Intermediate
30 min

Amplify your listening experience with PAM8124 and PIC32MZ1024EFH064

Experience music at its best

AudioAMP 9 Click with PIC32MZ clicker

Published May 14, 2023

Click board™

AudioAMP 9 Click

Dev. board

PIC32MZ clicker

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

PIC32MZ1024EFH064

Take your audio to new heights with a powerful and efficient audio-amplifying solution

A

A

Hardware Overview

How does it work?

AudioAMP 9 Click is based on the PAM8124, a stereo class-D audio power amplifier from Diodes Incorporated. Besides an excellent quantity performance, such as high efficiency, the PAM8124 is also characterized by high output power, low quiescent current, and eliminates the need for heat sinks. It can drive 8Ω stereo speakers in a single-ended configuration with 10W of output power per channel from the externally brought supply voltage. Furthermore, the PAM8124 has several protection features like thermal overload, short circuit, and over/under-voltage protection allowing a reliable operation. This GPIO configurable audio amplifier provides configurable features such as Mute, Shutdown, and selectable gain of the amplifier. The gain of the amplifier is controlled by two selectable gain pins, G1 and G2 pins of the mikroBUS™ socket,

offering 20dB, 26dB, 32dB, and 36dB gain selections. The MUT pin of the mikroBUS™ socket controls the output state of the PAM8124 (quick disable or enable of the outputs). A logic low state on this pin causes the outputs to run at a constant 50% duty cycle. A logic high state on this pin enables the outputs. The PAM8124 also employs a Shutdown operation mode to reduce supply current to the absolute minimum level during periods of non-use to save power. The SHD pin should be pulled low during normal operation when the amplifier is in use. Pulling the SHD pin high causes the outputs to mute and the amplifier to enter a low-current state. The amplifier should be set in Shutdown mode for the best power-off pop performance before removing the power supply voltage. For the best start-up pop performance, the amplifier should be put in Mute mode before restarting the amplifier.

This Click board™ supports an external power supply for the amplifier, which can be connected to the input terminal labeled as VIN and should be within the range of 12V to 24V, while the input audio can be brought to the input jack labeled as AUDIO IN and after specific processing reproduced on the speakers of the desired L/R channel. In addition, this board has an additional red LED indicator marked with VIN, which can visually detect the presence of an external power supply. This Click board™ can only be operated with a 3.3V logic voltage level. The board must perform appropriate logic voltage level conversion before using MCUs with different logic levels. However, the Click board™ comes equipped with a library containing functions and an example code that can be used as a reference for further development.

AudioAMP 9 Click hardware overview image

Features overview

Development board

PIC32MZ Clicker is a compact starter development board that brings the flexibility of add-on Click boards™ to your favorite microcontroller, making it a perfect starter kit for implementing your ideas. It comes with an onboard 32-bit PIC32MZ microcontroller with FPU from Microchip, a USB connector, LED indicators, buttons, a mikroProg connector, and a header for interfacing with external electronics. Thanks to its compact design with clear and easy-recognizable silkscreen markings, it provides a fluid and immersive working experience, allowing access anywhere and under

any circumstances. Each part of the PIC32MZ Clicker development kit contains the components necessary for the most efficient operation of the same board. In addition to the possibility of choosing the PIC32MZ Clicker programming method, using USB HID mikroBootloader, or through an external mikroProg connector for PIC, dsPIC, or PIC32 programmer, the Clicker board also includes a clean and regulated power supply module for the development kit. The USB Micro-B connection can provide up to 500mA of current, which is more than enough to operate all onboard

and additional modules. All communication methods that mikroBUS™ itself supports are on this board, including the well-established mikroBUS™ socket, reset button, and several buttons and LED indicators. PIC32MZ Clicker is an integral part of the Mikroe ecosystem, allowing you to create a new application in minutes. Natively supported by Mikroe software tools, it covers many aspects of prototyping thanks to a considerable number of different Click boards™ (over a thousand boards), the number of which is growing every day.

PIC32MZ clicker double side image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Architecture

PIC32

MCU Memory (KB)

1024

Silicon Vendor

Microchip

Pin count

64

RAM (Bytes)

524288

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

Mute
RE4
AN
Shutdown
RE5
RST
NC
NC
CS
NC
NC
SCK
NC
NC
MISO
NC
NC
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
Gain Selection
RB3
PWM
Gain Selection
RB5
INT
NC
NC
TX
NC
NC
RX
NC
NC
SCL
NC
NC
SDA
NC
NC
5V
Ground
GND
GND
1

Take a closer look

Click board™ Schematic

AudioAMP 9 Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

PIC32MZ clicker front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the PIC32MZ clicker as your development board.

