Intermediate
30 min

Navigate with ease with ATmega32 and L70

Your ultimate travel companion

GPS 4 Click with EasyAVR v7

Published Nov 01, 2023

Click board™

GPS 4 Click

Dev. board

EasyAVR v7

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

ATmega32

Empower your journey and build intelligent navigation applications to simplify travel and enhance your experience

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

GPS 4 Click is based on the L70, a compact GPS module from Quectel. The click is designed to run on either a 3.3V or 5V power supply. It communicates with the target microcontroller over the UART interface, with additional functionality provided by the following pins on the mikroBUS™ line: PWM, AN, RST. The L70, an SMD-type module, brings the high performance of the MTK positioning engine to industrial applications with a compact profile, ultra-low power consumption, and fast positioning capability. Combining advanced AGPS called EASY™ (Embedded Assist System) and proven AlwaysLocate™ technology, L70 achieves the highest performance and fully meets the industrial standard. EASY™ technology ensures

L70 can calculate and predict orbits automatically using the ephemeris data (up to 3 days) stored in internal RAM so that L70 can fix position quickly even at indoor signal levels with low power consumption. With AlwaysLocate™ technology, L70 can adaptively adjust the on/off time to balance positioning accuracy and power consumption according to the environmental and motion conditions. A constellation of satellites sends a continuous signal towards Earth. Onboard every satellite is an atomic clock, and all of them are synchronized, thanks to a reference time scale defined by the whole system. So, the signals from the different satellites of the same constellation share the same reference time scale. The user wanting to use GPS to determine its position

must have an antenna that receives the signals from the satellites and a receiver that translates them. The antenna position will be deduced from the measurements of the time delay between the emission time (satellite) and the reception time (receiver) for at least four signals coming from different satellites. This Click board™ can operate with either 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels selected via the PWR 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.

GPS 4 Click hardware overview image

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

default

Architecture

AVR

MCU Memory (KB)

32

Silicon Vendor

Microchip

Pin count

40

RAM (Bytes)

2048

You complete me!

Accessories

Rubber Antenna GSM/GPRS Right Angle is the perfect companion for all GSM Click boards™ in our extensive lineup. This specialized antenna is designed to optimize your wireless connectivity with impressive features. With a wide frequency range spanning 824-894/1710-1990MHz or 890-960/1710-1890MHz, it can handle various frequency bands, ensuring a seamless and reliable connection. The antenna boasts an impedance of 50 Ohms and a gain of 2dB, enhancing signal reception and transmission. Its 70/180MHz bandwidth provides flexibility for diverse applications. The vertical polarization further enhances its performance. With a maximum input power capacity of 50W, this antenna ensures robust communication even under demanding conditions. Measuring a compact 50mm in length and featuring an SMA male connector, the Rubber Antenna GSM/GPRS Right Angle is a versatile and compact solution for your wireless communication needs.

GPS 4 Click accessories image

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

Module Force ON
PA7
AN
Reset
PA6
RST
NC
NC
CS
NC
NC
SCK
NC
NC
MISO
NC
NC
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
Standby Mode
PD4
PWM
NC
NC
INT
UART TX
PD1
TX
UART RX
PD0
RX
NC
NC
SCL
NC
NC
SDA
Power Supply
5V
5V
Ground
GND
GND
1

Take a closer look

Click board™ Schematic

GPS 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
GNSS2 Click front image hardware assembly
MCU DIP 40 hardware assembly
GNSS2 Click complete accessories setup image hardware assembly
EasyAVR v7 Access DIP 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 GPS 4 Click driver.

Key functions:

  • gps4_generic_parser - Generic parser function

  • gps4_generic_read - Generic read function

  • gps4_module_wakeup - Wake-up module

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 Gps4 Click example
 * 
 * # Description
 * This example reads and processes data from GPS4 clicks.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * Initializes driver and wake-up module.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 * Reads the received data and parses it.
 * 
 * ## Additional Function
 * - gps4_process ( ) - The general process of collecting data the module sends.
 * 
 * 
 * \author MikroE Team
 *
 */
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "gps4.h"
#include "string.h"

#define PROCESS_COUNTER 15
#define PROCESS_RX_BUFFER_SIZE 600
#define PROCESS_PARSER_BUFFER_SIZE 600

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

static gps4_t gps4;
static log_t logger;

static char current_parser_buf[ PROCESS_PARSER_BUFFER_SIZE ];

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

static void gps4_process ( void )
{
    int32_t rsp_size;
    uint16_t rsp_cnt = 0;
    
    char uart_rx_buffer[ PROCESS_RX_BUFFER_SIZE ] = { 0 };
    uint16_t check_buf_cnt;
    uint8_t process_cnt = PROCESS_COUNTER;
    
    // Clear parser buffer
    memset( current_parser_buf, 0 , PROCESS_PARSER_BUFFER_SIZE ); 
    
    while( process_cnt != 0 )
    {
        rsp_size = gps4_generic_read( &gps4, &uart_rx_buffer, PROCESS_RX_BUFFER_SIZE );

        if ( rsp_size > 0 )
        {  
            // Validation of the received data
            for ( check_buf_cnt = 0; check_buf_cnt < rsp_size; check_buf_cnt++ )
            {
                if ( uart_rx_buffer[ check_buf_cnt ] == 0 ) 
                {
                    uart_rx_buffer[ check_buf_cnt ] = 13;
                }
            }
            
            // Storages data in parser buffer
            rsp_cnt += rsp_size;
            if ( rsp_cnt < PROCESS_PARSER_BUFFER_SIZE )
            {
                strncat( current_parser_buf, uart_rx_buffer, rsp_size );
            }
            // Clear RX buffer
            memset( uart_rx_buffer, 0, PROCESS_RX_BUFFER_SIZE );
        } 
        else 
        {
            process_cnt--;
            
            // Process delay 
            Delay_100ms( );
        }
    }
}

static void parser_application ( char *rsp )
{
    char element_buf[ 200 ] = { 0 };
    
    log_printf( &logger, "\r\n-----------------------\r\n" ); 
    gps4_generic_parser( rsp, GPS4_NEMA_GPGGA, GPS4_GPGGA_LATITUDE, element_buf );
    if ( strlen( element_buf ) > 0 )
    {
        log_printf( &logger, "Latitude:  %.2s degrees, %s minutes \r\n", element_buf, &element_buf[ 2 ] );
        gps4_generic_parser( rsp, GPS4_NEMA_GPGGA, GPS4_GPGGA_LONGITUDE, element_buf );
        log_printf( &logger, "Longitude:  %.3s degrees, %s minutes \r\n", element_buf, &element_buf[ 3 ] );
        memset( element_buf, 0, sizeof( element_buf ) );
        gps4_generic_parser( rsp, GPS4_NEMA_GPGGA, GPS4_GPGGA_ALTITUDE, element_buf );
        log_printf( &logger, "Altitude: %s m", element_buf );  
    }
    else
    {
        log_printf( &logger, "Waiting for the position fix..." );
    }
}

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

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;
    gps4_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.

    gps4_cfg_setup( &cfg );
    GPS4_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    gps4_init( &gps4, &cfg );

    gps4_module_wakeup( &gps4 );
    Delay_ms( 5000 );
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    gps4_process(  );
    parser_application( current_parser_buf );
}

void main ( void )
{
    application_init( );

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


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

Additional Support

Resources

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