Convert higher input voltages into lower, more usable voltage levels with TPSM82913 and dsPIC33FJ256GP710A
Ensure that your projects get the right amount of power
Published Dec 28, 2023
Click board™
Step Down 11 Click
Dev Board
UNI-DS v8
Compiler
NECTO Studio
MCU
dsPIC33FJ256GP710A
Transform higher input voltages into adjustable lower outputs, ensuring compatibility with diverse scenarios that demand precise voltage regulation, low-ripple, and low-noise operation
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Hardware Overview
How does it work?
Step Down 11 Click is based on the TPSM82913, a low-noise and low-ripple buck power module from Texas Instruments. The devices operate at a fixed switching frequency of 2.2MHz or 1MHz, which depends on the smart configuration input of the buck module. The AD5142A, a dual-channel 256-position nonvolatile digital potentiometer, controls the smart configuration input. By controlling the smart configuration input, you enable or disable spread spectrum modulation. DC/DC converters generate an output voltage ripple at the switching
frequency. The AD5142A also controls the feedback input of the buck module with its other wiper. In addition, the Step Down 11 Click features a soft start, high output accuracy, power-good output, and more. Step Down 11 Click uses a standard 2-wire interface of the AD5142A to allow the host MCU to set the output voltage, supporting 3MHz bandwidth. You can reset the digital potentiometer over the RST pin in case of need. The I2C address can be selected over the ADDR SEL jumpers (0 set by default). The power-good PG pin will be asserted if
the output voltage is not within the specified window threshold. The EN pin is a precision enable input to the regulator. 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.
Features overview
Development board
UNI-DS 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 STM32, Kinetis, TIVA, CEC, MSP, PIC, dsPIC, PIC32, and AVR 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, UNI-DS v8 provides a fluid and immersive working experience, allowing access anywhere and under any
circumstances at any time. Each part of the UNI-DS v8 development board contains the components necessary for the most efficient operation of the same board. An advanced integrated CODEGRIP programmer/debugger module offers many valuable programming/debugging options, including support for JTAG, SWD, and SWO Trace (Single Wire Output)), and seamless integration with the Mikroe software environment. Besides, it 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 is also included. In addition, it also has the well-established mikroBUS™ standard, a standardized socket for the MCU card (SiBRAIN standard), and two display options for the TFT board line of products and character-based LCD. UNI-DS 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.
Microcontroller Overview
MCU Card / MCU
Type
8th Generation
Architecture
dsPIC
MCU Memory (KB)
256
Silicon Vendor
Microchip
Pin count
100
RAM (Bytes)
30720
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 UNI-DS v8 as your development board.
Track your results in real time
Application Output
This Click board can be interfaced and monitored in two ways:
Application Output- Use the "Application Output" window in Debug mode for real-time data monitoring. Set it up properly by following this tutorial.
UART Terminal- Monitor data via the UART Terminal using a USB to UART converter. For detailed instructions, check out this tutorial.
Software Support
Library Description
This library contains API for Step Down 11 Click driver.
Key functions:
stepdown11_get_resistance- Step Down 11 get the resistance function.stepdown11_set_voltage- Step Down 11 set voltage output function.stepdown11_set_mode- Step Down 11 set S-CONF device configuration mode 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 Step Down 11 Click example
*
* # Description
* This library contains API for the Step Down 11 Click driver.
* This driver provides the functions to set the output voltage treshold.
*
* The demo application is composed of two sections :
*
* ## Application Init
* Initialization of I2C module and log UART.
* After driver initialization, default settings sets output voltage to 1 V.
*
* ## Application Task
* This example demonstrates the use of the Step Down 11 Click board™ by changing
* output voltage every 5 seconds starting from 1 V up to 5 V.
*
* @author Stefan Ilic
*
*/
#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "stepdown11.h"
static stepdown11_t stepdown11;
static log_t logger;
void application_init ( void )
{
log_cfg_t log_cfg; /**< Logger config object. */
stepdown11_cfg_t stepdown11_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.
stepdown11_cfg_setup( &stepdown11_cfg );
STEPDOWN11_MAP_MIKROBUS( stepdown11_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
if ( I2C_MASTER_ERROR == stepdown11_init( &stepdown11, &stepdown11_cfg ) )
{
log_error( &logger, " Communication init." );
for ( ; ; );
}
if ( STEPDOWN11_ERROR == stepdown11_default_cfg ( &stepdown11 ) )
{
log_error( &logger, " Default configuration." );
for ( ; ; );
}
log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
}
void application_task ( void )
{
for ( uint8_t vout = 1; vout <= 5; vout++ )
{
log_printf( &logger, " Set output voltage %dV \r\n", ( uint16_t ) vout );
stepdown11_set_voltage ( &stepdown11, vout );
Delay_ms( 5000 );
}
}
void main ( void )
{
application_init( );
for ( ; ; )
{
application_task( );
}
}
// ------------------------------------------------------------------------ END
