Beginner
10 min

Optimize performance with accurate current sensing using AD8616 and MK64FN1M0VDC12

The future of current monitoring!

Ammeter Click with Clicker 2 for Kinetis

Published Aug 10, 2023

Click board™

Ammeter Click

Dev Board

Clicker 2 for Kinetis

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

MK64FN1M0VDC12

Our advanced ammeter provides real-time measurement of electric currents, empowering you with instant and accurate data to optimize efficiency and ensure safe operations

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

Ammeter Click is based on the AD8616, a precision 20MHz CMOS rail-to-rail input/output operational amplifier from Analog Devices. It is a dual single-supply amplifier featuring very low offset voltage, wide signal bandwidth, and low input voltage and current noise. The AD8616 uses a patented trimming technique that achieves superior precision without laser trimming. Two onboard screw terminals labeled probe+ and probe-are bringing in the current, which then passes through a shunt resistor. A voltage proportional to the strength of the current is generated across the resistor, which is then processed in the operational

amplifier. The voltage amplified through the AD8616 can be directly monitored through the AN pin of the mikroBUS™ socket. One of the main features of the Ammeter Click is the MCP3201, a 12-bit A/D converter with the SPI serial interface from Microchip. This A/D converter has a sampling rate of up to 100ksps and has an onboard sample and hold circuitry. It provides a single pseudo-differential input with maximum differential nonlinearity at ±1LSB. The AD8616 fed the amplified current to this A/D convertor, which gets the 2.048V reference voltage from the MAX6106, a micropower low-dropout high-output-current

voltage reference from Analog Devices. The MCP3201 outputs digital value through the mikroBUS™ socket SPI interface to the host MCU. 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.

Ammeter Click hardware overview image

Features overview

Development board

Clicker 2 for Kinetis 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 ARM Cortex-M4F microcontroller, the MK64FN1M0VDC12 from NXP Semiconductors, two mikroBUS™ sockets for Click board™ connectivity, a USB connector, LED indicators, buttons, a JTAG programmer connector, and two 26-pin headers for interfacing with external electronics. Its compact design with clear and easily recognizable silkscreen markings allows you to build gadgets with unique functionalities and

features quickly. Each part of the Clicker 2 for Kinetis development kit contains the components necessary for the most efficient operation of the same board. In addition to the possibility of choosing the Clicker 2 for Kinetis programming method, using a USB HID mikroBootloader or an external mikroProg connector for Kinetis programmer, the Clicker 2 board also includes a clean and regulated power supply module for the development kit. It provides two ways of board-powering; through the USB Micro-B cable, where onboard voltage regulators provide the appropriate voltage levels to each component on the board, or

using a Li-Polymer battery via an onboard battery connector. All communication methods that mikroBUS™ itself supports are on this board, including the well-established mikroBUS™ socket, reset button, and several user-configurable buttons and LED indicators. Clicker 2 for Kinetis 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.

Clicker 2 for Kinetis dimensions image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Architecture

ARM Cortex-M4

MCU Memory (KB)

1024

Silicon Vendor

NXP

Pin count

121

RAM (Bytes)

262144

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

Analog Signal
PB2
AN
NC
NC
RST
SPI Chip Select
PC4
CS
SPI Clock
PC5
SCK
SPI Data OUT
PC7
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

Schematic

Ammeter Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

Clicker 2 for PIC32MZ front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the Clicker 2 for Kinetis as your development board.

Clicker 2 for PIC32MZ 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 2 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 via Debug Mode

1. Once the code example is loaded, pressing the "DEBUG" button initiates the build process, programs it on the created setup, and enters Debug mode.

2. After the programming is completed, a header with buttons for various actions within the IDE becomes visible. Clicking the green "PLAY" button starts reading the results achieved with the Click board™. The achieved results are displayed in the Application Output tab.

DEBUG_Application_Output

Software Support

Library Description

This library contains API for Ammeter Click driver.

Key functions:

  • ammeter_amperage - Function is used to measure amperage of a power consumer connected to the Ammeter Click

Open Source

Code example

This example can be found in NECTO Studio. Feel free to download the code, or you can copy the code below.

/*!
 * \file 
 * \brief Ammeter Click example
 * 
 * # Description
 * Demo app measures and displays current by using Ammeter click board.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * Initalizes SPI, LOG and click drivers.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 * This is an example that shows the capabilities of the Ammeter click by 
 * measuring amperage in miliampers. Ammeter click board can be used to saftly 
 * measure current up to 1A both AC and DC, in the case of AC, 
 * for peak to peak value.
 * 
 * *note:* 
 * It is important to notice that this click board has its' own electronic 
 * circuit, and may not be powered from the same source which we are measuring.
 * Result will not be correct in that case.
 * 
 * \author Jovan Stajkovic
 *
 */
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "ammeter.h"

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

static ammeter_t ammeter;
static log_t logger;
static float amperage;

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

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;
    ammeter_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.

    ammeter_cfg_setup( &cfg );
    AMMETER_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    ammeter_init( &ammeter, &cfg );
    log_printf( &logger, "-----------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "    Ammeter  Click     \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "-----------------------\r\n" );
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    amperage = ammeter_amperage( &ammeter );
    log_printf( &logger, " Current: %.2f mA\r\n", amperage );
    
    log_printf( &logger, "-----------------------\r\n" );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
}

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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