun RA6M5 Thing Plus! Clocking in at 200MHz, the RA6M5 is a high-performance microcontroller from Renesas that is perfect for real-time applications. This translates to smooth responsiveness, lightning-fast data processing, and the ability to handle complex calculations – perfect for bringing your creations to life!

The familiar Feather-footprint and Qwiic connector makes it easy to connect the RA6M5 Thing Plus to a wide range of sensors and accessories with a simple plug-and-play approach. Thanks to the 2MB of built-in Flash memory and a convenient microSD card slot, you'll also have ample space for your code and data.

The RA6M5 Thing Plus isn't just powerful; it's versatile, too, because it's built for both ease of use and advanced applications. With 512kB of SRAM, 21 general-purpose pins, and an additional 16MB of Flash memory, it offers the flexibility to tackle even more demanding projects. While the default Arduino core might not utilize every feature, experienced users can explore the microcontroller's full potential to create impressive applications.

Please be aware that while the SparkFun RA6M5 Thing Plus offers some pins that are 5V tolerant, it primarily operates at a 3.3V logic level. The board also features Bluetooth® Low Energy connectivity, thanks to the DA14531MOD module (also from Renesas). When actively transmitting, the DA14531MOD sips a mere 4mA and can operate from a small coin-cell battery. The firmware provided on the module features Renesas' SmartBond™ - CodeLess™ AT command Datapump. Therefore, users only need to send AT commands to configure a Bluetooth connection without reprogramming the module.

In conclusion, the RA6M5 Thing Plus is ideal for makers who crave power and ease of use. Its extensive features and user-friendly design make it the perfect platform to turn your ideas into reality!

The SparkFun Qwiic Connect System is an ecosystem of I²C sensors, actuators, shields and cables that make prototyping faster and less prone to error. All Qwiic-enabled boards use a common 1mm pitch, 4-pin JST connector. This reduces the amount of required PCB space, and polarized connections mean you can’t hook it up wrong.

Get Started with the SparkFun RA6M5 Thing Plus Guide

Features

SparkFun Thing Plus - RA6M5 Features

Renesas RA6M5
- 21 Multifunctional GPIO Pins:
  - Up to six 12-bit ADC channels
  - Up to two 12-bit DAC outputs
  - Up to two UARTs ports
  - An available SPI Bus
  - An available I²C Bus
Renesas DA14531MOD
- Bluetooth® Low Energy (LE) Module
- Supports CodeLess™ AT command Datapump
Thing Plus (or Feather) Form-Factor:
- Dimensions: 2.9" x 0.9"
- Four Mounting Holes:
  - 4-40 screw compatible
- 28 PTH Pins
- USB-C Connector
- 2-pin JST Connector for a LiPo Battery (not included)
- 4-pin JST Qwiic Connector
LiPo Charger:
- MC73831 Single-Cell LiPo Charger
  - Charge rate: 213mA
- MAX17048 Single-Cell LiPo Fuel Gauge
LEDs:
- PWR - Red 3.3V power indicator
- CHG - Yellow battery charging indicator
- STAT - Blue status LED (D14)
- RGB - WS2812 RGB LED (D13)
Buttons:
- USR (D31)
- RST
2x JTAG/SWD PTH Pins
16 MB/128 Mbit QSPI Flash (MX25L12833F)
µSD Card Slot

RA6M5 General Features:

Arm® Cortex®-M33 Core
- Footprint: 100-pin LQFP
- Clock frequency: 200MHz
- Flash memory:
  - 2MB (code)
  - 8kB (data)
- SRAM: 512kB
  - Error Correction Code (ECC) Support
- Arm Memory Protection Unit (Arm MPU)
- Secure Crypto Engine
- Two Watchdog Timers (WDT)
Operating voltage: 3.0V to 3.6V
Current Consumption:
- Maximum: 143mA
- Normal: 32mA
- Sleep: 11mA
- Deep Sleep: 0.9-131µA
Operating modes:
- Single-chip
- SCI/USB boot
75 I/O Pins
- 5V Tolerant (x14)
- 12-bit ADC (x6)
- 12-bit DAC (x2)
- 32-bit PWM Channels (x4)
- 16-bit PWM Channels (x6)
- UART (x10)
- I²C Bus (x3)
- SPI Bus (x2)
- QSPI (x1)
- OSPI (x1)
- USB 2.0 (Full/High Speed)
- CAN Interface
- Ethernet MAC/DMA Controller
- SD/MMC Host Interface
- Serial Sound Interface Enhanced
- Consumer Electronics Control
Realtime Clock (RTC) with calendar
CRC Calculator
Temperature Sensor
Capacitive Touch Sensing
Operating temperature: -40 to 85 °C

DA14531 General Features:

Bluetooth 5.1 system-on-chip (SoC)
- Supports up to three connections
- 32-bit Arm® Cortex® M0+
  - Clock frequency: 16 MHz
  - Memory:
    - Flash: 128 Kb
    - RAM: 48 Kb
    - ROM: 144 Kb
    - OTP: 32 Kb
Operating range (1.8 V - 3.6 V)
- Receive: 2mA
- Transmit: 4mA
- Sleep: 1.8 µA
Radio
- Transmit Power: -19 to +2.2 dBm
- Receiver Sensitivity: -93 dBm

Documents

Schematic
Eagle Files
Board Dimensions
Graphical Datasheet
Hookup Guide
- Renesas-Arduino Core (unofficial)
- Arduino Libraries:
  - FastLED Arduino library
  - SparkFun MAX1704x Fuel Gauge Arduino library
  - CodeLess Arduino Library (unofficial)
Datasheets:
Renesas Components:
Thing Plus Comparison Guide
Qwiic Information Page
GitHub Hardware Repo

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