Intermediate
20 min

Enable CAN FD communication with enhanced fail-safe mechanisms using the ATA6503 and PIC32MZ2048EFM100

Advanced solution for fast and dependable CAN FD communication

ATA6503 Click with Curiosity PIC32 MZ EF

Published Feb 10, 2025

Click board™

ATA6503 Click

Dev. board

Curiosity PIC32 MZ EF

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

PIC32MZ2048EFM100

AEC-Q100 Grade 0 certified solution supporting classic CAN and CAN FD protocols with speeds of up to 5 Mbit/s

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

ATA6503 Click is based on the ATA6503, a fully integrated high-speed CAN FD System Basis Chip (SBC) from Microchip. This automotive-qualified device, meeting Grade 0 AEC-Q100 standards, is a reliable interface between a Controller Area Network (CAN) protocol controller and the physical two-wire CAN bus. It supports both Classical CAN and CAN FD communication protocols, achieving data rates of up to 8Mbit/s. Its differential transmit and receive capabilities simplify communication with a CAN protocol controller, enabling the development of reliable CAN nodes. Fully compliant with ISO 11898-2:2024 and SAE J2284-1 to SAE J2284-5 specifications, the ATA6503 ensures compatibility with modern automotive and industrial CAN applications like body electronics and lighting, automotive infotainment systems, powertrain systems, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), photovoltaic systems, and many other scenarios. The ATA6503 communicates with the host MCU through a UART interface, with a default baud rate of 115200bps. This Click board™ features a standard DB-9 connector, allowing straightforward integration with the CAN bus. For added versatility, both CAN and UART signals are accessible through additional pins on the right side of the Click board™, allowing flexible control options such as monitoring data flow, configuring

alternative communication paths, or integrating with auxiliary devices in complex systems. The high-speed CAN FD SBC ATA6503 supports multiple operating modes, advanced diagnostic features, and fail-safe mechanisms, contributing to system reliability and power management. The control pins EN (muxed with ClickID control CS pin) and TXD (connected to the RX pin on the mikroBUS™ socket) select one of the five operating modes provided by the ATA6503 to suit various application requirements. The ATA6503 includes a RES pin (open-drain reset output (active low)) designed to allow a wired-OR connection to multiple independent reset sources. Furthermore, the board also has a dedicated WAKE UP button, which enables the ATA6503 to transition out of Sleep mode. The ATA6503 also features an integrated 5V/150mA voltage regulator capable of powering the CAN FD transceiver, a 5V MCU, and other components or loads on the PCB. In cases where the entire system needs to be powered through the internal 5V regulator, the R11 resistor, left unsoldered by default, must be installed to enable this functionality. The regulator has protection mechanisms for reliable operation under varying conditions, including current limitations and overtemperature shutdown. Additionally, the output voltage is continuously monitored while the

regulator is active, and in the event of an overvoltage condition, the regulator automatically shuts down to prevent potential damage to the system. In addition to the CAN and TXD/RXD pins, the board includes a header with a VS pin, which serves as an external power supply input, supporting a voltage range from 4.5V to 28V. This pin is connected to the power source through a serial diode, providing reverse battery protection and ensuring reliable operation under standard automotive conditions. An integrated undervoltage detection circuit further enhances system reliability by preventing malfunctions or false bus messages caused by insufficient supply voltage. Upon powering the VS pin, the ATA6503 enters Reset mode, which activates the internal voltage regulator. Once the regulated voltage stabilizes, the device transitions to Standby mode, ready for further operation. This Click board™ can operate with either 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels selected via the VIO 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.

