Beginner
10 min

Enable SPI communication between electrically isolated sections with 4DIR1421H and PIC18F57Q43

Quad-channel SPI communication digital isolator

SPI Isolator 9 Click with Curiosity Nano with PIC18F57Q43

Published Jan 14, 2025

Click board™

SPI Isolator 9 Click

Dev. board

Curiosity Nano with PIC18F57Q43

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

PIC18F57Q43

SPI communication with high isolation and noise immunity perfect for industrial automation and motor drives

A

A

Hardware Overview

How does it work?

SPI Isolator 9 Click is based on the 4DIR1421H, a quad-channel digital isolator from Infineon designed for precise data communication in demanding environments. The device is rated to withstand isolation voltages of up to 5700Vrms and adheres to UL 1577 (Ed. 5) certification standards (certification no. E311313), ensuring compliance with stringent industrial safety requirements. This board has four data channels and ensures robust SPI isolation, making it an ideal solution for systems requiring reliable and safe data transmission across electrically isolated domains. The 4DIR1421H features Infineon's ISOFACE™ Coreless Transformer (CT) technology, which delivers exceptional system noise immunity with a minimum Common Mode Transient Immunity

(CMTI) of 100kV/µs, ensuring stable performance in noisy industrial environments. It supports data rates of up to 40Mbps, allowing for high-speed communication, and operates efficiently with low power consumption, contributing to overall system energy savings. Its robust isolation capabilities make it an excellent choice for Switch-Mode Power Supplies (SMPS) in industrial and telecommunications settings, where safety and reliability are critical, as well as in server and telecom systems, industrial automation, motor drives, and medical devices. This Click board™ is designed in a unique format supporting the newly introduced MIKROE feature called "Click Snap." Unlike the standardized version of Click boards, this feature allows the main IC area to become

movable by breaking the PCB, opening up many new possibilities for implementation. Thanks to the Snap feature, the 4DIR1421H can operate autonomously by accessing its signals directly on the pins marked 1-8. Additionally, the Snap part includes a specified and fixed screw hole position, enabling users to secure the Snap board in their desired location. This Click board™ can operate with either 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels selected via the VCC SEL jumper. This way, both 3.3V and 5V capable MCUs can use the communication lines properly. Also, this Click board™ comes equipped with a library containing easy-to-use functions and an example code that can be used as a reference for further development.

SPI Isolator 9 Click hardware overview image

Features overview

Development board

PIC18F57Q43 Curiosity Nano evaluation kit is a cutting-edge hardware platform designed to evaluate microcontrollers within the PIC18-Q43 family. Central to its design is the inclusion of the powerful PIC18F57Q43 microcontroller (MCU), offering advanced functionalities and robust performance. Key features of this evaluation kit include a yellow user LED and a responsive

mechanical user switch, providing seamless interaction and testing. The provision for a 32.768kHz crystal footprint ensures precision timing capabilities. With an onboard debugger boasting a green power and status LED, programming and debugging become intuitive and efficient. Further enhancing its utility is the Virtual serial port (CDC) and a debug GPIO channel (DGI

GPIO), offering extensive connectivity options. Powered via USB, this kit boasts an adjustable target voltage feature facilitated by the MIC5353 LDO regulator, ensuring stable operation with an output voltage ranging from 1.8V to 5.1V, with a maximum output current of 500mA, subject to ambient temperature and voltage constraints.

PIC18F57Q43 Curiosity Nano double side image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Architecture

PIC

MCU Memory (KB)

128

Silicon Vendor

Microchip

Pin count

48

RAM (Bytes)

8196

You complete me!

Accessories

Curiosity Nano Base for Click boards is a versatile hardware extension platform created to streamline the integration between Curiosity Nano kits and extension boards, tailored explicitly for the mikroBUS™-standardized Click boards and Xplained Pro extension boards. This innovative base board (shield) offers seamless connectivity and expansion possibilities, simplifying experimentation and development. Key features include USB power compatibility from the Curiosity Nano kit, alongside an alternative external power input option for enhanced flexibility. The onboard Li-Ion/LiPo charger and management circuit ensure smooth operation for battery-powered applications, simplifying usage and management. Moreover, the base incorporates a fixed 3.3V PSU dedicated to target and mikroBUS™ power rails, alongside a fixed 5.0V boost converter catering to 5V power rails of mikroBUS™ sockets, providing stable power delivery for various connected devices.

