Application notes

This page is no longer maintained and is provided for historical reference only

Most of the application notes are now integrated into other topics within the documentation.

Hardware designs

AN001 Basic SoM Design is a simple SoM base board. Like a Boron it can be powered by LiPo battery, USB, or an external DC supply. It includes: RGB LED, bq24195 PMIC, MAX17043 Fuel Gauge, USB Connector, LiPo Connector (JST-PH), and M.2 SoM Connector.
AN006 Vehicle Power provides sample designs for powering Particle devices in vehicles.
AN012 Tracker 1-Wire shows how you can add DS18B20 temperature sensors to your Tracker One and interface with 5V I2C devices.
AN013 Tracker GPIO shows how you can add additional GPIO to your Tracker One using the external M8 connector. It includes both 3.3V and 5V design options, as well.
AN015 Tracker Breakout is a simple breakout board to help prototype using the Tracker One M8 connector.
AN016 Tracker Keypad LCD demonstrates adding a keypad, LCD character display, DAC, and cloud configuration to the Tracker One using the M8 connector.
AN018 Tracker Tank Level Sensor shows how to expand the Tracker One via the M8 connector including additional GPIO, ADC, a 240-33 ohm tank level sensor input, and a 12 VDC boost converter.
AN019 Tracker Prototype to Board shows how start prototyping with off-the-shelf I2C sensors and the Tracker SoM Evaluation and migrate to using a custom board for the Tracker One M8 Connector.
AN020 Tracker 4-20mA Sensor Single shows how connect 4-20mA sensors to the Tracker One. Includes a 24V boost converter that can power from the LiPo battery and overcurrent protection.
AN021 Tracker 4-20mA Sensor Quad shows how connect up to four 4-20mA sensors to the Tracker One. Requires an external 12VDC power supply, but includes a boost converter to 24V and an I2C ADC (ADC1015).
AN022 Tracker SHT3x Temperature/Humidity shows how to connect 5V I2C devices including the SHT30 and SHT31 temperature and humidity sensors to the Tracker One M8 connector and add data to location publishes.
AN023 Watchdog Timers has information about watchdog timers, and hardware and software designs for the TPL5010 and AB1805.
AN024 Tracker Relay shows how to connect two different types of relays to the Tracker One using the M8 connector.
AN025 Tracker SoM First Board contains the Eagle CAD files for creating your first Tracker SoM base board design.
AN027 Tracker Button and LEDs shows how to connect add a push button, two LEDs, a buzzer, and a 5V I2C port for the SHT30 temperature and humidity sensor to the Tracker One using the M8 connector.
AN036 LCC Module SMT includes information about SMT processes for LCC (Leadless Chip Carrier) devices such as the Tracker SoM.

Solutions accelerator projects

AN026 Tracker Current Solutions Accelerator shows how to measure AC current using the Tracker One via the M8 connector.

Programming techniques

AN002-Device-Powerdown shows how to have an Electron, E-Series, or Boron gracefully power down under battery power when the power supply is disconnected then automatically power up when restored. This can be useful in automotive applications or devices powered by a switch in mains power applications.
AN005 Threading Explainer provides detailed information on using execution threads on Particle devices.
AN008 Using a Xenon with the Nordic SDK
AN010 Finite State Machines shows some of the ways to effectively structure your code using finite state machines.
AN011 Publish to Google Sheets shows how you can publish directly to Google G Suite spreadsheets using webhooks.
AN017 Tracker CAN shows how to use the CAN bus for OBD-II to retrieve engine RPM and other useful techniques you may want to use in your own projects.
AN023 Watchdog Timers has information about watchdog timers, and hardware and software designs for the TPL5010 and AB1805.
AN032 Calling API from web page shows how to use the Particle cloud API from a web page.
AN033 256K User Binaries has information about 256K user firmware binaries on Gen 3 devices with Device OS 3.1 and later.
AN035 File System includes information about using the LittleFS flash file system on Gen 3 devices.
AN037 Ethernet includes tips for using Ethernet with Particle Gen 3 devices.
AN038 Libraries includes details on using libraries in Particle projects.
AN040 Code Size Tip includes tips on optimizing code size

Firmware examples

AN028 Stop mode sleep for cellular devices provides an annotated code example for using stop mode sleep with cellular devices.
AN029 Wake, publish, then sleep for cellular devices provides an annotated code example for doing wake, publish, then sleep cycles with cellular devices.
AN030 Saving samples in EEPROM provides an annotated code example for using saving samples in EEPROM and publishing them when connected.

