Intermediate
30 min

Improve performance of your BLDC motors with ATmega8A and PIC18LF47K40

Revolutionize with precise motor control

Brushless 6 Click with EasyPIC v7a

Published Jul 26, 2023

Click board™

Brushless 6 Click

Dev. board

EasyPIC v7a

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

PIC18LF47K40

Take control of your brushless motors with the most incredible accuracy. Unleash the power of PWM for optimal BLDC management!

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

Brushless 6 Click is based on the ATmega8A MCU from Microchip. It uses a 50Hz PWM signal at one of the input pins, routed to the PWM pin of the mikroBUS™ socket. The duty cycle of the incoming PWM signal is decoded by the onboard ATmega8A MCU so that a certain pulse width range is used to set the speed and direction of the rotation. The MikroElektronika demo application,

provided with the Brushless 6 Click, uses simplified functions to calibrate and set the speed and direction of the BLDC motor to be used as a reference for future design. Since the MCU output can't be used to drive heavier loads directly, the stator coils are driven through the MOSFET transistors network, controlled by the MCU. The electrical circuit that powers the coils is also

known as the "invertor" circuit because it provides both positive and negative voltages from the connected external power supply. The motor can be connected via the onboard connector, which provides an easy and secure connection. A power connector is also used to connect the external power supply, up to 12V.

Brushless 6 Click hardware overview image

Features overview

Development board

EasyPIC v7a is the seventh generation of PIC development boards specially designed for the needs of rapid development of embedded applications. It supports a wide range of 8-bit PIC microcontrollers from Microchip and has a broad set of unique functions, such as the first-ever embedded debugger/programmer over USB-C. The development board is well organized and designed so that the end-user has all the necessary elements in one place, such as switches, buttons, indicators, connectors, and others. With four different connectors for each port, EasyPIC v7a allows you to connect accessory boards, sensors, and custom electronics more efficiently than ever. Each part of the EasyPIC v7a 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 various external power sources, including an external 12V power supply, 7-23V AC or 9-32V DC via DC connector/screw terminals, and a power source via the USB Type-C (USB-C) connector. Communication options such as USB-UART and RS-232 are also included, alongside the well-

established mikroBUS™ standard, three display options (7-segment, graphical, and character-based LCD), and several different DIP sockets. These sockets cover a wide range of 8-bit PIC MCUs, from PIC10F, PIC12F, PIC16F, PIC16Enh, PIC18F, PIC18FJ, and PIC18FK families. EasyPIC v7a 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.

EasyPIC v7a double side image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

PIC18LF47K40

Architecture

PIC

MCU Memory (KB)

128

Silicon Vendor

Microchip

Pin count

40

RAM (Bytes)

3728

You complete me!

Accessories

Brushless DC (BLDC) Motor with a Hall sensor represents a high-performance motor from the 42BLF motor series. This motor, wired in a star configuration, boasts a Hall Effect angle of 120°, ensuring precise and reliable performance. With a compact motor length of 47mm and a lightweight design tipping the scales at just 0.29kg, this BLDC motor is engineered to meet your needs. Operating flawlessly at a voltage rating of 24VDC and a speed range of 4000 ± 10% RPM, this motor offers consistent and dependable power. It excels in a normal operational temperature range from -20 to +50°C, maintaining efficiency with a rated current of 1.9A. Also, this product seamlessly integrates with all Brushless Click boards™ and those that require BLDC motors with Hall sensors.

Brushless 6 Click accessories image

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

NC
NC
AN
NC
NC
RST
NC
NC
CS
NC
NC
SCK
NC
NC
MISO
NC
NC
MOSI
NC
NC
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
PWM Control
RC0
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

Click board™ Schematic

Brushless 6 Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

EasyPIC v7a front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the EasyPIC v7a as your development board.

EasyPIC v7a front image hardware assembly
GNSS2 Click front image hardware assembly
MCU DIP 40 hardware assembly
GNSS2 Click complete accessories setup image hardware assembly
EasyPIC v7a 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 DIP image step 7 hardware assembly
EasyPIC PRO v7a Display Selection Necto Step 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

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 Brushless 6 Click driver.

Key functions:

  • brushless6_pwm_start - Start PWM module

  • brushless6_pwm_stop - Stop PWM module

  • brushless6_set_duty_cycle - Generic sets PWM duty cycle

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 
 * \brief Brushless6 Click example
 * 
 * # Description
 * Brushless 6 Click is designed to drive a three-phase sensorless.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * This function initializes and configures the logger and the Click board.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 * This function drives the motor in both directions increasing and decreasing the speed of the motor.
 * 
 * ## NOTE
 * The maximal PWM Clock frequency for this Click board is 500 Hz. 
 * So, the user will need to decrease the MCU's main clock frequency in MCU Settings in order to get up-to 500 Hz PWM clock frequency.
 * 
 * 
 * \author MikroE Team
 *
 */
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "brushless6.h"

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

static brushless6_t brushless6;
static log_t logger;

static float duty_cycle;

// ------------------------------------------------------- ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS

void brushless6_calibration( )
{
    brushless6_pwm_start( &brushless6 );

    brushless6_set_duty_cycle( &brushless6, BRUSHLESS6_MIN_PWM_DC );
    Delay_1sec( );
    Delay_1sec( );
}

void brushless6_setings( )
{
    brushless6_set_duty_cycle( &brushless6, BRUSHLESS6_INIT_DC );
    Delay_1sec( );
    Delay_1sec( );
}

static void clockwise ( )
{
    log_printf( &logger, "\r\n------------------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, " * Clockwise *\r\n" );
    Delay_1sec( );
    
    for( duty_cycle = BRUSHLESS6_INIT_DC; duty_cycle > BRUSHLESS6_1MS_DC; duty_cycle -= BRUSHLESS6_PERIOD )
    {
        brushless6_set_duty_cycle( &brushless6, duty_cycle );
        log_printf( &logger, "  > " );
        Delay_1sec( );
    }
        
    log_printf( &logger, "\r\n" );
    
    for( duty_cycle = BRUSHLESS6_1MS_DC; duty_cycle < BRUSHLESS6_INIT_DC; duty_cycle += BRUSHLESS6_PERIOD )
    {
        brushless6_set_duty_cycle( &brushless6, duty_cycle );
        log_printf( &logger, "  < " );
        Delay_1sec( );
    }
}

static void counter_clockwise ( )
{
    log_printf( &logger, "\r\n------------------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, " * Counter clockwise *\r\n" );
    Delay_1sec( );

    for( duty_cycle = BRUSHLESS6_INIT_DC; duty_cycle < BRUSHLESS6_2MS_DC - BRUSHLESS6_PERIOD; duty_cycle += BRUSHLESS6_PERIOD )
    {
        brushless6_set_duty_cycle( &brushless6, duty_cycle );
        log_printf( &logger, "  > " );
        Delay_1sec( );
    }
    log_printf( &logger, "\r\n" );
    
    for( duty_cycle = BRUSHLESS6_2MS_DC - BRUSHLESS6_PERIOD; duty_cycle > BRUSHLESS6_INIT_DC; duty_cycle -= BRUSHLESS6_PERIOD )
    {
        brushless6_set_duty_cycle( &brushless6, duty_cycle );
        log_printf( &logger, "  < " );
        Delay_1sec( );
    }
}

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

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;
    brushless6_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.

    brushless6_cfg_setup( &cfg );
    BRUSHLESS6_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    brushless6_init( &brushless6, &cfg );
    brushless6_calibration( );
    brushless6_setings( );
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    clockwise( );
    counter_clockwise( );
}

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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