Create simple sounds including beeps and buzzers with PAM8906 and STM32L496AG

Piezoelectric sounder

Piezo Driver Click with Discovery kit with STM32L496AG MCU

Published Jul 22, 2025

Click board™

Piezo Driver Click

Dev. board

Discovery kit with STM32L496AG MCU

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

STM32L496AG

Convert electrical energy into mechanical vibrations and produce audible sound waves

Hardware Overview

How does it work?

Piezo Driver Click is based on the PAM8906, a piezo sounder driver with self-excitation mode from Diodes Incorporated. It features automatic shutdown and wake-up control, low operating current, very short turn ON/OFF, over-voltage protection, over-current protection, and more. This driver operates with an external PWM input. It can drive a two-terminal or three-terminal piezo sounder, and selection can be made over the

TERMINAL SEL jumper. The piezo sounder can be connected over the 3-pin screw terminal, labeled differently for both available options. In addition, you can use VOUT to power up the piezo sounder. Piezo Driver Click uses a PWM input pin to communicate with the host MCU. The PWM input will be amplified and driven to the output terminal if used as an external PWM control. It can also be used for automatic wake-up and shutdown

control. 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.

Piezo Driver Click hardware overview image

Features overview

Development board

The 32L496GDISCOVERY Discovery kit serves as a comprehensive demonstration and development platform for the STM32L496AG microcontroller, featuring an Arm® Cortex®-M4 core. Designed for applications that demand a balance of high performance, advanced graphics, and ultra-low power consumption, this kit enables seamless prototyping for a wide range of embedded solutions. With its innovative energy-efficient

architecture, the STM32L496AG integrates extended RAM and the Chrom-ART Accelerator, enhancing graphics performance while maintaining low power consumption. This makes the kit particularly well-suited for applications involving audio processing, graphical user interfaces, and real-time data acquisition, where energy efficiency is a key requirement. For ease of development, the board includes an onboard ST-LINK/V2-1

debugger/programmer, providing a seamless out-of-the-box experience for loading, debugging, and testing applications without requiring additional hardware. The combination of low power features, enhanced memory capabilities, and built-in debugging tools makes the 32L496GDISCOVERY kit an ideal choice for prototyping advanced embedded systems with state-of-the-art energy efficiency.

Discovery kit with STM32L496AG MCU double side image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

Architecture

ARM Cortex-M4

MCU Memory (KB)

1024

Silicon Vendor

STMicroelectronics

Pin count

169

RAM (Bytes)

327680

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

RST

ID COMM

PG11

SCK

MISO

MOSI

Power Supply

3.3V

Ground

GND

PWM Control

PA0

PWM

INT

SCL

SDA

Power Supply

Ground

GND

Take a closer look

Click board™ Schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

Discovery kit with STM32H750XB MCU front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the Discovery kit with STM32L496AG MCU as your development board.

Thermo 21 Click front image hardware assembly

Thermo 21 Click complete accessories setup image hardware assembly

Board mapper by product7 hardware assembly

Discovery kit with STM32H750XB MCU NECTO MCU Selection Step hardware assembly

Necto No Display image step 8 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 Piezo Driver Click driver.

Key functions:

piezodriver_pwm_stop - Piezo Driver stop PWM module.
piezodriver_pwm_start - Piezo Driver start PWM module.
piezodriver_play_sound - Piezo Driver play sound 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 Piezo Driver Click example
 *
 * # Description
 * This example demonstrates the use of Piezo Driver Click board.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 *
 * ## Application Init
 * Initializes the driver and logger.
 *
 * ## Application Task
 * Plays the Imperial March melody. Also logs an appropriate message on the USB UART.
 *
 * @note
 * The minimal PWM Clock frequency required for this example is the frequency of tone C6 - 1047 Hz. 
 * In order to run this example and play all tones correctly, the user will need to decrease 
 * the MCU's main clock frequency in MCU Settings for certain architectures
 * in order to get the required PWM clock frequency.
 *
 * @author Stefan Ilic
 *
 */

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "piezodriver.h"

static piezodriver_t piezodriver;
static log_t logger;

