But on the other hand, something simple like an Arduino Nano, or one of its clones, with its small size, low cost and easy programming, is a great little problem-solver if you just need knock up a simple interface, such as to monitor a voltage, or to read a control knob.
Completely missed here in wonderland, about 10 years ago Chinese chip maker Logic Green came out with something called the LTG8F328P, which behaves much like a ATmega328P, but has some extra features.
Note: I am not sure of the global legality of such a clone/homage/rip-off/tribute, and am not qualified to comment further on that.
The LTG8F328P has:
better timers
a 12bit ADC rather than 10bit
a differential amplifier with programmable gain for the ADC
an added 8bit DAC
clocking up to 32MHz
operation over 1.8 – 5.5V.
Versions of the chip are commonly available on several pcbs: There the Arduino Nano-esq ‘MiniEVB LGT8F328P’ with (purple board) or without (green board) a crystal, a Pro-Mini-esq version, and an Uno-esq version.
While boards were at one time cheaper than conventional Arduino clones, this difference seems to have dwindled.
However, if you need one of the additional features, they might be worth a look.
Regarding the timers, I cannot judge them in detail as I don’t read Chinese (heroic independent efforts have been made to translate the data sheet into English – do a web search) but they seem to have some of the improved features akin to the excellent timers in the ATmega32U4 (Arduino Leonardo, Micro and Pro Micro) such as dead-band insertion, and triggered automatic PWM shut-down, for power conversion, and the LGT8F328P 32MHz timer clock is at least some way towards the excellent 96MHz clock available in the 32U4, and there is a bit (‘F2XEN’) in the LGT8F328P that seems to make a RC-controlled 64MHz clock available to the timers.
While I am praising the 32U4 – it also has a differential amplifier (as does the diminutive ATtiny85).
All this said, if you don’t mind paying for a genuine Arduino, the Arduino Nano R4 is small and has a Renesas RA4M1 microcontroller, with 14bit ADC, 12bit DAC and an op-amp with which to build a differential amplifier.
Hmmm – Prodesign Semiconductor (aka Shenzhen Pudisai Semiconductor) and LogicGreen seem to be the same company – do comment below if you know how these companies join up.
There are lots of resources on the web. Try this from Wolles Elektronikkiste as a starter
Find the Chinese language LGT8F328P data sheet linked from this product page
