Intermediate
30 min

Gain real-time insights into the behavior of electrical currents using ACS70331 and PIC32MZ1024EFH064

Your path to reliable ampere insights

Current 4 Click with PIC32MZ clicker

Published Aug 12, 2023

Click board™

Current 4 Click

Dev. board

PIC32MZ clicker

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

PIC32MZ1024EFH064

Achieve operational excellence by utilizing our current measurement solution to track current variations, enabling you to make data-driven decisions for improved efficiency and reduced downtime

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

Current 4 Click is based on the INA250, a current-sense amplifier with a high-precision, low-drift shunt resistor, which can deliver highly accurate measurements over a wide temperature range from Texas Instruments. The INA250 measures the voltage developed across the internal current-sensing resistor when current passes through it. The integrated 2mΩ shunt resistor offers 0.1% tolerance and a low drift of 15pmm/°C, enabling the higher performance of the end equipment. This amplifier allows for high-accuracy current measurements at common-mode voltages and offers a maximum error of 0.84% over a wide temperature range. Current 4 Click communicates with MCU using only one pin routed on the AN pin of the mikroBUS™ socket. The output analog

signal from INA250 is forwarded to the input of the operational amplifier, the LMV321 low-voltage rail-to-rail OpAmp from Texas Instruments, representing the most cost-effective solution for applications where low voltage operation is needed. The output of the LMV321 OpAmp has a stable unity gain, acting as a buffer so that the host MCU can sample the output voltage of the INA250 via the AN pin of the mikroBUS™ socket. The INA250 can be configured to measure both unidirectional and bidirectional currents through the reference voltage level. For unidirectional operation, the reference pin should be tied to the ground. When the current increases, the output signal increases upwards from this reference voltage (or ground in this case). For bidirectional

currents, an external voltage source can be used as the reference voltage; in this case, a low dropout linear regulator AP7331 from Diodes Incorporated provides the 2.5V reference supply voltage for the INA250. The reference voltage level can be selected by positioning the SMD jumper labeled VREF SEL to an appropriate position choosing between 2.5V provided by AP7331 or GND. 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.

Current 4 Click hardware overview image
Current 4 Click Current Warning image

Features overview

Development board

PIC32MZ Clicker is a compact starter development board that brings the flexibility of add-on Click boards™ to your favorite microcontroller, making it a perfect starter kit for implementing your ideas. It comes with an onboard 32-bit PIC32MZ microcontroller with FPU from Microchip, a USB connector, LED indicators, buttons, a mikroProg connector, and a header for interfacing with external electronics. Thanks to its compact design with clear and easy-recognizable silkscreen markings, it provides a fluid and immersive working experience, allowing access anywhere and under

any circumstances. Each part of the PIC32MZ Clicker development kit contains the components necessary for the most efficient operation of the same board. In addition to the possibility of choosing the PIC32MZ Clicker programming method, using USB HID mikroBootloader, or through an external mikroProg connector for PIC, dsPIC, or PIC32 programmer, the Clicker board also includes a clean and regulated power supply module for the development kit. The USB Micro-B connection can provide up to 500mA of current, which is more than enough to operate all onboard

and additional modules. All communication methods that mikroBUS™ itself supports are on this board, including the well-established mikroBUS™ socket, reset button, and several buttons and LED indicators. PIC32MZ Clicker is an integral part of the Mikroe ecosystem, allowing you to create a new application in minutes. Natively supported by Mikroe software tools, it covers many aspects of prototyping thanks to a considerable number of different Click boards™ (over a thousand boards), the number of which is growing every day.

PIC32MZ clicker double side image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Architecture

PIC32

MCU Memory (KB)

1024

Silicon Vendor

Microchip

Pin count

64

RAM (Bytes)

524288

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

Analog Signal
RE4
AN
NC
NC
RST
NC
NC
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

Click board™ Schematic

Current 4 Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

PIC32MZ clicker front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the PIC32MZ clicker as your development board.

PIC32MZ clicker front image hardware assembly
GNSS2 Click front image hardware assembly
Prog-cut hardware assembly
GNSS2 Click complete accessories setup image hardware assembly
Micro B Connector Clicker Access - upright/background hardware assembly
Necto image step 2 hardware assembly
Necto image step 3 hardware assembly
Necto image step 4 hardware assembly
Necto image step 5 hardware assembly
Necto image step 6 hardware assembly
Flip&Click PIC32MZ MCU step hardware assembly
Necto No Display image step 8 hardware assembly
Necto image step 9 hardware assembly
Necto image step 10 hardware assembly
Debug Image Necto Step 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 Current 4 Click driver.

Key functions:

  • current4_read_load_current - Read load current

  • current4_read_an_pin_voltage - Read AN pin voltage level function

  • current4_read_an_pin_value - Read AN pin value 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 Current 4 Click Example.
 *
 * # Description
 * This example showcases the ability of the Current 4 Click board.
 * It configures Host MCU for communication and reads the voltage 
 * of AN pin and calculates current on load output.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 *
 * ## Application Init
 * Initialization of the communication modules(ADC and UART).
 *
 * ## Application Task
 * In span on 500ms reads voltage and calculates the current on load.
 *
 * @author Luka Filipovic
 *
 */

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "current4.h"

static current4_t current4;   /**< Current 4 Click driver object. */
static log_t logger;    /**< Logger object. */

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;  /**< Logger config object. */
    current4_cfg_t current4_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.
    current4_cfg_setup( &current4_cfg );
    CURRENT4_MAP_MIKROBUS( current4_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    if ( ADC_ERROR == current4_init( &current4, &current4_cfg ) )
    {
        log_error( &logger, " Application Init Error. " );
        log_info( &logger, " Please, run program again... " );

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

void application_task ( void ) 
{
    float current4_load_current = 0;

    if ( ADC_ERROR != current4_read_load_current ( &current4, &current4_load_current ) ) 
    {
        log_printf( &logger, " > Load current : %.2f[A]\r\n", current4_load_current );
        log_printf( &logger, "**********************\r\n" );
    }

    Delay_ms ( 500 );
}

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
/*!
 * @file main.c
 * @brief Current 4 Click Example.
 *
 * # Description
 * This example showcases the ability of the Current 4 Click board.
 * It configures Host MCU for communication and reads the voltage 
 * of AN pin and calculates current on load output.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 *
 * ## Application Init
 * Initialization of the communication modules(ADC and UART).
 *
 * ## Application Task
 * In span on 500ms reads voltage and calculates the current on load.
 *
 * @author Luka Filipovic
 *
 */

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "current4.h"

static current4_t current4;   /**< Current 4 Click driver object. */
static log_t logger;    /**< Logger object. */

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;  /**< Logger config object. */
    current4_cfg_t current4_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.
    current4_cfg_setup( &current4_cfg );
    CURRENT4_MAP_MIKROBUS( current4_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    if ( ADC_ERROR == current4_init( &current4, &current4_cfg ) )
    {
        log_error( &logger, " Application Init Error. " );
        log_info( &logger, " Please, run program again... " );

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

void application_task ( void ) 
{
    float current4_load_current = 0;

    if ( ADC_ERROR != current4_read_load_current ( &current4, &current4_load_current ) ) 
    {
        log_printf( &logger, " > Load current : %.2f[A]\r\n", current4_load_current );
        log_printf( &logger, "**********************\r\n" );
    }

    Delay_ms ( 500 );
}

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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