Intermediate
30 min

Keep your data protected and secure with AT25FF321A and STM32F407VGT6

A flash that never fades!

Flash 10 Click with Clicker 4 for STM32F4

Published Dec 29, 2023

Click board™

Flash 10 Click

Dev Board

Clicker 4 for STM32F4

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

STM32F407VGT6

Keep data and information stored even when the power is off

A

A

Hardware Overview

How does it work?

Flash 10 Click is based on the AT25FF321A, a highly reliable serial Flash memory solution designed for use in various high-volume consumer and connected applications from Dialog Semiconductor. The AT25FF321A is organized as a 32Mbit (16x2 Mbit physical block) Flash memory ideally suited for systems where program code is shadowed from Flash memory into embedded or external RAM (code shadow) for execution and where small amounts of data are stored and updated locally in the Flash memory. The AT25FF321A specifies a minimum of 100.000 endurance cycles with data retention of a minimum of 20 years, allowing it to handle unlimited reads/writes to the memory. The AT25FF321A's erase block sizes are optimized to meet the needs of today's code and data storage applications, supporting flexible and optimized erase architecture for code and data storage

applications (4kB, 32kB, and 64kB block erase operations) and a full-chip erase feature. Optimizing the erase blocks' size can be the most efficient use of memory space. Also, the AT25FF321A contains four specialized 128-byte One-Time Programmable (OTP) security registers which can be used to store a unique device ID and locked key storage. Flash 10 Click communicates with MCU through a standard SPI interface supporting the two most common SPI modes, SPI Mode 0 and 3. Furthermore, this Click board™ provides additional hardware-controlled functions. The configurable Write Protection, marked as WP and routed on the PWM pin of the mikroBUS™ socket, protects all registers (including status and configuration) from write operations and must be held low to inhibit all the write operations to registers. When this pin is low, all memory and register write

operations are prohibited, and the address counter is not incremented. Also, it is possible to use the Reset or Hold function through the RST pin of the mikroBUS™ socket, depending on the state of the HOLD/RESET bit 7 in Status Register 3. In the case of the Hold function, this pin temporarily pauses serial communication without deselecting or resetting the device, while in the case of the Reset feature, a low logic level on the RST pin puts the AT25FF321A into a Reset state. This Click board™ can only be operated with a 3.3V 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.

Flash 10 Click top side image
Flash 10 Click lateral side image
Flash 10 Click bottom side image

Features overview

Development board

Clicker 4 for STM32F4 is a compact development board designed as a complete solution that you can use to quickly build your own gadgets with unique functionalities. Featuring an STM32F407VGT6 MCU, four mikroBUS™ sockets for Click boards™ connectivity, power management, and more, it represents a perfect solution for the rapid development of many different types of applications. At its core is an STM32F407VGT6 MCU, a powerful microcontroller by STMicroelectronics based on the high-performance

Arm® Cortex®-M4 32-bit processor core operating at up to 168 MHz frequency. It provides sufficient processing power for the most demanding tasks, allowing Clicker 4 to adapt to any specific application requirements. Besides two 1x20 pin headers, four improved mikroBUS™ sockets represent the most distinctive connectivity feature, allowing access to a huge base of Click boards™, growing on a daily basis. Each section of Clicker 4 is clearly marked, offering an intuitive and clean interface. This makes working with the

development board much simpler and, thus, faster. The usability of Clicker 4 doesn’t end with its ability to accelerate the prototyping and application development stages: it is designed as a complete solution that can be implemented directly into any project, with no additional hardware modifications required. Four mounting holes [4.2mm/0.165”] at all four corners allow simple installation by using mounting screws.

Clicker 4 for STM32F4 double image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Architecture

ARM Cortex-M4

MCU Memory (KB)

10

Silicon Vendor

STMicroelectronics

Pin count

100

RAM (Bytes)

100

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

NC
NC
AN
QSPI IO3 / Reset
PC15
RST
SPI Chip Select
PA4
CS
SPI Clock
PA5
SCK
QSPI IO1 / SPI Data OUT
PA6
MISO
QSPI IO0 / SPI Data IN
PA7
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
QSPI IO2 / Write Protection
PE9
PWM
NC
NC
INT
NC
NC
TX
NC
NC
RX
NC
NC
SCL
NC
NC
SDA
NC
NC
5V
Ground
GND
GND
1

Take a closer look

Schematic

Flash 10 Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

Clicker 4 for STM32F4 front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the Clicker 4 for STM32F4 as your development board.

Clicker 4 for STM32F4 front image hardware assembly
Rotary O 2 Click front image hardware assembly
Clicker 4 STM32F4 MB 1 - 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
Clicker 4 for STM32F4 HA 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

After loading the code example, pressing the "DEBUG" button builds and programs it on the selected setup.