ATA6503 Click hardware overview image

Features overview

Development board

Curiosity PIC32 MZ EF development board is a fully integrated 32-bit development platform featuring the high-performance PIC32MZ EF Series (PIC32MZ2048EFM) that has a 2MB Flash, 512KB RAM, integrated FPU, Crypto accelerator, and excellent connectivity options. It includes an integrated programmer and debugger, requiring no additional hardware. Users can expand

functionality through MIKROE mikroBUS™ Click™ adapter boards, add Ethernet connectivity with the Microchip PHY daughter board, add WiFi connectivity capability using the Microchip expansions boards, and add audio input and output capability with Microchip audio daughter boards. These boards are fully integrated into PIC32’s powerful software framework, MPLAB Harmony,

which provides a flexible and modular interface to application development a rich set of inter-operable software stacks (TCP-IP, USB), and easy-to-use features. The Curiosity PIC32 MZ EF development board offers expansion capabilities making it an excellent choice for a rapid prototyping board in Connectivity, IOT, and general-purpose applications.

Curiosity PIC32MZ EF double side image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Architecture

PIC32

MCU Memory (KB)

2048

Silicon Vendor

Microchip

Pin count

100

RAM (Bytes)

524288

You complete me!

Accessories

DB9 Cable Female-to-Female (2m) cable is essential for establishing dependable serial data connections between devices. With its DB9 female connectors on both ends, this cable enables a seamless link between various equipment, such as computers, routers, switches, and other serial devices. Measuring 2 meters in length, it offers flexibility in arranging your setup without compromising data transmission quality. Crafted with precision, this cable ensures consistent and reliable data exchange, making it suitable for industrial applications, office environments, and home setups. Whether configuring networking equipment, accessing console ports, or utilizing serial peripherals, this cable's durable construction and robust connectors guarantee a stable connection. Simplify your data communication needs with the 2m DB9 female-to-female cable, an efficient solution designed to meet your serial connectivity requirements easily and efficiently.

ATA6503 Click accessories 1 image

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

NC
NC
AN
ID SEL
RA9
RST
Control Enable / ID COMM
RPD4
CS
NC
NC
SCK
NC
NC
MISO
NC
NC
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
NC
NC
PWM
Open-Drain Reset Output
RF13
INT
UART TX
RPD10
TX
UART RX
RPD15
RX
NC
NC
SCL
NC
NC
SDA
Power Supply
5V
5V
Ground
GND
GND
1

Take a closer look

Click board™ Schematic

ATA6503 Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

Curiosity PIC32MZ EF front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the Curiosity PIC32 MZ EF as your development board.

Curiosity PIC32MZ EF front image hardware assembly
GNSS2 Click front image hardware assembly
Prog-cut hardware assembly
GNSS2 Click complete accessories setup image hardware assembly
Board mapper by product7 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
Curiosity PIC32 MZ EF 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

Software Support

Library Description

ATA6503 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 an ATA6503 Click board by showing the communication between the two Click boards.

Key functions:

  • ata6503_cfg_setup - Config Object Initialization function.

  • ata6503_init - Initialization function.

  • ata6503_generic_write - This function writes a desired number of data bytes by using UART serial interface.

  • ata6503_generic_read - This function reads a desired number of data bytes by using UART serial interface.

  • ata6503_set_en_pin - This function sets the EN pin logic state.

Application Init
Initializes the driver and logger.

Application Task
Depending on the selected application mode, it reads all the received data or sends the desired message every 3 seconds.

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 ATA6503 Click Example.
 *
 * # Description
 * This example demonstrates the use of an ATA6503 Click board by showing
 * the communication between the two Click boards.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 *
 * ## Application Init
 * Initializes the driver and logger.
 *
 * ## Application Task
 * Depending on the selected application mode, it reads all the received data or 
 * sends the desired message every 3 seconds.
 *
 * ## Additional Function
 * - static void ata6503_clear_app_buf ( void )
 * - static void ata6503_log_app_buf ( void )
 * - static err_t ata6503_process ( ata6503_t *ctx )
 *
 * @author Stefan Filipovic
 *
 */

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "ata6503.h"

// Comment out the line below in order to switch the application mode to receiver
#define DEMO_APP_TRANSMITTER

// Text message to send in the transmitter application mode
#define DEMO_TEXT_MESSAGE           "MIKROE - ATA6503 Click board\r\n"