PIC32MZ clicker front image hardware assembly
GNSS2 Click front image hardware assembly
Prog-cut hardware assembly
GNSS2 Click complete accessories setup image hardware assembly
Micro B Connector Clicker Access - upright/background hardware assembly
Necto image step 2 hardware assembly
Necto image step 3 hardware assembly
Necto image step 4 hardware assembly
Necto image step 5 hardware assembly
Necto image step 6 hardware assembly
Flip&Click PIC32MZ MCU step hardware assembly
Necto No Display image step 8 hardware assembly
Necto image step 9 hardware assembly
Necto image step 10 hardware assembly
Debug Image Necto Step hardware assembly

Track your results in real time

Application Output

1. Application Output - In Debug mode, the 'Application Output' window enables real-time data monitoring, offering direct insight into execution results. Ensure proper data display by configuring the environment correctly using the provided tutorial.

2. UART Terminal - Use the UART Terminal to monitor data transmission via a USB to UART converter, allowing direct communication between the Click board™ and your development system. Configure the baud rate and other serial settings according to your project's requirements to ensure proper functionality. For step-by-step setup instructions, refer to the provided tutorial.

3. Plot Output - The Plot feature offers a powerful way to visualize real-time sensor data, enabling trend analysis, debugging, and comparison of multiple data points. To set it up correctly, follow the provided tutorial, which includes a step-by-step example of using the Plot feature to display Click board™ readings. To use the Plot feature in your code, use the function: plot(*insert_graph_name*, variable_name);. This is a general format, and it is up to the user to replace 'insert_graph_name' with the actual graph name and 'variable_name' with the parameter to be displayed.

Software Support

Library Description

This library contains API for AudioAMP 9 Click driver.

Key functions:

  • audioamp9_shutdown_on AudioAmp 9 shutdown on function.

  • audioamp9_mute_off AudioAmp 9 mute off function.

  • audioamp9_set_gain_level AudioAmp 9 set gain function.

Open Source

Code example

The complete application code and a ready-to-use project are available through the NECTO Studio Package Manager for direct installation in the NECTO Studio. The application code can also be found on the MIKROE GitHub account.

/*!
 * @file main.c
 * @brief AudioAmp 9 Click Example.
 *
 * # Description
 * This example demonstrates the use of the AudioAmp 9 Click board by 
 * changing the gain level.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 *
 * ## Application Init
 * Initializes the driver and performs default configuration putting AudioAmp 9 Click 
 * into Gain 1 mode with unmuted output.
 *
 * ## Application Task
 * Controlling the volume of the speaker by setting the gain level, and increasing it 
 * every 5 seconds until the maximum level is reached, then the sound is muted for 5 seconds.
 *
 * @author Stefan Ilic
 *
 */

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "audioamp9.h"

static audioamp9_t audioamp9;   /**< AudioAmp 9 Click driver object. */
static log_t logger;    /**< Logger object. */

void application_init ( void ) 
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;  /**< Logger config object. */
    audioamp9_cfg_t audioamp9_cfg;  /**< Click config object. */

    /** 
     * Logger initialization.
     * Default baud rate: 115200
     * Default log level: LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG
     * @note If USB_UART_RX and USB_UART_TX 
     * are defined as HAL_PIN_NC, you will 
     * need to define them manually for log to work. 
     * See @b LOG_MAP_USB_UART macro definition for detailed explanation.
     */
    LOG_MAP_USB_UART( log_cfg );
    log_init( &logger, &log_cfg );
    log_info( &logger, " Application Init " );

    // Click initialization.
    audioamp9_cfg_setup( &audioamp9_cfg );
    AUDIOAMP9_MAP_MIKROBUS( audioamp9_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    if ( DIGITAL_OUT_UNSUPPORTED_PIN == audioamp9_init( &audioamp9, &audioamp9_cfg ) ) 
    {
        log_error( &logger, " Communication init." );
        for ( ; ; );
    }
    
    audioamp9_default_cfg ( &audioamp9 );
    
    log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
}

void application_task ( void ) 
{
    for ( uint8_t vol_lvl = AUDIOAMP9_GAIN_LEVEL1; vol_lvl <= AUDIOAMP9_GAIN_LEVEL4; vol_lvl++ )
    {
        audioamp9_set_gain_level( &audioamp9, vol_lvl );
        log_printf( &logger, " Volume gain level %d \r\n ", vol_lvl );
        Delay_ms( 5000 );
    }
    
    log_printf( &logger, " Sound is muted \r\n " );
    audioamp9_mute_on( &audioamp9 );
    Delay_ms( 5000 );
    
    log_printf( &logger, " Sound is unmuted \r\n " );
    audioamp9_mute_off( &audioamp9 );
}

void main ( void ) 
{
    application_init( );

    for ( ; ; ) 
    {
        application_task( );
    }
}

// ------------------------------------------------------------------------ END

Additional Support

Resources

Love this project?

'Buy This Kit' button takes you directly to the shopping cart where you can easily add or remove products.