Beginner
10 min

Deliver the high-speed memory needed for cutting-edge applications using CY14B512Q and ATmega32

Your data, instantly accessible – Thanks to SRAM

SRAM 4 Click with EasyAVR v7

Published Nov 01, 2023

Click board™

SRAM 4 Click

Dev Board

EasyAVR v7

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

ATmega32

SRAM's combination of speed and power efficiency makes it an essential component in the world of modern electronics

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

SRAM 4 Click is based on the CY14B512Q, a 512Kbit nvSRAM memory organized as 64K words of 8 bits each from Infineon. The nvSRAM specifies one million endurance cycles for nonvolatile cells with data retention of a minimum of 20 years. All the reads and writes to nvSRAM happen to the SRAM, which gives nvSRAM the unique capability to handle infinite writes to the memory. The embedded nonvolatile elements incorporate the QuantumTrap technology, making this Click board™ an ideal choice for secure data storage, creating the world’s most reliable nonvolatile memory. The CY14B512Q communicates with MCU through a standard SPI interface that enables very high clock speeds up to 40MHz with zero cycle

delay read and write cycles. It also supports the two most common modes, SPI Mode 0 and 3, and 104 MHz SPI access speed with special instructions for the read operation. Besides, the SRAM 4 Click also has an additional HOLD signal, routed to the PWM pin of the mikroBUS™ socket labeled as HLD, used to suspend the serial communication without resetting the serial sequence. The CY14B512Q uses the standard SPI opcodes for memory access. In addition to the general SPI instructions for reading and writing, also provide four special instructions: STORE, RECALL, AutoStore Disable, and AutoStore Enable. The significant benefit of this memory over serial EEPROMs is that all reads and writes to nvSRAM

are performed at the speed of the SPI bus with zero cycle delay. Therefore, no wait time is required after any of the memory accesses. Only the STORE and RECALL operations need finite time to complete, and all memory accesses are inhibited during this time. This Click board™ can be operated only with a 3.3V logic voltage level. The board must perform appropriate logic voltage level conversion before using MCUs with different logic levels. Also, it comes equipped with a library containing functions and an example code that can be used as a reference for further development.

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Features overview

Development board

EasyAVR v7 is the seventh generation of AVR development boards specially designed for the needs of rapid development of embedded applications. It supports a wide range of 16-bit AVR microcontrollers from Microchip and has a broad set of unique functions, such as a powerful onboard mikroProg programmer and In-Circuit debugger over USB. 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, EasyAVR v7 allows you to connect accessory boards, sensors, and custom electronics more

efficiently than ever. Each part of the EasyAVR v7 development board contains the components necessary for the most efficient operation of the same board. An integrated mikroProg, a fast USB 2.0 programmer with mikroICD hardware In-Circuit Debugger, offers many valuable programming/debugging options and seamless integration with the Mikroe software environment. Besides it also includes a clean and regulated power supply block for the development board. It can use a wide range of external power sources, including an external 12V power supply, 7-12V AC or 9-15V DC via DC connector/screw terminals, and a power source via the USB Type-B (USB-B)

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 which cover a wide range of 16-bit AVR MCUs. EasyAVR v7 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.

EasyAVR v7 horizontal image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

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Architecture

AVR

MCU Memory (KB)

32

Silicon Vendor

Microchip

Pin count

40

RAM (Bytes)

2048

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

NC
NC
AN
NC
NC
RST
SPI Chip Select
PA5
CS
SPI Clock
PB7
SCK
SPI Data OUT
PB6
MISO
SPI Data IN
PB5
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
Data Transfer Pause
PD4
PWM
NC
NC
INT
NC
NC
TX
NC
NC
RX
NC
NC
SCL
NC
NC
SDA
NC
NC
5V
Ground
GND
GND
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Take a closer look

Schematic

SRAM 4 Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

EasyAVR v7 front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the EasyAVR v7 as your development board.

EasyAVR v7 front image hardware assembly
Buck 22 Click front image hardware assembly
MCU DIP 40 hardware assembly
EasyAVR v7 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

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 SRAM 4 Click driver.

Key functions:

  • sram4_memory_read - Read data from memory.

  • sram4_memory_write - Write data to memory.

  • sram4_generic_command - Command writing function.

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 main.c
 * @brief SRAM4 Click example
 *
 * # Description
 * This example application showcases ability of device
 * ability to manipulate with memory( writing and reading data ).
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 *
 * ## Application Init
 * Initialization of communication modules(SPI, UART) and additional 
 * pins. Reads ID and checks if it matches with SRAM4_DEVICE_ID to 
 * check communication. Then clears protection from memory access.
 *
 * ## Application Task
 * Writes 3 times to memory with length of data offset in memory address.
 * Then reads 2 times first 2 data written should be read in one read,
 * and 3rd write should be read separately.
 *
 * @author Luka FIlipovic
 *
 */

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "sram4.h"

static sram4_t sram4;
static log_t logger;

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;  /**< Logger config object. */
    sram4_cfg_t sram4_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.
    sram4_cfg_setup( &sram4_cfg );
    SRAM4_MAP_MIKROBUS( sram4_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    err_t init_flag  = sram4_init( &sram4, &sram4_cfg );
    if ( SPI_MASTER_ERROR == init_flag )
    {
        log_error( &logger, " Application Init Error. " );
        log_info( &logger, " Please, run program again... " );
        for ( ; ; );
    }

    if ( sram4_default_cfg ( &sram4 ) )
    {
        log_error( &logger, " Default configuration. " );
        log_info( &logger, " Please, run program again... " );
        for ( ; ; );
    }

    log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    char read_buf[ 100 ] = { 0 };
    char click_name[ ] = "SRAM 4";
    char company_name[ ] = "MikroE";
    char product_name[ ] = " Click board";
    static const uint16_t START_ADR = 0x0001;
    uint16_t mem_adr = START_ADR;

    //Write Data
    sram4_memory_write( &sram4, mem_adr, click_name, strlen( click_name ) );
    mem_adr += strlen( click_name );
    sram4_memory_write( &sram4, mem_adr, product_name, strlen( product_name ) );
    mem_adr += strlen( product_name );
    sram4_memory_write( &sram4, mem_adr, company_name, strlen( company_name ) );

    //Read Data
    mem_adr = START_ADR;
    sram4_memory_read( &sram4, mem_adr, read_buf, strlen( click_name ) + strlen( product_name ) );
    log_printf( &logger, " > Read Data from 0x%.4X memory address: %s\r\n", mem_adr, read_buf );
    memset( read_buf, 0, strlen( read_buf ) );
    mem_adr += strlen(click_name) + strlen( product_name );
    sram4_memory_read( &sram4, mem_adr, read_buf, strlen( company_name ) );
    log_printf( &logger, " > Read Data from 0x%.4X memory address: %s\r\n", mem_adr, read_buf );
    log_printf( &logger, "**********************************************************************\r\n" );

    Delay_ms( 3000 );
}

void main ( void )
{
    application_init( );

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

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

Additional Support

Resources

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