Intermediate
30 min

Upgrade your supply needs with TPS61391 and PIC18F57Q43

Unleash the Boost!

Boost 3 Click with Fusion for PIC v8

Published 5月 27, 2023

Click board™

Boost 3 Click

Dev Board

Fusion for PIC v8

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

PIC18F57Q43

Add a boost converter to your solution today and enjoy seamless power management

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

Boost 3 Click is based on the TPS61391, a 700-kHz pulse-width modulating (PWM) Step-Up converter with a 70V switch FET from Texas Instruments. It supports an input voltage of up to 5.5V and operates at a 700 kHz pulse-width modulation (PWM), crossing the whole load range. There are two ratio options for the current proportional to the APD current: MON1 (4:5) and MON2 (1:5). By connecting an additional RC filter for low ripple applications from the mirror output pins to the GND, the current flowing through the APD is converted into the voltage crossing the resistor from MON1/MON2 pins to GND. Additionally, high-power optical protection, with a response time typically of 0.5 μs, is integrated by clamping the pre-set current limit (programmed by the R6 resistor) and could recover automatically when the high optical power is removed. The output voltage of the TPS61391 is externally adjustable using a resistor divider network. The equation gives the relationship between the output voltage and the resistor divider: VOUT = ( VREF + 0.1V ) * ( 1 + ( VR1 + R8 ) / R9 ) [V], where VREF has a typical

value of 1.2V.When the potentiometer has a 0V value, the output voltage has its minimum value of 20V. Increasing the resistance of a potentiometer and reaching its maximum value of 500kΩ, the output voltage reaches its maximum value of 70V. The potentiometer featured on the Boost 3 Click can change the feedback, thus influencing a change in the output voltage. This feature makes the Click board™ extremely practical because you can get a wide voltage range with a simple potentiometer turn. Boost 3 Click communicates with MCU using only one GPIO pin routed on the CS pin of the mikroBUS™ socket labeled as EN. An under-voltage lockout (UVLO) circuit stops the operation of the converter when the input voltage drops below the typical UVLO threshold of 2.5 V. When the input voltage is above the maximal UVLO rising threshold of 2.5 V, and the EN pin is pulled above the high threshold (1.2V minimum), the TPS61391 is enabled. When the EN pin is pulled below the low threshold (0.4 maximum), the device goes into Shutdown Mode.

It also possesses the output terminal labeled APD used for biasing and monitoring the avalanche photodiodes (APD) and high optical power protection. This line has an additional FET in a series of power-path connecting with the APD output terminal. When the current flowing through the external APD exceeds the short protection threshold, set by connecting the resistor from R6 to the ground, the on-resistance of the internal FET becomes larger to clamp the current within the protection threshold by lowering the APD bias voltage. It typically takes 0.5μs for the FET to respond in case of high optical power occurring. When the high optical power condition is released, the TPS61391 recovers automatically back to Normal Operation Mode. 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. However, the 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.

boost-3-click-hardware-overview

Features overview

Development board

Fusion for PIC v8 is a development board specially designed for the needs of rapid development of embedded applications. It supports a wide range of microcontrollers, such as different PIC, dsPIC, PIC24, and PIC32 MCUs regardless of their number of pins, and a broad set of unique functions, such as the first-ever embedded debugger/programmer over WiFi. The development board is well organized and designed so that the end-user has all the necessary elements, such as switches, buttons, indicators, connectors, and others, in one place. Thanks to innovative manufacturing technology, Fusion for PIC v8 provides a fluid and immersive working experience, allowing access anywhere and under any

circumstances at any time. Each part of the Fusion for PIC v8 development board contains the components necessary for the most efficient operation of the same board. In addition to the advanced integrated CODEGRIP programmer/debugger module, which offers many valuable programming/debugging options and seamless integration with the Mikroe software environment, the board also includes a clean and regulated power supply module for the development board. It can use a wide range of external power sources, including a battery, an external 12V power supply, and a power source via the USB Type-C (USB-C) connector. Communication options such as USB-UART, USB

HOST/DEVICE, CAN (on the MCU card, if supported), and Ethernet are also included, including the well-established mikroBUS™ standard, a standardized socket for the MCU card (SiBRAIN standard), and two display options (graphical and character-based LCD). Fusion for PIC v8 is an integral part of the Mikroe ecosystem for rapid development. Natively supported by Mikroe software tools, it covers many aspects of prototyping and development thanks to a considerable number of different Click boards™ (over a thousand boards), the number of which is growing every day.