Curiosity Nano Base for Click boards accessories 1 image

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

NC
NC
AN
ID SEL
PA7
RST
SPI Select / ID COMM
PD4
CS
SPI Clock
PC6
SCK
SPI Data OUT
PC5
MISO
SPI Data IN
PC4
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
NC
NC
PWM
NC
NC
INT
NC
NC
TX
NC
NC
RX
NC
NC
SCL
NC
NC
SDA
Power Supply
5V
5V
Ground
GND
GND
1

Take a closer look

Click board™ Schematic

SPI Isolator 9 Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

Curiosity Nano Base for Click boards front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the Curiosity Nano with PIC18F57Q43 as your development board.

Curiosity Nano Base for Click boards front image hardware assembly
Charger 27 Click front image hardware assembly
PIC18F47Q10 Curiosity Nano front image hardware assembly
Prog-cut hardware assembly
Charger 27 Click complete accessories setup image hardware assembly
Board mapper by product8 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
PIC18F57Q43 Curiosity 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

SPI Isolator 9 Click demo application is developed using the NECTO Studio, ensuring compatibility with mikroSDK's open-source libraries and tools. Designed for plug-and-play implementation and testing, the demo is fully compatible with all development, starter, and mikromedia boards featuring a mikroBUS™ socket.

Example Description
This example demonstrates the use of SPI Isolator 9 Click board by reading the device ID of the connected Accel 22 Click board.

Key functions:

  • spiisolator9_cfg_setup - Config Object Initialization function.

  • spiisolator9_init - Initialization function.

  • spiisolator9_write - This function writes a desired number of data bytes by using SPI serial interface.

  • spiisolator9_read - This function reads a desired number of data bytes by using SPI serial interface.

  • spiisolator9_write_then_read - This function writes and then reads a desired number of data bytes by using SPI serial interface.

Application Init
Initializes the driver and logger.

Application Task
Reads and checks the device ID of the connected Accel 22 Click board, and displays the results on the USB UART approximately once per second.

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 SPI Isolator 9 Click example
 *
 * # Description
 * This example demonstrates the use of SPI Isolator 9 Click board by reading the
 * device ID of the connected Accel 22 Click board.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 *
 * ## Application Init
 * Initializes the driver and logger.
 *
 * ## Application Task
 * Reads and checks the device ID of the connected Accel 22 Click board, and displays the
 * results on the USB UART approximately once per second.
 *
 * @note
 * Make sure to provide a VCC power supply on the VOUT side.
 *
 * @author Stefan Filipovic
 *
 */

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "spiisolator9.h"

static spiisolator9_t spiisolator9;
static log_t logger;

/**
 * @brief SPI Isolator 9 get accel 22 id function.
 * @details This function reads and checks the device ID of the connected Accel 22 Click board.
 * @param[in] ctx : Click context object.
 * See #spiisolator9_t object definition for detailed explanation.
 * @return None.
 * @note None.
 */
void spiisolator9_get_accel22_id ( spiisolator9_t *ctx );

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;  /**< Logger config object. */
    spiisolator9_cfg_t spiisolator9_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.
    spiisolator9_cfg_setup( &spiisolator9_cfg );
    SPIISOLATOR9_MAP_MIKROBUS( spiisolator9_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    if ( SPI_MASTER_ERROR == spiisolator9_init( &spiisolator9, &spiisolator9_cfg ) )
    {
        log_error( &logger, " Communication init." );
        for ( ; ; );
    }
    
    log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    spiisolator9_get_accel22_id ( &spiisolator9 );
    Delay_ms( 1000 );
}

int main ( void ) 
{
    /* Do not remove this line or clock might not be set correctly. */
    #ifdef PREINIT_SUPPORTED
    preinit();
    #endif
    
    application_init( );
    
    for ( ; ; ) 
    {
        application_task( );
    }

    return 0;
}

void spiisolator9_get_accel22_id ( spiisolator9_t *ctx )
{
    #define DEVICE_NAME             "Accel 22 Click"
    #define DEVICE_SPI_READ_REG     0x0B
    #define DEVICE_REG_ID           0x00
    #define DEVICE_ID               0xAD
    uint8_t data_in[ 2 ] = { DEVICE_SPI_READ_REG, DEVICE_REG_ID };
    uint8_t device_id;
    if ( SPIISOLATOR9_OK == spiisolator9_write_then_read ( ctx, data_in, 2, &device_id, 1 ) )
    {
        log_printf( &logger, "\r\n %s\r\n", ( char * ) DEVICE_NAME );
        if ( DEVICE_ID == device_id )
        {
            log_printf ( &logger, " Device ID: 0x%.2X\r\n", ( uint16_t ) device_id );
        }
        else
        {
            log_error( &logger, " Wrong Device ID: 0x%.2X", ( uint16_t ) device_id );
        }
    }
}

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

Additional Support

Resources

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