Teensy

A compact, high-performance board that offers an engaging introduction to embedded systems, digital electronics, and programming

Cover image for board - Teensy teensy PJRC microcontroller

17 July 2023 by Kevin McAleer | Share this article on


Overview

The Teensy 4.1 microcontroller is a compact, high-performance board that offers an engaging introduction to embedded systems, digital electronics, and programming. Developed by PJRC, this microcontroller is a part of the acclaimed Teensy series and provides a plethora of capabilities that allow users to undertake a wide range of projects - from simple LED matrix displays to intricate musical synthesizers.


About the Manufacturer

PJRC, a company led by Paul Stoffregen, is a significant player in the maker community, renowned for the creation of the Teensy series of microcontrollers. Their mission revolves around delivering powerful, versatile, and user-friendly microcontrollers that cater to both hobbyist makers and professional electronic engineers.


Target Audience

The Teensy 4.1 microcontroller appeals to a broad spectrum of tech enthusiasts. Beginners delving into the field of electronics and programming find the board easy to handle, while the robust features and superior performance make it a desirable choice for professionals and experienced hobbyists eager to design complex projects without compromising capability.


Onboard Features and Specifications

Teensy 4.1 Pinouts

Despite its compact form, the Teensy 4.1 is a powerhouse of features. The board boasts an ARM Cortex-M7 processor with a clock speed of 600MHz and comes equipped with 1MB of RAM and 8MB of Flash memory.

The Teensy 4.1 provides 40 digital pins, 14 of which can serve as analog inputs. The remaining pins offer diverse functionalities, including UART, SPI, I2C, and CAN interfaces, along with dedicated power and ground pins.

One standout feature is the onboard microSD card slot, particularly useful for projects requiring data logging or multimedia storage.


Programming Languages

Teensy 4.1 microcontrollers can be programmed using C/C++ within the Arduino IDE. This feature, coupled with the Teensyduino add-on, enhances the accessibility of the board to the extensive Arduino community, opening up a wealth of libraries and project examples.


Fun Projects

The Teensy 4.1 microcontroller paves the way for an abundance of exciting projects. Novices might begin by crafting an LED blink program or creating a basic music player.

More experienced users can venture into complex projects, such as building a digital synthesizer, designing a flight simulator interface, or setting up a real-time data logger using the onboard microSD card slot.


GPIO Pinouts

The Teensy 4.1 microcontroller features a diverse set of General-Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) pins, enabling the board to interact with a vast array of external hardware.

Here’s a brief outline of the Teensy 4.1 GPIO pinouts:

  • Digital Pins: The board comes with 40 digital pins that can be used for digital input or output.

  • Analog Pins: 14 of the 40 pins can also serve as analog inputs.

  • Power Pins: Dedicated pins for 3.3V power output and ground are included.

This versatile suite of GPIO pins allows the Teensy 4.1 to connect with a wide variety of sensors, actuators, and other components, thus supporting a multitude of fascinating and complex projects.

In conclusion, the Teensy 4.1 microcontroller is a potent tool in the world of embedded systems programming. It caters to users of all proficiency levels, from beginner makers to experienced developers, attesting to PJRC’s commitment to making advanced digital electronics accessible to enthusiasts worldwide.


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Kevin McAleer

I build robots, bring them to life with code, and have a whole load of fun along the way

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