Particle Xenon IoT Development Kit

Jargon buster

Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.

API

An API is a software interface that lets a program control hardware or features provided by the operating system. In this product, API support matters if you want your software to adjust display settings such as brightness or contrast automatically.

IoT

Short for Internet of Things, meaning physical devices that connect to networks or the internet to send data or be controlled remotely. It matters if you want projects such as connected sensors, remote controls or classroom data-logging activities.

JTAG

JTAG is a hardware debugging and programming interface used to inspect and control chips at a low level. It matters for advanced development because it can help diagnose firmware problems that are hard to see through normal serial output.

LED

A light-emitting diode is a small electronic component that lights up when current flows through it in the correct direction. In this kit, LEDs create the flashing effect, so polarity and correct soldering matter for the project to work.

LiPo

A lithium polymer rechargeable battery commonly used in portable electronics projects. It matters because LiPo batteries need correct charging circuitry and care, and this board includes hardware intended for that battery type.

nRF52840

The nRF52840 is a Nordic Semiconductor microcontroller commonly used in maker boards, especially where Bluetooth Low Energy is needed. Seeing it listed tells you the USB host software may support boards based on this chip.

PCB antenna

A PCB antenna is an antenna pattern built directly into the circuit board rather than a separate metal antenna. It matters because placement, nearby metal and enclosure design can affect wireless range.

photodiode

A photodiode is a light-sensitive electronic component that produces a signal when light hits it. In this sensor, multiple photodiodes let the chip measure different parts of the light spectrum separately.

RGB

Short for red, green and blue, usually referring to an LED that can mix those three colours. It matters because controlling an RGB LED teaches how separate outputs combine to create different colours.

SWD

Serial Wire Debug is a two-wire programming and debugging interface used with many microcontrollers. It matters if you need low-level access to program, recover or debug the processor board connected to this carrier.