Provide the necessary high voltage to power Nixie tubes with Nixie Power Click and PIC32MX470F512H
High voltage booster for Nixie Tube displays
Published Jan 13, 2025
Click board™
Nixie Power Click
Dev Board
6LoWPAN clicker
Compiler
NECTO Studio
MCU
PIC32MX470F512H
Power Nixie tube projects with precise high-voltage control perfect for clocks, displays, and vintage-style instrumentation
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Hardware Overview
How does it work?
Nixie Power Click is an advanced booster-version Click board™ designed to provide the necessary high voltage for powering Nixie Tube Shields. This Click board™ operates using a two-stage boost mechanism, converting a 5V input from the mikroBUS™ 5V power rail into 12V using the LM2577 step-up voltage regulator, and then stepping up further to 150V. This high-voltage output, with a current capacity of approximately 3mA, is made to drive additional Nixie Tube Shields effectively, making the Nixie Power Click an essential tool for enthusiasts and professionals looking to bring the charm of vintage Nixie tubes to modern projects. As known, Nixie tube is a vintage electronic display device that uses glowing cathodes to form numbers or symbols within a
sealed glass tube filled with low-pressure neon gas. Each cathode is individually shaped as a number or symbol, creating a mesmerizing retro-style glow when powered. The Nixie Tube Shield currently available from MIKROE, is a complementary board carrying the glass tube (for example the IN-12B) and high-voltage FETs for its channels control. It connects to the Nixie Power Click via set of standard 1x8 headers, with J1 as a male and J2 as a female header on the Click board™, while the Shield uses complementary connectors to prevent incorrect attachment. To control Nixie Tube Shields, Nixie Power Click integrates a 16-bit I/O expander MCP23017, which enables precise control via the I2C interface. The MCP23017 directs signals to the socket pins, where the shields are connected,
allowing for flexible and efficient control of the Nixie Tube Shields. Regarding I2C communication, the board also features ADDR SEL jumpers, which allow users to configure the I2C address of the MCP23017, supporting setups with multiple boards like these. This Click board™ has both mikroBUS™ power rails active with a 3.3V voltage used for communicational part of the board and 5V for power regulatory part. The board must perform appropriate logic voltage level conversion before using MCUs with different logic levels. It also comes equipped with a library containing functions and example code that can be used as a reference for further development.
DO NOT TOUCH THE BOARD WHILE THE POWER IS ON!
Note: Due to the high voltage output (150V) and limited space on the Click board™, certain areas are exposed and pose a potential safety risk. Users must take the following precautions:
1. Do not touch the Click board™ while powered.
2. After powering off the board, wait several seconds to allow the capacitors to discharge via the integrated bleeding resistors before handling the setup.
Failure to follow these precautions could result in an unpleasant shock or damage to the equipment. Ensure all safety measures are adhered to for a safe experience.
Features overview
Development board
6LoWPAN 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 PIC microcontroller, the PIC32MX470F512H from Microchip, a USB connector, LED indicators, buttons, a mikroProg connector, and a header for interfacing with external electronics. Along with this microcontroller, the board also contains a 2.4GHz ISM band transceiver, allowing you to add wireless communication to your target application. Its compact design provides a fluid and immersive working experience, allowing access anywhere
and under any circumstances. Each part of the 6LoWPAN Clicker development kit contains the components necessary for the most efficient operation of the same board. In addition to the possibility of choosing the 6LoWPAN 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 for the Clicker board, which is more than enough to operate all onboard and additional modules, or it can power
over two standard AA batteries. 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. 6LoWPAN 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.
Microcontroller Overview
MCU Card / MCU
Architecture
PIC32
MCU Memory (KB)
512
Silicon Vendor
Microchip
Pin count
64
RAM (Bytes)
131072
You complete me!