Fusion for PIC v8 horizontal image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Type

8th Generation

Architecture

PIC

MCU Memory (KB)

128

Silicon Vendor

Microchip

Pin count

48

RAM (Bytes)

8196

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

NC
NC
AN
NC
NC
RST
Device Enable
PE0
CS
NC
NC
SCK
NC
NC
MISO
NC
NC
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

Schematic

Boost 3 Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

Fusion for PIC v8 front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the Fusion for PIC v8 as your development board.

Fusion for PIC v8 front image hardware assembly
GNSS2 Click front image hardware assembly
SiBRAIN for PIC32MZ1024EFK144 front image hardware assembly
GNSS2 Click complete accessories setup image hardware assembly
v8 SiBRAIN Access MB 1 - upright/background hardware assembly
Necto image step 2 hardware assembly
Necto image step 3 hardware assembly
Necto image step 4 hardware assembly
NECTO Compiler Selection Step Image hardware assembly
NECTO Output Selection Step Image hardware assembly
Necto image step 6 hardware assembly
Necto image step 7 hardware assembly
Necto image step 8 hardware assembly
Necto image step 9 hardware assembly
Necto image step 10 hardware assembly
Necto PreFlash Image hardware assembly

Track your results in real time

Application Output

After pressing the "FLASH" button on the left-side panel, it is necessary to open the UART terminal to display the achieved results. By clicking on the Tools icon in the right-hand panel, multiple different functions are displayed, among which is the UART Terminal. Click on the offered "UART Terminal" icon.

UART Application Output Step 1

Once the UART terminal is opened, the window takes on a new form. At the top of the tab are two buttons, one for adjusting the parameters of the UART terminal and the other for connecting the UART terminal. The tab's lower part is reserved for displaying the achieved results. Before connecting, the terminal has a Disconnected status, indicating that the terminal is not yet active. Before connecting, it is necessary to check the set parameters of the UART terminal. Click on the "OPTIONS" button.

UART Application Output Step 2

In the newly opened UART Terminal Options field, we check if the terminal settings are correct, such as the set port and the Baud rate of UART communication. If the data is not displayed properly, it is possible that the Baud rate value is not set correctly and needs to be adjusted to 115200. If all the parameters are set correctly, click on "CONFIGURE".

UART Application Output Step 3

The next step is to click on the "CONNECT" button, after which the terminal status changes from Disconnected to Connected in green, and the data is displayed in the Received data field.

UART Application Output Step 4

Software Support

Library Description

This library contains API for Boost 3 Click driver.

Key functions:

  • void boost3_dev_enable ( uint8_t state ); - Function is used to enable or disable the device.

Open Source

Code example

This example can be found in NECTO Studio. Feel free to download the code, or you can copy the code below.

/*!
 * \file 
 * \brief Boost 3 Click example
 * 
 * # Description
 * Boost 3 click provides an adjustable output voltage through the onboard
 * potentiometer. The chip is a 700-kHz pulse-width modulating (PWM) step-up 
 * converter with an 85-V switch FET with an input ranging from 2.5 V to 5.5 V. 
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * Initializes GPIO and LOG structures, and set CS pin as output.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 * Turns ON the device for 10 seconds and then turns it OFF for 3 seconds.
 * It also displays appropriate messages on the USB UART.
 * 
 * \author MikroE Team
 *
 */
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "boost3.h"

// ------------------------------------------------------------------ VARIABLES

static boost3_t boost3;
static log_t logger;

// ------------------------------------------------------ APPLICATION FUNCTIONS

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;
    boost3_cfg_t cfg;

    /** 
     * 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.

    boost3_cfg_setup( &cfg );
    BOOST3_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    boost3_init( &boost3, &cfg );
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    boost3_dev_enable( &boost3, BOOST3_ENABLE );
        
    log_printf( &logger, "The click board is enabled!\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "Please use the on-board potentiometer" );
    log_printf( &logger, " to adjust the voltage output.\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------------\r\n" );
    Delay_ms ( 10000 );
    
    boost3_dev_enable( &boost3, BOOST3_DISABLE );
    log_printf( &logger, "The click board is turned OFF!\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------------\r\n" );
    Delay_ms ( 3000 );
}

void main ( void )
{
    application_init( );

    for ( ; ; )
    {
        application_task( );
    }
}


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

Additional Support

Resources