Experience the future of wireless communication with DCTR-72DAT and PIC32MZ1024EFH064

Unlock seamless connectivity at 868/916 MHz!

Published Nov 07, 2023

Click board™

IQRF 2 click

Dev. board

PIC32MZ clicker

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

PIC32MZ1024EFH064

Our RF transceiver empowers your devices to seamlessly communicate in the 868/916 MHz ISM band, ensuring reliable and interference-free connections

Hardware Overview

How does it work?

iqRF 2 Click is based on the DCTR-72DAT, an RF transceiver from iqRF, operating in the 868/916 MHz frequency. The click is designed to run on a 3.3V power supply. It communicates with the target microcontroller over SPI or UART interface, with additional functionality provided by the following pins on the mikroBUS™ line: AN, PWM. DCTR-72DAT is an RF transceiver operating in the 868/916 MHz license-free ISM (Industry, Scientific, and Medical) frequency band. Its highly integrated ready-to-use design containing MCU, RF circuitry, serial EEPROM, and optional onboard antenna

requires no external components. The DCTR-72DAT module's highly integrated ready-to-use design containing MCU, RF circuitry, integrated LDO regulator, serial EEPROM, optional temperature sensor and optional onboard antenna requires no external components. It has extended RF power results in higher RF range. The ultra-low power consumption fits for battery powered applications. The module with a built-in operating system significantly reduces application development time. Optional DPA framework supports applications even without programming.

To upload application codes in DCTRs and configure DCTR parameters, CK-USB-04A kit is intended. When the application is uploaded to the IQRF it can be put in mikroBUS™ socket and communicate with it with MCU. 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.

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.

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

Architecture

PIC32

MCU Memory (KB)

1024

Silicon Vendor

Microchip

Pin count

RAM (Bytes)

524288

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

Analog Output

RE4

RST

SPI Chip Select

RG9

SPI Clock

RG6

SCK

SPI Data OUT

RG7

MISO

SPI Data IN

RG8

MOSI

Power Supply

3.3V

Ground

GND

General-Purpose I/O

RB3

PWM

INT

UART TX

RB2

UART RX

RB0

SCL

SDA

Ground

GND

Take a closer look

Click board™ 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.

GNSS2 Click front image hardware assembly

Board mapper by product7 hardware assembly

Flip&Click PIC32MZ MCU step hardware assembly

Necto No Display image step 8 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 iqRF 2 Click driver.

Key functions:

iqrf2_generic_read - Generic read function
iqrf2_generic_write - Generic write 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 
 * \brief iqrf2 Click example
 * 
 * # Description
 * This example reads and processes data from iqRF 2 clicks.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * Initializes the driver and makes an initial log.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 * Depending on the selected mode, it reads all the received data or sends the desired message
 * every 2 seconds.
 * 
 * ## Additional Function
 * - iqrf2_process ( ) - The general process of collecting the received data.
 * 
 * \author MikroE Team
 *
 */
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "iqrf2.h"
#include "string.h"

#define PROCESS_RX_BUFFER_SIZE 500

#define TEXT_TO_SEND "MikroE - iqRF 2 click board\r\n"

#define DEMO_APP_RECEIVER
// #define DEMO_APP_TRANSMITTER

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

static iqrf2_t iqrf2;
static log_t logger;

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

static void iqrf2_process ( void )
{
    int32_t rsp_size;
    
    char uart_rx_buffer[ PROCESS_RX_BUFFER_SIZE ] = { 0 };
    
    rsp_size = iqrf2_generic_read( &iqrf2, uart_rx_buffer, PROCESS_RX_BUFFER_SIZE );
    
    if ( rsp_size > 0 )
    {  
        for ( uint8_t cnt = 0; cnt < rsp_size; cnt++ )
        {
            log_printf( &logger, "%c", uart_rx_buffer[ cnt ] );
            if ( uart_rx_buffer[ cnt ] == '\n' )
            {
                log_printf( &logger, "-----------------------------\r\n" );
            }
        }
    }
}

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

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;
    iqrf2_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.

    iqrf2_cfg_setup( &cfg );
    IQRF2_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    iqrf2_init( &iqrf2, &cfg );
    Delay_ms( 100 );
    
#ifdef DEMO_APP_RECEIVER
    log_info( &logger, "---- Receiver mode ----" );
#endif    
#ifdef DEMO_APP_TRANSMITTER
    log_info( &logger, "---- Transmitter mode ----" );
#endif   
}

void application_task ( void )
{
#ifdef DEMO_APP_RECEIVER
    iqrf2_process( );
#endif    
    
#ifdef DEMO_APP_TRANSMITTER
    iqrf2_generic_write( &iqrf2, TEXT_TO_SEND, strlen( TEXT_TO_SEND ) );
    log_info( &logger, "---- Data sent ----" );
    Delay_ms( 2000 );
#endif   
}

void main ( void )
{
    application_init( );

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


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