// Application buffer size
#define APP_BUFFER_SIZE             500
#define PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE         200

static ata6503_t ata6503;
static log_t logger;

static uint8_t app_buf[ APP_BUFFER_SIZE ] = { 0 };
static int32_t app_buf_len = 0;

/**
 * @brief ATA6503 clearing application buffer.
 * @details This function clears memory of application buffer and reset its length.
 * @note None.
 */
static void ata6503_clear_app_buf ( void );

/**
 * @brief ATA6503 log application buffer.
 * @details This function logs data from application buffer to USB UART.
 * @note None.
 */
static void ata6503_log_app_buf ( void );

/**
 * @brief ATA6503 data reading function.
 * @details This function reads data from device and concatenates data to application buffer. 
 * @param[in] ctx : Click context object.
 * See #ata6503_t object definition for detailed explanation.
 * @return @li @c  0 - Read some data.
 *         @li @c -1 - Nothing is read.
 * See #err_t definition for detailed explanation.
 * @note None.
 */
static err_t ata6503_process ( ata6503_t *ctx );

void application_init ( void ) 
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;  /**< Logger config object. */
    ata6503_cfg_t ata6503_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.
    ata6503_cfg_setup( &ata6503_cfg );
    ATA6503_MAP_MIKROBUS( ata6503_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    if ( UART_ERROR == ata6503_init( &ata6503, &ata6503_cfg ) ) 
    {
        log_error( &logger, " Communication init." );
        for ( ; ; );
    }
    
#ifdef DEMO_APP_TRANSMITTER
    log_printf( &logger, " Application Mode: Transmitter\r\n" );
#else
    log_printf( &logger, " Application Mode: Receiver\r\n" );
#endif
    
    log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
}

void application_task ( void ) 
{
#ifdef DEMO_APP_TRANSMITTER
    ata6503_generic_write( &ata6503, DEMO_TEXT_MESSAGE, strlen( DEMO_TEXT_MESSAGE ) );
    log_printf( &logger, "%s", ( char * ) DEMO_TEXT_MESSAGE );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 ); 
#else
    if ( ATA6503_OK == ata6503_process( &ata6503 ) ) 
    {
        ata6503_log_app_buf ( );
        ata6503_clear_app_buf ( );
    }
#endif
}

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;
}

static void ata6503_clear_app_buf ( void ) 
{
    memset( app_buf, 0, app_buf_len );
    app_buf_len = 0;
}

static void ata6503_log_app_buf ( void )
{
    for ( int32_t buf_cnt = 0; buf_cnt < app_buf_len; buf_cnt++ )
    {
        log_printf( &logger, "%c", app_buf[ buf_cnt ] );
    }
}

static err_t ata6503_process ( ata6503_t *ctx ) 
{
    uint8_t rx_buf[ PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE ] = { 0 };
    int32_t overflow_bytes = 0;
    int32_t rx_cnt = 0;
    int32_t rx_size = ata6503_generic_read( ctx, rx_buf, PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE );
    if ( ( rx_size > 0 ) && ( rx_size <= APP_BUFFER_SIZE ) ) 
    {
        if ( ( app_buf_len + rx_size ) > APP_BUFFER_SIZE ) 
        {
            overflow_bytes = ( app_buf_len + rx_size ) - APP_BUFFER_SIZE;
            app_buf_len = APP_BUFFER_SIZE - rx_size;
            memmove ( app_buf, &app_buf[ overflow_bytes ], app_buf_len );
            memset ( &app_buf[ app_buf_len ], 0, overflow_bytes );
        }
        for ( rx_cnt = 0; rx_cnt < rx_size; rx_cnt++ ) 
        {
            if ( rx_buf[ rx_cnt ] ) 
            {
                app_buf[ app_buf_len++ ] = rx_buf[ rx_cnt ];
            }
        }
        return ATA6503_OK;
    }
    return ATA6503_ERROR;
}

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

Additional Support

Resources

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