#define W           4*Q       // Whole 4/4 - 4 Beats
#define H           2*Q       // Half 2/4 - 2 Beats 
#define Q           250       // Quarter 1/4 - 1 Beat
#define E           Q/2       // Eighth 1/8 - 1/2 Beat
#define S           Q/4       // Sixteenth 1/16 - 1/4 Beat

#define VOLUME      100 

/**
 * @brief Piezo Driver play Imperial march function.
 * @details This function is used to play Imperial march on the buzzer.
 * @return Nothing.
 * @note None.
 */
static void imperial_march( );

void application_init ( void ) 
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;  /**< Logger config object. */
    piezodriver_cfg_t piezodriver_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.
    piezodriver_cfg_setup( &piezodriver_cfg );
    PIEZODRIVER_MAP_MIKROBUS( piezodriver_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    if ( PWM_ERROR == piezodriver_init( &piezodriver, &piezodriver_cfg ) )
    {
        log_error( &logger, " Communication init." );
        for ( ; ; );
    }
    
    if ( PIEZODRIVER_ERROR == piezodriver_default_cfg ( &piezodriver ) )
    {
        log_error( &logger, " Default configuration." );
        for ( ; ; );
    }
    
    log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
}

void application_task ( void ) 
{
    log_printf( &logger, "Playing the Imperial March melody ...\r\n" );
    imperial_march( ); 
    // 10 seconds delay
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    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;
}

static void imperial_march( ) 
{
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_A6, VOLUME, Q );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + Q );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_A6, VOLUME, Q );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + Q );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_A6, VOLUME, Q );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + Q );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_F6, VOLUME, E + S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_C7, VOLUME, S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + S );
    
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_A6, VOLUME, Q );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + Q );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_F6, VOLUME, E + S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_C7, VOLUME, S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_A6, VOLUME, H );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + H );
    
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_E7, VOLUME, Q );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + Q );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_E7, VOLUME, Q );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + Q );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_E7, VOLUME, Q );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + Q );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_F7, VOLUME, E + S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_C7, VOLUME, S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + S );
    
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_AB6, VOLUME, Q );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + Q );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_F6, VOLUME, E + S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_C7, VOLUME, S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_A6, VOLUME, H );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + H );
    
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_A7, VOLUME, Q );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + Q );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_A6, VOLUME, E + S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_A6, VOLUME, S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_A7, VOLUME, Q );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + Q );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_AB7, VOLUME, E + S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_G7, VOLUME, S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + S );
    
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_GB7, VOLUME, S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_E7, VOLUME, Q );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + Q );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_F7, VOLUME, E );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_BB6, VOLUME, E );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_EB7, VOLUME, Q );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + Q );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_D7, VOLUME, E + S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_DB7, VOLUME, S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + S );
    
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_C7, VOLUME, S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_B6, VOLUME, S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_C7, VOLUME, E );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_F6, VOLUME, E );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_AB6, VOLUME, Q );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + Q );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_F6, VOLUME, E + S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_A6, VOLUME, S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + S );
    
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_C7, VOLUME, Q );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + Q );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_A6, VOLUME, E + S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_C7, VOLUME, S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_E7, VOLUME, H );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + H );
    
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_A7, VOLUME, Q );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + Q );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_A6, VOLUME, E + S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_A6, VOLUME, S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_A7, VOLUME, Q );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + Q );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_AB7, VOLUME, E + S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_G7, VOLUME, S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + S );
    
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_GB7, VOLUME, S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_E7, VOLUME, S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_F7, VOLUME, E );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_BB6, VOLUME, E );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_EB7, VOLUME, Q );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + Q );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_D7, VOLUME, E + S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_DB7, VOLUME, S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + S );
    
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_C7, VOLUME, S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_B6, VOLUME, S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_C7, VOLUME, E );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_F6, VOLUME, E );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_AB6, VOLUME, Q );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + Q );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_F6, VOLUME, E + S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_C7, VOLUME, S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + S );
    
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_A6, VOLUME, Q );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + Q );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_F6, VOLUME, E + S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + E + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_C7, VOLUME, S );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + S );
    piezodriver_play_sound(&piezodriver, PIEZODRIVER_NOTE_AB6, VOLUME, H );
    Delay_ms ( 1 + H );
}

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