Beginner
10 min

Step into the world of digital data with MCP3551 and PIC18F25K80

Where analog meets digital

ADC 2 Click with EasyPIC v8

Published Nov 01, 2023

Click board™

ADC 2 Click

Dev Board

EasyPIC v8

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

PIC18F25K80

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

ADC 2 Click is based on the MCP3551, a 22-bit precise single-channel ΔΣ analog-to-digital converter from Microchip. The MCP3551 includes fully differential analog input on a VIN terminal, a third-order delta-sigma modulator, a fourth-order modified SINC decimation filter (allows superior averaging performance), an on-chip, low-noise internal oscillator, a power supply monitoring circuit, and an SPI digital interface. It can be easily used to measure low-frequency, low-level signals such as those found in pressure transducers, temperature, strain gauges, industrial control, or process control applications. This Click board™ communicates with MCU through a 3-Wire SPI interface (read-only) with a maximum frequency of 5MHz. The interface offers two conversion modes: A single Conversion mode for multiplexed

applications and a Continuous Conversion mode for multiple conversions in series, where every conversion is independent of each other (all internal registers are flushed between conversions). When the MCP3551 is not converting, it automatically goes into Shutdown mode, characterized by low power consumption. The MCP3551 provides single-cycle conversions with no digital filter settling time. Every conversion includes an internal offset and gain auto-calibration to reduce device error, which is transparent to the user and done in real-time during the conversion, allowing multiplexed applications. Like any ADC, the MCP3551 uses a reference voltage as the differential voltage range. The reference voltage level selection is performed by positioning the SMD jumper labeled as VREF

SEL to an appropriate position choosing between 3.3V or 5V provided by the mikroBUS™ power rails or 4.096V provided by MCP1541. These voltages may be used as the reference input that results in accuracy and stability. Besides, the ADC 2 Click supports an external power supply for the MCP3551, which can be connected to the input terminal labeled as VCC OUT and should be within the range of 2.7V to 5.5V. 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. However, the 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.

ADC 2 Click hardware overview image

Features overview

Development board

EasyPIC v8 is a development board specially designed for the needs of rapid development of embedded applications. It supports many high pin count 8-bit PIC microcontrollers from Microchip, regardless of their number of pins, and a broad set of unique functions, such as the first-ever embedded debugger/programmer. The development board is well organized and designed so that the end-user has all the necessary elements, such as switches, buttons, indicators, connectors, and others, in one place. Thanks to innovative manufacturing technology, EasyPIC v8 provides a fluid and immersive working experience, allowing access anywhere and under any

circumstances at any time. Each part of the EasyPIC v8 development board contains the components necessary for the most efficient operation of the same board. In addition to the advanced integrated CODEGRIP programmer/debugger module, which offers many valuable programming/debugging options and seamless integration with the Mikroe software environment, the board also includes a clean and regulated power supply module for the development board. It can use a wide range of external power sources, including a battery, an external 12V power supply, and a power source via the USB Type-C (USB-C) connector.

Communication options such as USB-UART, USB DEVICE, and CAN are also included, including the well-established mikroBUS™ standard, two display options (graphical and character-based LCD), and several different DIP sockets. These sockets cover a wide range of 8-bit PIC MCUs, from the smallest PIC MCU devices with only eight up to forty pins. EasyPIC v8 is an integral part of the Mikroe ecosystem for rapid development. Natively supported by Mikroe software tools, it covers many aspects of prototyping and development thanks to a considerable number of different Click boards™ (over a thousand boards), the number of which is growing every day.

EasyPIC v8 horizontal image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Architecture

PIC

MCU Memory (KB)

32

Silicon Vendor

Microchip

Pin count

28

RAM (Bytes)

3648

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

NC
NC
AN
NC
NC
RST
SPI Chip Select
RA5
CS
SPI Clock
RC3
SCK
SPI Data OUT
RC4
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
2

Take a closer look

Schematic

ADC 2 Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

EasyPIC v8 front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the EasyPIC v8 as your development board.

EasyPIC v8 front image hardware assembly
LTE IoT 5 Click front image hardware assembly
MCU DIP 28 hardware assembly
LTE IoT 5 Click complete accessories setup image hardware assembly
EasyPIC v8 28pin-DIP Access - upright/background hardware assembly
Necto image step 2 hardware assembly
Necto image step 3 hardware assembly
Necto image step 4 hardware assembly
NECTO Compiler Selection Step Image hardware assembly
NECTO Output Selection Step Image hardware assembly
Necto image step 6 hardware assembly
Necto DIP image step 7 hardware assembly
Necto image step 8 hardware assembly
Necto image step 9 hardware assembly
Necto image step 10 hardware assembly
Necto PreFlash Image hardware assembly

Track your results in real time

Application Output via UART Mode

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

2. After the programming is completed, click on the Tools icon in the upper-right panel, and select the UART Terminal.

3. After opening the UART Terminal tab, first check the baud rate setting in the Options menu (default is 115200). If this parameter is correct, activate the terminal by clicking the "CONNECT" button.

4. Now terminal status changes from Disconnected to Connected in green, and the data is displayed in the Received data field.

UART_Application_Output

Software Support

Library Description

This library contains API for ADC 2 Click driver.

Key functions:

  • adc2_adc_Value_Read - Function is used to read specific data from ADC convertor.

  • adc2_check_Over_Low - Function is used to check overflow low state.

  • adc2_check_Over_High - Function is used to check overflow high state.

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 Adc2 Click example
 * 
 * # Description
 * This application enables usage of the 22bit ADC.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * Initalizes SPI driver and makes an initial log.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 * This is an example that shows the capabilities of the ADC 2 click
 * 
 * 
 * \author MikroE Team
 *
 */
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "adc2.h"

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

static adc2_t adc2;
static log_t logger;

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

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;
    adc2_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.

    adc2_cfg_setup( &cfg );
    ADC2_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    adc2_init( &adc2, &cfg );

    Delay_ms( 100 );
    
    adc2_set_vref( &adc2, ADC2_VCC_3v3 );

    log_printf( &logger, "------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "    ADC 2 Click   \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "------------------\r\n" );
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    float adc_val;

    //  Task implementation.

    adc_val = adc2_read_adc_data( &adc2 );

    log_printf( &logger, "Value : %.2f mV\r\n", adc_val );
    
    if ( adc2.ovf_h )
        log_printf( &logger, "HIGH OVERFLOW DETECTED\r\n" );
    else if ( adc2.ovf_l )
        log_printf( &logger, "LOW OVERFLOW DETECTED\r\n" );
    
    log_printf( &logger, "------------------\r\n" );
    Delay_ms( 500 );
}

void main ( void )
{
    application_init( );

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


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

Additional Support

Resources

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