Beginner
10 min

Add precise two-axis joystick control with tactile feedback using the THB001P, VZ43FC1B5640007L, and PIC18F57Q43

Joystick control with haptic feedback for intuitive user interfaces

Thumbstick 2 Click with Curiosity Nano with PIC18F57Q43

Published Oct 20, 2025

Click board™

Thumbstick 2 Click

Dev. board

Curiosity Nano with PIC18F57Q43

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

PIC18F57Q43

Two-axis joystick control with an integrated push button and haptic feedback perfect for intuitive user interfaces

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

Thumbstick 2 Click is based on the THB001P, a high-quality two-axis joystick with an integrated push button from C&K Components, combined with additional circuitry to deliver advanced input and haptic feedback capabilities for embedded applications. The joystick provides smooth and precise motion control across both the X and Y axes, while its angular displacement and positional data are converted into digital form through the MCP3202, a 12-bit A/D converter from Microchip that communicates via an SPI serial interface. This allows reliable acquisition of raw analog values that represent the joystick’s movements, ensuring

accurate control in a wide range of applications including human–machine interfaces, handheld control units, industrial equipment, assistive devices, and gaming controllers where precise positioning and tactile confirmation are essential. In addition to directional input, the built-in push button expands the input functionality by enabling discrete command execution when pressed, and this button is also linked to control the onboard vibration motor. The vibration motor used on the back of the board, the VZ43FC1B5640007L, delivers strong tactile feedback with a force of 0.91G and operates at a rated speed of 10,000 rpm, creating a

responsive haptic signal that can be used to enhance user interaction in real time. Its operation is managed through the VB pin using PWM control, making it possible to fine-tune vibration intensity and duration according to application requirements. 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.

Thumbstick 2 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
Vibro Motor Control
PB0
PWM
Push-Button Status
PA6
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

Thumbstick 2 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

Thumbstick 2 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 the Thumbstick 2 Click board which features a 2-axis joystick with push button and vibration feedback. The joystick's angle and position are calculated based on raw ADC values, while the push button status controls the vibration motor through PWM output.

Key functions:

  • thumbstick2_cfg_setup - This function initializes Click configuration structure to initial values.

  • thumbstick2_init - This function initializes all necessary pins and peripherals used for this Click board.

  • thumbstick2_read_raw_adc - This function reads the raw ADC for X and Y axis by using SPI serial interface.

  • thumbstick2_get_angle - This function calculates and returns joystick angle in degrees from raw ADC values for X and Y axis.

  • thumbstick2_get_position - This function calculates and returns joystick position flag from raw ADC values for X and Y axis.

Application Init
Initializes the logger and the Click driver.

Application Task
Continuously reads the raw ADC values from the joystick axes, calculates the joystick's position and angle, and logs the results. It also checks the state of the joystick push button and activates vibration feedback accordingly.

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 Thumbstick 2 Click example
 *
 * # Description
 * This example demonstrates the use of the Thumbstick 2 Click board which 
 * features a 2-axis joystick with push button and vibration feedback. 
 * The joystick's angle and position are calculated based on raw ADC values, 
 * while the push button status controls the vibration motor through PWM output.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 *
 * ## Application Init
 * Initializes the logger and the Click driver.
 *
 * ## Application Task
 * Continuously reads the raw ADC values from the joystick axes, calculates the 
 * joystick's position and angle, and logs the results. It also checks the state 
 * of the joystick push button and activates vibration feedback accordingly.
 *
 * @author Stefan Filipovic
 *
 */

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "thumbstick2.h"

static thumbstick2_t thumbstick2;
static log_t logger;

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;  /**< Logger config object. */
    thumbstick2_cfg_t thumbstick2_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.
    thumbstick2_cfg_setup( &thumbstick2_cfg );
    THUMBSTICK2_MAP_MIKROBUS( thumbstick2_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    if ( THUMBSTICK2_OK != thumbstick2_init( &thumbstick2, &thumbstick2_cfg ) )
    {
        log_error( &logger, " Communication init." );
        for ( ; ; );
    }
    
    log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    float angle = 0;
    uint16_t raw_x = 0;
    uint16_t raw_y = 0;
    uint8_t position = 0;
    if ( THUMBSTICK2_OK == thumbstick2_read_raw_adc ( &thumbstick2, &raw_x, &raw_y ) )
    {
        angle = thumbstick2_get_angle ( raw_x, raw_y );
        position = thumbstick2_get_position ( raw_x, raw_y );
        log_printf ( &logger, " RAW X: %u\r\n RAW Y: %u\r\n", raw_x, raw_y );
        log_printf ( &logger, " Joystick angle: %.1f degrees\r\n", angle );
        log_printf ( &logger, " Joystick position: " );
        switch ( position )
        {
            case THUMBSTICK2_POSITION_NEUTRAL:
            {
                log_printf ( &logger, "NEUTRAL" );
                break;
            }
            case THUMBSTICK2_POSITION_UP:
            {
                log_printf ( &logger, "UP" );
                break;
            }
            case THUMBSTICK2_POSITION_UPPER_LEFT:
            {
                log_printf ( &logger, "UPPER-LEFT" );
                break;
            }
            case THUMBSTICK2_POSITION_LEFT:
            {
                log_printf ( &logger, "LEFT" );
                break;
            }
            case THUMBSTICK2_POSITION_LOWER_LEFT:
            {
                log_printf ( &logger, "LOWER-LEFT" );
                break;
            }
            case THUMBSTICK2_POSITION_DOWN:
            {
                log_printf ( &logger, "DOWN" );
                break;
            }
            case THUMBSTICK2_POSITION_LOWER_RIGHT:
            {
                log_printf ( &logger, "LOWER-RIGHT" );
                break;
            }
            case THUMBSTICK2_POSITION_RIGHT:
            {
                log_printf ( &logger, "RIGHT" );
                break;
            }
            case THUMBSTICK2_POSITION_UPPER_RIGHT:
            {
                log_printf ( &logger, "UPPER-RIGHT" );
                break;
            }
            default:
            {
                log_printf ( &logger, "UNKNOWN" );
                break;
            }
        }
        log_printf ( &logger, "\r\n" );
        if ( thumbstick2_get_sw_pin ( &thumbstick2 ) )
        {
            log_printf ( &logger, " Button: Idle\r\n" );
            log_printf ( &logger, " Vibro: Idle\r\n\n" );
            thumbstick2_set_duty_cycle ( &thumbstick2, THUMBSTICK2_PWM_MIN_DUTY );
        }
        else
        {
            log_printf ( &logger, " Button: Active\r\n" );
            log_printf ( &logger, " Vibro: Active\r\n\n" );
            thumbstick2_set_duty_cycle ( &thumbstick2, THUMBSTICK2_PWM_MAX_DUTY );
        }
        Delay_ms ( 100 );
    }
}

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

Additional Support

Resources

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