Troubleshooting

AN003 Interpreting Cloud Debug shows how to interpret cloud debugging logs to troubleshoot various common issues.
AN004 Interpreting Cloud Debug-2 is a deep dive into interpreting cloud debug logs and cross-referencing the AT command guide for the u-blox modem.
AN007 Tower Info is a tool for location nearby cellular towers.
AN014 Tracker I2C Scanner is a version of the I2C scanner application for scanning the I2C bus looking for devices designed to work with the Tracker One M8 connector I2C.

Asset tracking

AN012 Tracker 1-Wire shows how you can add DS18B20 temperature sensors to your Tracker One and interface with 5V I2C devices.
AN013 Tracker GPIO shows how you can add additional GPIO to your Tracker One using the external M8 connector. It includes both 3.3V and 5V design options, as well.
AN014 Tracker I2C Scanner is a version of the I2C scanner application for scanning the I2C bus looking for devices designed to work with the Tracker One M8 connector I2C.
AN016 Tracker Keypad LCD demonstrates adding a keypad, LCD character display, DAC, and cloud configuration to the Tracker One using the M8 connector.
AN017 Tracker CAN shows how to use the CAN bus for OBD-II to retrieve engine RPM and other useful techniques you may want to use in your own projects.
AN018 Tracker Tank Level Sensor shows how to expand the Tracker One via the M8 connector including additional GPIO, ADC, a 240-33 ohm tank level sensor input, and a 12 VDC boost converter.
AN019 Tracker Prototype to Board shows how start prototyping with off-the-shelf I2C sensors and the Tracker SoM Evaluation and migrate to using a custom board for the Tracker One M8 Connector.
AN020 Tracker 4-20mA Sensor Single shows how connect 4-20mA sensors to the Tracker One. Includes a 24V boost converter that can power from the LiPo battery and overcurrent protection.
AN021 Tracker 4-20mA Sensor Quad shows how connect up to four 4-20mA sensors to the Tracker One. Requires an external 12VDC power supply, but includes a boost converter to 24V and an I2C ADC (ADC1015).
AN022 Tracker SHT3x Temperature/Humidity shows how to connect 5V I2C devices including the SHT30 and SHT31 temperature and humidity sensors to the Tracker One M8 connector and add data to location publishes.
AN024 Tracker Relay shows how to connect two different types of relays to the Tracker One using the M8 connector.
AN025 Tracker SoM First Board contains the Eagle CAD files for creating your first Tracker SoM base board design.
AN026 Tracker Current Solutions Accelerator shows how to measure AC current using the Tracker One via the M8 connector.
AN027 Tracker Button and LEDs shows how to connect add a push button, two LEDs, a buzzer, and a 5V I2C port for the SHT30 temperature and humidity sensor to the Tracker One using the M8 connector.
AN036 LCC Module SMT includes information about SMT processes for LCC (Leadless Chip Carrier) devices such as the Tracker SoM.

Certification

AN031 Enabling Wi-Fi RF Test for ESP32 provides instructions for conducting RF tests with the ESP32 Wi-Fi chip on the Argon development kit.

