Particle ARGN User Manual

2018/11/15 Particle Datasheets | Argon datasheet

https://docs.particle.io/datasheets/wi-fi/argon-datasheet/ 1/22

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The Argon is a powerful Wi-Fi enabled development board that can act as either a
standalone Wi-Fi endpoint or Wi-Fi enabled gateway for Particle Mesh networks. It is
based on the Nordic nRF52840 and has built-in battery charging circuitry so it’s easy to
connect a Li-Po and deploy your local network in minutes.

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Functional description

Overview

2018/11/15 Particle Datasheets | Argon datasheet

https://docs.particle.io/datasheets/wi-fi/argon-datasheet/ 2/22

The Argon is great for connecting existing projects to the Particle Device Cloud or as a
gateway to connect an entire group of local endpoints.

Espressif ESP32-D0WD 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi coprocessor

On-board 4MB flash for ESP32

802.11 b/g/n support

802.11 n (2.4 GHz), up to 150 Mbps

Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840 SoC

ARM Cortex-M4F 32-bit processor @ 64MHz

1MB flash, 256KB RAM

IEEE 802.15.4-2006: 250 Kbps

Bluetooth 5: 2 Mbps, 1 Mbps, 500 Kbps, 125 Kbps

Supports DSP instructions, HW accelerated Floating Point Unit (FPU) calculations

ARM TrustZone CryptoCell-310 Cryptographic and security module

Up to +8 dBm TX power (down to -20 dBm in 4 dB steps)

NFC-A tag

On-board additional 2MB SPI flash

20 mixed signal GPIO (6 x Analog, 8 x PWM), UART, I2C, SPI

Micro USB 2.0 full speed (12 Mbps)

Integrated Li-Po charging and battery connector

JTAG (SWD) Connector

RGB status LED

Reset and Mode buttons

On-board PCB antenna

u.FL connector for external antenna

Meets the Adafruit Feather specification in dimensions and pinout

FCC, CE and IC certified

RoHS compliant (lead-free)

Features

Interfaces

Block diagram

2018/11/15 Particle Datasheets | Argon datasheet

https://docs.particle.io/datasheets/wi-fi/argon-datasheet/ 3/22

The USB port is the easiest way to power up the Argon. Please make sure that the USB
port is able to provided at least 500mA. Power from the USB is regulated down to 3.3V by
the on board Torex XC9258A step-down regulator.

The pin is internally connected to the VBUS of the USB port. The nominal output should
be around 4.5 to 5 VDC when the device is plugged into the USB port and 0 when not
connected to a USB source. You can use this pin to power peripherals that operate at such
voltages. Do not exceed the current rating of the USB port, which is nominally rated to
500mA. This pin is also protected with an internal fuse rated at 1000mA.

Power

USB PORT

VUSB PIN

LiPo

2018/11/15 Particle Datasheets | Argon datasheet

https://docs.particle.io/datasheets/wi-fi/argon-datasheet/ 4/22

If you want to make your projects truly wireless, you can power the device with a single
cell LiPo (3.7V). The Argon has an on board LiPo charger that will charge and power the
device when USB source is plugged in, or power the device from the LiPo alone in the
absence of the USB.

NOTE: Please pay attention to the polarity of the LiPo connector. Not all LiPo
batteries follow the same polarity convention!

This pin is internally connected to the positive terminal of the LiPo connector. You can
connect a single cell LiPo/Lithium Ion or a DC supply source to this pin for powering the
Argon. Remember that the input voltage range on this pin is 3.6 to 4.2 VDC.

This pin is the output of the on board 3.3V step-down switching regulator (Torex
XC9258A). The regulator is rated at 1000mA max. When using this pin to power other
devices or peripherals remember to budget in the current requirement of the Argon first.
This pin can also be used to power the Argon in absence of the USB or LiPo power. When

Li+ PIN

3V3 PIN

2018/11/15 Particle Datasheets | Argon datasheet

https://docs.particle.io/datasheets/wi-fi/argon-datasheet/ 5/22

powering over this pin, please connect the ENABLE pin to GND so that the on board
regulator is disabled.

There are two radios on the Argon. A Mesh radio (nRF52840) and a WiFi radio (ESP32).
For the WiFi radio, we have provide a u.FL connector to plug in the WiFi antenna. This is
required if you wish to use the WiFi connectivity.

There are two options for the Mesh antenna on the Argon. It comes with an on-board PCB
antenna which is selected by default in the device OS and a u.FL connector if you wish to
connect an external antenna. If you wish to use the external antenna, you'll need to issue
an appropriate command in the firmware.

Mesh and WiFi

Particle Device Frequency Antenna Type Manufacturer MFG. Part # Gain

Argon 2400-2500 MHz PCB Antenna Particle ANT-FLXV2 2.0dBi peak

Peripheral Type Qty Input(I) / Output(O)

Digital 20 I/O

Analog (ADC) 6 I

UART 1 I/O

SPI 1 I/O

I2C 2 I/O

USB 1 I/O

PWM 8 O

Note: All GPIOs are only rated at 3.3VDC max.

Antenna

FCC approved antennas

Peripherals and GPIO

2018/11/15 Particle Datasheets | Argon datasheet

https://docs.particle.io/datasheets/wi-fi/argon-datasheet/ 6/22

The Argon has a dedicated 10 pin debug connector that exposes the SWD interface of the
nRF5280. This interface can be used to debug your code or reprogram your Argon
bootloader, device OS, or the user firmware using any standard SWD tools including our
Mesh Debugger.

Bootloader (48KB, @0xF4000)

User Application (128KB, @0xD4000)

System (656KB, @0x30000)

SoftDevice (192KB)

OTA (1500KB, @0x00289000)

Reserved (420KB, @0x00220000)

FAC (128KB, @0x00200000)

SWD

Memory map

nRF52840 Flash Layout Overview

External SPI Flash Layout Overview (DFU offset: 0x80000000)

2018/11/15 Particle Datasheets | Argon datasheet

https://docs.particle.io/datasheets/wi-fi/argon-datasheet/ 7/22

LittleFS (2M, @0x00000000)

Pins and button definitions

Pin markings