Application Output Step 1

After programming is completed, a header with buttons for various actions available in the IDE appears. By clicking the green "PLAY "button, we start reading the results achieved with Click board™.

Application Output Step 3

Upon completion of programming, the Application Output tab is automatically opened, where the achieved result can be read. In case of an inability to perform the Debug function, check if a proper connection between the MCU used by the setup and the CODEGRIP programmer has been established. A detailed explanation of the CODEGRIP-board connection can be found in the CODEGRIP User Manual. Please find it in the RESOURCES section.

Application Output Step 4

Software Support

Library Description

This library contains API for Flash 10 Click driver.

Key functions:

  • flash10_erase_memory This function erases the selected amount of memory which contains the selected address.

  • flash10_memory_write This function writes a desired number of data bytes starting from the selected memory address.

  • flash10_memory_read This function reads a desired number of data bytes starting from the selected memory address.

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 main.c
 * @brief Flash 10 Click example
 *
 * # Description
 * This example demonstrates the use of Flash 10 click board by writing specified data to
 * the memory and reading it back.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 *
 * ## Application Init
 * Initializes the driver and checks the communication by reading and verifying the device ID.
 *
 * ## Application Task
 * Writes a desired number of bytes to the memory and then verifies if it is written correctly
 * by reading from the same memory location and displaying the memory content on the USB UART.
 * The whole 4KB block of memory that contains the STARTING_ADDRESS will be erased before writing data.
 *
 * @author Stefan Filipovic
 *
 */

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "flash10.h"

#define DEMO_TEXT_MESSAGE_1         "MIKROE"
#define DEMO_TEXT_MESSAGE_2         "Flash 10 click"
#define STARTING_ADDRESS            0x012345

static flash10_t flash10;
static log_t logger;

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;  /**< Logger config object. */
    flash10_cfg_t flash10_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.
    flash10_cfg_setup( &flash10_cfg );
    FLASH10_MAP_MIKROBUS( flash10_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    if ( SPI_MASTER_ERROR == flash10_init( &flash10, &flash10_cfg ) )
    {
        log_error( &logger, " Communication init." );
        for ( ; ; );
    }
    
    if ( FLASH10_ERROR == flash10_check_communication ( &flash10 ) )
    {
        log_error( &logger, " Check communication." );
        for ( ; ; );
    }

    log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    uint8_t data_buf[ 128 ] = { 0 };
    log_printf ( &logger, " Memory address: 0x%.6LX\r\n", ( uint32_t ) STARTING_ADDRESS );
    if ( FLASH10_OK == flash10_erase_memory ( &flash10, FLASH10_CMD_BLOCK_ERASE_4KB, STARTING_ADDRESS ) )
    {
        log_printf ( &logger, " Erase memory block (4KB)\r\n" );
    }
    memcpy ( data_buf, DEMO_TEXT_MESSAGE_1, strlen ( DEMO_TEXT_MESSAGE_1 ) );
    if ( FLASH10_OK == flash10_memory_write ( &flash10, STARTING_ADDRESS, 
                                              data_buf, sizeof ( data_buf ) ) )
    {
        log_printf ( &logger, " Write data: %s\r\n", data_buf );
        Delay_ms ( 100 );
    }
    memset ( data_buf, 0, sizeof ( data_buf ) );
    if ( FLASH10_OK == flash10_memory_read ( &flash10, STARTING_ADDRESS, 
                                             data_buf, sizeof ( data_buf ) ) )
    {
        log_printf ( &logger, " Read data: %s\r\n\n", data_buf );
        Delay_ms ( 3000 );
    }
    log_printf ( &logger, " Memory address: 0x%.6LX\r\n", ( uint32_t ) STARTING_ADDRESS );
    if ( FLASH10_OK == flash10_erase_memory ( &flash10, FLASH10_CMD_BLOCK_ERASE_4KB, STARTING_ADDRESS ) )
    {
        log_printf ( &logger, " Erase memory block (4KB)\r\n" );
    }
    memcpy ( data_buf, DEMO_TEXT_MESSAGE_2, strlen ( DEMO_TEXT_MESSAGE_2 ) );
    if ( FLASH10_OK == flash10_memory_write ( &flash10, STARTING_ADDRESS, 
                                              data_buf, sizeof ( data_buf ) ) )
    {
        log_printf ( &logger, " Write data: %s\r\n", data_buf );
        Delay_ms ( 100 );
    }
    memset ( data_buf, 0, sizeof ( data_buf ) );
    if ( FLASH10_OK == flash10_memory_read ( &flash10, STARTING_ADDRESS, 
                                             data_buf, sizeof ( data_buf ) ) )
    {
        log_printf ( &logger, " Read data: %s\r\n\n", data_buf );
        Delay_ms ( 3000 );
    }
}

void main ( void )
{
    application_init( );

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

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

Additional Support

Resources