Deliver precise and reliable power to your applications with TPS62366A and PIC32MZ1024EFH064
Downsizing voltages, upscaling performance!
Published Nov 11, 2023
Click board™
Smart Buck 3 Click
Dev Board
PIC32MZ clicker
Compiler
NECTO Studio
MCU
PIC32MZ1024EFH064
Experience power precision like never before as voltages bow down to the prowess of our step-down DC/DC converter. Unleash a new era of efficiency in your electronic endeavors.
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Hardware Overview
How does it work?
Smart Buck 3 Click is based on the TPS62366A, a processor supply with an I2C compatible interface and a remote sense from Texas Instruments. Its dedicated inputs over the VIN terminal allow fast voltage transition while introducing input under voltage detection and lockout. In addition, it features over-temperature protection, a soft start, excellent DC output voltage regulation, and other robust operation/protection features. It offers a high-efficiency step-down conversion, with the highest efficiency towards low and highest output currents. This way, it increases the battery ON-time. The TPS62366A uses the DCS-Control™ architecture and fully differential sensing to achieve precise static and dynamic transient output voltage regulation. This way, the output
voltage security margins can be kept small. The used architecture supports PWM mode for medium and heavy load conditions and a Power Save mode for light loads. During the PWM mode, it works at the 2.5MHz frequency, and as the load decreases, the TPS62366A enters a Power Save mode (on this board set at 1.16V). This transition is seamless and does not affect output voltage transients. In addition, the TPS62366A incorporates internal soft-start circuitry, which controls the output voltage ramp-up after enabling the device by eliminating the inrush current. The converter avoids excessive voltage drops of primary cells and rechargeable batteries with high internal impedance. During this procedure, the output voltage is monotonically ramped up to the
threshold of the minimum programmable output voltage and further increases by the ramp rate settings to the programmed output voltage. Smart Buck 3 Click uses a standard 2-Wire I2C interface to communicate with the host MCU, supporting Standard, Fast, and High-speed modes with a frequency of up to 3.4MHz. The I2C address is fixed and can not be changed. 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
64
RAM (Bytes)
524288
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 Smart Buck 3 Click driver.
Key functions:
smartbuck3_set_voltage- Smart Buck 3 set voltage function.smartbuck3_get_voltage- Smart Buck 3 get voltage function.smartbuck3_set_operation_mode- Smart Buck 3 set operation mode 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 Smart Buck 3 Click example
*
* # Description
* This example demonstrates the use of Smart Buck 3 Click board™.
* This driver provides functions for device configurations
* and for the sets and reads the output voltage.
*
* The demo application is composed of two sections :
*
* ## Application Init
* Initialization of I2C module and log UART.
* After initializing the driver, the default configuration is executed
* and the device is turned on.
*
* ## Application Task
* This example demonstrates the use of the Smart Buck 3 Click board™.
* Changes the output voltage every 3 seconds
* and displays the current voltage output value.
* Results are sent to the UART Terminal, where you can track their changes.
*
* @author Nenad Filipovic
*
*/
#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "smartbuck3.h"
static smartbuck3_t smartbuck3;
static log_t logger;
static uint16_t vout_mv;
void application_init ( void )
{
log_cfg_t log_cfg; /**< Logger config object. */
smartbuck3_cfg_t smartbuck3_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.
smartbuck3_cfg_setup( &smartbuck3_cfg );
SMARTBUCK3_MAP_MIKROBUS( smartbuck3_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
if ( I2C_MASTER_ERROR == smartbuck3_init( &smartbuck3, &smartbuck3_cfg ) )
{
log_error( &logger, " Communication init." );
for ( ; ; );
}
Delay_ms( 100 );
if ( SMARTBUCK3_ERROR == smartbuck3_default_cfg ( &smartbuck3 ) )
{
log_error( &logger, " Default configuration." );
for ( ; ; );
}
Delay_ms( 100 );
log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
vout_mv = SMARTBUCK3_VOUT_MIN;
}
void application_task ( void )
{
if ( SMARTBUCK3_OK == smartbuck3_set_voltage( &smartbuck3, vout_mv ) )
{
Delay_ms( 100 );
if ( SMARTBUCK3_OK == smartbuck3_get_voltage( &smartbuck3, &vout_mv ) )
{
log_printf ( &logger, " Vout: %u mV\r\n", vout_mv );
}
}
vout_mv += 100;
if ( vout_mv > SMARTBUCK3_VOUT_MAX )
{
vout_mv = SMARTBUCK3_VOUT_MIN;
}
Delay_ms( 3000 );
}
void main ( void )
{
application_init( );
for ( ; ; )
{
application_task( );
}
}
// ------------------------------------------------------------------------ END