Accessories
Nixie IN-12B is an add-on shield board that features a pre-installed IN-12B Nixie tube. This shield offers a reliable and efficient solution for numerical display projects by integrating high-voltage FETs to manage the channels controlling the Nixie tube. The connectors on the shield are carefully designed to ensure proper alignment and prevent incorrect connections. The J1 connector is a male header, while J2 is a female header, complementing the opposite configuration on the base board for added safety. The IN-12B Nixie tube included on the shield is a popular numerical display tube widely used in Nixie projects due to its affordability and availability. It features a character height of 18mm, displays digits from 0 to 9, and includes a decimal point located on the left side. The tube operates with a typical starting voltage of 150V and requires 3mA of current per segment for optimal performance. This shield is an excellent choice for applications ranging from vintage clock designs to artistic numerical displays, combining the charm of classic Nixie tube technology with modern electronic control. Its high-voltage FET-driven system and well-designed connector layout ensure safe and dependable operation, making it ideal for creating visually striking and nostalgic displays.
Used MCU Pins
mikroBUS™ mapper
Take a closer look
Click board™ Schematic
Step by step
Project assembly
Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the 6LoWPAN clicker as your development board.
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
Nixie Power 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 Nixie Power IN-12B Click board by displaying digits from 0 to 9 in sequence and then setting a comma indicator.
Key functions:
nixiepowerin12b_cfg_setup- Config Object Initialization function.nixiepowerin12b_init- Initialization function.nixiepowerin12b_default_cfg- Click Default Configuration function.nixiepowerin12b_set_digit- This function sets the display output digit and comma.
Application Init
Initializes the driver and performs the Click default configuration.
Application Task
Sequentially displays digits 0 through 9 on a IN-12B display, with a 1-second delay between each digit. After displaying all digits, it clears the digits and enables a comma indicator on the display. Each operation is logged on the USB UART.
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 Nixie Power IN-12B Click example
*
* # Description
* This example demonstrates the use of Nixie Power IN-12B Click board by displaying
* digits from 0 to 9 in sequence and then setting a comma indicator.
*
* The demo application is composed of two sections :
*
* ## Application Init
* Initializes the driver and performs the Click default configuration.
*
* ## Application Task
* Sequentially displays digits 0 through 9 on a IN-12B display, with a 1-second delay
* between each digit. After displaying all digits, it clears the digits and enables
* a comma indicator on the display. Each operation is logged on the USB UART.
*
* @author Stefan Filipovic
*
*/
#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "nixiepowerin12b.h"
static nixiepowerin12b_t nixiepowerin12b;
static log_t logger;
void application_init ( void )
{
log_cfg_t log_cfg; /**< Logger config object. */
nixiepowerin12b_cfg_t nixiepowerin12b_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.
nixiepowerin12b_cfg_setup( &nixiepowerin12b_cfg );
NIXIEPOWERIN12B_MAP_MIKROBUS( nixiepowerin12b_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
if ( I2C_MASTER_ERROR == nixiepowerin12b_init( &nixiepowerin12b, &nixiepowerin12b_cfg ) )
{
log_error( &logger, " Communication init." );
for ( ; ; );
}
if ( NIXIEPOWERIN12B_ERROR == nixiepowerin12b_default_cfg ( &nixiepowerin12b ) )
{
log_error( &logger, " Default configuration." );
for ( ; ; );
}
log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
}
void application_task ( void )
{
for ( uint8_t digit = NIXIEPOWERIN12B_DIGIT_0; digit <= NIXIEPOWERIN12B_DIGIT_9; digit++ )
{
if ( NIXIEPOWERIN12B_OK == nixiepowerin12b_set_digit ( &nixiepowerin12b,
digit,
NIXIEPOWERIN12B_COMMA_CLEAR ) )
{
log_printf ( &logger, " Digit %u\r\n", ( uint16_t ) digit );
}
Delay_ms ( 1000 );
}
if ( NIXIEPOWERIN12B_OK == nixiepowerin12b_set_digit ( &nixiepowerin12b,
NIXIEPOWERIN12B_DIGIT_NONE,
NIXIEPOWERIN12B_COMMA_SET ) )
{
log_printf ( &logger, " Comma\r\n" );
}
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;
}
// ------------------------------------------------------------------------ END