Numerical list

AN001 Basic SoM Design
AN002 Device Powerdown
AN003 Interpreting Cloud Debug
AN004 Interpreting Cloud Debug-2 is a deep dive into interpreting cloud debug logs and cross-referencing the AT command guide for the u-blox modem.
AN005 Threading Explainer provides detailed information on using execution threads on Particle devices.
AN006 Vehicle Power provides sample designs for powering Particle devices in vehicles.
AN007 Tower Info is a tool for location nearby cellular towers.
AN008 Using a Xenon with the Nordic SDK
AN009 Firmware Examples provides some annotated code examples, including how to effective use sleep modes.
AN010 Finite State Machines shows some of the ways to effectively structure your code using finite state machines.
AN011 Publish to Google Sheets shows how you can publish directly to Google G Suite spreadsheets using webhooks.
AN012 Tracker 1-Wire shows how you can add DS18B20 temperature sensors to your Tracker One and interface with 5V I2C devices.
AN013 Tracker GPIO shows how you can add additional GPIO to your Tracker One using the external M8 connector. It includes both 3.3V and 5V design options, as well.
AN014 Tracker I2C Scanner is a version of the I2C scanner application for scanning the I2C bus looking for devices designed to work with the Tracker One M8 connector I2C.
AN015 Tracker Breakout is a simple breakout board to help prototype using the Tracker One M8 connector.
AN016 Tracker Keypad LCD demonstrates adding a keypad, LCD character display, DAC, and cloud configuration to the Tracker One using the M8 connector.
AN017 Tracker CAN shows how to use the CAN bus for OBD-II to retrieve engine RPM and other useful techniques you may want to use in your own projects.
AN018 Tracker Tank Level Sensor shows how to expand the Tracker One via the M8 connector including additional GPIO, ADC, a 240-33 ohm tank level sensor input, and a 12 VDC boost converter.
AN019 Tracker Prototype to Board shows how start prototyping with off-the-shelf I2C sensors and the Tracker SoM Evaluation and migrate to using a custom board for the Tracker One M8 Connector.
AN020 Tracker 4-20mA Sensor Single shows how connect 4-20mA sensors to the Tracker One. Includes a 24V boost converter that can power from the LiPo battery and overcurrent protection.
AN021 Tracker 4-20mA Sensor Quad shows how connect up to four 4-20mA sensors to the Tracker One. Requires an external 12VDC power supply, but includes a boost converter to 24V and an I2C ADC (ADC1015).
AN022 Tracker SHT3x Temperature/Humidity shows how to connect 5V I2C devices including the SHT30 and SHT31 temperature and humidity sensors to the Tracker One M8 connector and add data to location publishes.
AN023 Watchdog Timers has information about watchdog timers, and hardware and software designs for the TPL5010 and AB1805.
AN024 Tracker Relay shows how to connect two different types of relays to the Tracker One using the M8 connector.
AN025 Tracker SoM First Board contains the Eagle CAD files for creating your first Tracker SoM base board design.
AN026 Tracker Current Solutions Accelerator shows how to measure AC current using the Tracker One via the M8 connector.
AN027 Tracker Button and LEDs shows how to connect add a push button, two LEDs, a buzzer, and a 5V I2C port for the SHT30 temperature and humidity sensor to the Tracker One using the M8 connector.
AN028 Stop mode sleep for cellular devices provides an annotated code example for using stop mode sleep with cellular devices.
AN029 Wake, publish, then sleep for cellular devices provides an annotated code example for doing wake, publish, then sleep cycles with cellular devices.
AN030 Saving samples in EEPROM provides an annotated code example for using saving samples in EEPROM and publishing them when connected.
AN031 Enabling Wi-Fi RF Test for ESP32 provides instructions for conducting RF tests with the ESP32 Wi-Fi chip on the Argon development kit.
AN032 Calling API from web page shows how to use the Particle cloud API from a web page.
AN033 256K User Binaries has information about 256K user firmware binaries on Gen 3 devices with Device OS 3.1 and later.
AN034 Singleton includes information about using the singleton pattern for your classes.
AN035 File System includes information about using the LittleFS flash file system on Gen 3 devices.
AN036 LCC Module SMT includes information about SMT processes for LCC (Leadless Chip Carrier) devices such as the Tracker SoM.
AN037 Ethernet includes tips for using Ethernet with Particle Gen 3 devices.
AN038 Libraries includes details on using libraries in Particle projects.
AN040 Code Size Tip includes tips on optimizing code size