Improve your battery performance with MCP73871 and PIC32MZ1024EFH064
Charge smarter, charge faster
Published Jun 08, 2023
Click board™
MCP73871 click
Dev Board
PIC32MZ clicker
Compiler
NECTO Studio
MCU
PIC32MZ1024EFH064
Upgrade your solution with state-of-the-art battery charger technology and ensure reliable charging performance every time
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Hardware Overview
How does it work?
MCP73871 Click is based on the MCP73871, a system load sharing and Li-Po/Li-Ion battery charge management integrated circuit from Microchip. This device completely manages the power distribution, utilizing many different steps. The input voltage is constantly monitored, and with no battery connected or with a battery element that is deeply depleted, the power to the connected load will be delivered straight from the external power supply provided by the 5V rail of the mikroBUS™ socket. The current that can be delivered in this mode depends on the limiting factor selected by the PRG2 pin. If the PRG2 pin is set to a LOW logic level, the current will be limited to 80mA - 100mA. If the PRG2 pin is set to a HIGH logic level, the current supplied to the load will be limited to 400mA - 500mA. Several conditions set by the MCP73871 device define the behavior of the power management logic. If a Li-Po/Li-Ion battery is connected to the battery connector, the charging procedure will go through the following steps.
The preconditioning mode is activated if the connected battery is deeply depleted and the CE (Charge Enable) pin is set to a HIGH logic level. The charging current is only a fraction of the regulated charging current used for fast charging, preventing battery damage and overheating. Suppose the battery voltage exceeds the preconditioning threshold voltage set by the MCP73871 device. In that case, the fast charging will begin, and the charging current is set by the PRG2 pin, as described above, and a voltage equal to 4.35V, as per factory settings of the MCP73871 IC. The charger circuit will stop the charging process when the complete charging conditions are met. The battery voltage is monitored, and another charging cycle will be repeated when it falls under the recharge threshold. During all the charging modes, the temperature of the MCP73871 die is monitored, so the charging current is regulated accordingly. The overtemperature protection will put the device in shutdown mode, preventing damage.
If the TE pin enables the Timer, it will limit the charging time if the battery voltage never reaches the end-of-charge condition. The MCP73871 power-sharing system logic enables simultaneously charging and powering up the system load, connected to the onboard output screw terminal. The power-sharing system is always active and prioritizes connected load over battery charging. Li-Po/Li-Ion battery can be connected to the onboard 2.54mm two-pin header. Three LEDs are used to indicate good power status, as well as the charging status. This Click board™ can only be operated with a 5V logic voltage level. The board must perform appropriate logic voltage level conversion before using MCUs with different logic levels. However, the Click board™ 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
64
RAM (Bytes)
524288
You complete me!
Accessories
Li-Polymer Battery is the ideal solution for devices that demand a dependable and long-lasting power supply while emphasizing mobility. Its compatibility with mikromedia boards ensures easy integration without additional modifications. With a voltage output of 3.7V, the battery meets the standard requirements of many electronic devices. Additionally, boasting a capacity of 2000mAh, it can store a substantial amount of energy, providing sustained power for extended periods. This feature minimizes the need for frequent recharging or replacement. Overall, the Li-Polymer Battery is a reliable and autonomous power source, ideally suited for devices requiring a stable and enduring energy solution. You can find a more extensive choice of Li-Polymer batteries in our offer.
Used MCU Pins
mikroBUS™ mapper
Take a closer look
Click board™ Schematic
Step by step
Project assembly
Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the PIC32MZ clicker as your development board.
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 MCP73871 Click driver.
Key functions:
mcp73871_enable_pin_control- Enable pin controlmcp73871_prog_pin_control-Prog pin controlmcp73871_timer_pin_control- Timer pin control
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 MCP73871 Click example
*
* # Description
* This application is battery charger.
*
* The demo application is composed of two sections :
*
* ## Application Init
* Initializes the click driver, and enables the click board.
*
* ## Application Task
* This is the example of MCP73871 click functions usage.
* It enables this click, sets input current to 100mA,
* and enables safety timer.
*
* \author MikroE Team
*
*/
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES
#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "mcp73871.h"
// ------------------------------------------------------------------ VARIABLES
static mcp73871_t mcp73871;
static log_t logger;
// ------------------------------------------------------ APPLICATION FUNCTIONS
void application_init ( void )
{
log_cfg_t log_cfg;
mcp73871_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.
mcp73871_cfg_setup( &cfg );
MCP73871_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
mcp73871_init( &mcp73871, &cfg );
}
void application_task ( void )
{
mcp73871_enable_pin_control( &mcp73871, 1 );
mcp73871_prog_pin_control( &mcp73871, 0 );
mcp73871_timer_pin_control( &mcp73871, 0 );
}
void main ( void )
{
application_init( );
for ( ; ; )
{
application_task( );
}
}
// ------------------------------------------------------------------------ END
