Intermediate
30 min

Transform your message with captivating numbers and letters using 160100-71 and PIC18F57Q43

RGB 7-segment display: Where numbers come to life

7-SEG RGB Click with Curiosity Nano with PIC18F57Q43

Published Feb 13, 2024

Click board™

7-SEG RGB Click

Development board

Curiosity Nano with PIC18F57Q43

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

PIC18F57Q43

Our full-color RGB 7-segment digit display is engineered to provide a vibrant and dynamic visual experience, enabling you to express your creativity and showcase information with dazzling, customizable colors

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

7-SEG RGB Click is based on the 160100-71, a full-color single 7-segment digit display from Elektor. The click is designed to run on either 3.3V or 5V power supply. It communicates with the target microcontroller over the CS, and PWM pin on the mikroBUS™ line. The click can be connected in a chain, in order to display a larger number of characters. Unlike with conventional 7

segment displays, you will be able to use multiple colors on the display. Each segment has R, G, B LEDs that can be adjusted in 255 steps and therefore 16,581,375 color combinations are available for each segment of the digit on the display. Also, the ability to control the brightness of all the LED's is driven at 255 steps. It should be noted that the brightness values above 80 should

rarely be used. This Click board™ can operate with either 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels selected via the LOGIC 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.

7-SEG RGB Click top side image
7-SEG RGB Click bottom side image

Features overview

Development board

PIC18F57Q43 Curiosity Nano evaluation kit is a cutting-edge hardware platform designed to evaluate microcontrollers within the PIC18-Q43 family. Central to its design is the inclusion of the powerful PIC18F57Q43 microcontroller (MCU), offering advanced functionalities and robust performance. Key features of this evaluation kit include a yellow user LED and a responsive

mechanical user switch, providing seamless interaction and testing. The provision for a 32.768kHz crystal footprint ensures precision timing capabilities. With an onboard debugger boasting a green power and status LED, programming and debugging become intuitive and efficient. Further enhancing its utility is the Virtual serial port (CDC) and a debug GPIO channel (DGI

GPIO), offering extensive connectivity options. Powered via USB, this kit boasts an adjustable target voltage feature facilitated by the MIC5353 LDO regulator, ensuring stable operation with an output voltage ranging from 1.8V to 5.1V, with a maximum output current of 500mA, subject to ambient temperature and voltage constraints.

PIC18F57Q43 Curiosity Nano double side image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Architecture

PIC

MCU Memory (KB)

128

Silicon Vendor

Microchip

Pin count

48

RAM (Bytes)

8196

You complete me!

Accessories

Curiosity Nano Base for Click boards is a versatile hardware extension platform created to streamline the integration between Curiosity Nano kits and extension boards, tailored explicitly for the mikroBUS™-standardized Click boards and Xplained Pro extension boards. This innovative base board (shield) offers seamless connectivity and expansion possibilities, simplifying experimentation and development. Key features include USB power compatibility from the Curiosity Nano kit, alongside an alternative external power input option for enhanced flexibility. The onboard Li-Ion/LiPo charger and management circuit ensure smooth operation for battery-powered applications, simplifying usage and management. Moreover, the base incorporates a fixed 3.3V PSU dedicated to target and mikroBUS™ power rails, alongside a fixed 5.0V boost converter catering to 5V power rails of mikroBUS™ sockets, providing stable power delivery for various connected devices.

Curiosity Nano Base for Click boards accessories 1 image

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

NC
NC
AN
NC
NC
RST
Write Enable
PD4
CS
NC
NC
SCK
NC
NC
MISO
NC
NC
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
Data Input
PB0
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

7-SEG RGB Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

Curiosity Nano Base for Click boards front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the Curiosity Nano with PIC18F57Q43 as your development board.

Curiosity Nano Base for Click boards front image hardware assembly
Barometer 13 Click front image hardware assembly
PIC18F57Q43 Curiosity Nano front image hardware assembly
Prog-cut hardware assembly
Curiosity Nano with PICXXX 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
PIC18F57Q43 Curiosity 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 7-SEG RGB Click driver.

Key functions:

  • c7segrgb_set_num - The function sets character and its color

  • c7segrgb_set_seven_seg - The function sets the state and color of every segment from click board object segment array data

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 7-SEG RGB Click example
 * 
 * # Description
 * This click shows all ten digits on a full-color single 7 segment digit display. 
 * Each segment has R, G, B LEDs that can be adjusted in 255 steps and 
 * the ability to control the brightness of all the LED.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * Initialization driver enables - GPIO.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 * This is an example which demonstrates the use of 7-SEG RGB Click board.
 * This simple example shows all ten digits in different colors on 7-SEG RGB click.
 * 
 * *note:* 
 * <pre>
 * Additional Functions :
 * void logic_one ( )  - Generic logic one function.
 * void logic_zero ( ) - Generic logic zero function.
 * </pre>
 * 
 * - segments layout
 *       _0_
 *     5|   |1
 *      |_6_|
 *     4|   |2
 *      |_3_|.7
 * 
 * Timeing sequence chart:
 *          -----------|     T0L
 *              T0H    |______________
 * Logic 0: 
 *          T0H ~ 250-550ns
 *          T0L ~ 700-1000ns
 * 
 *          -----------|     T1L
 *              T1H    |______________
 * Logic 1: 
 *          T1H ~ 700-1000ns
 *          T1L ~ 250-550ns
 * 
 * \author MikroE Team
 *
 */
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "c7segrgb.h"

#ifdef __MIKROC_AI_FOR_ARM__

#ifdef __STM32__/*< STM32F407ZG*/

#define D_S    3
#define D_L    9

#define DELAY_SHORT \
    Delay_Cyc( D_S );
    
#define DELAY_LONG \
    Delay_Cyc( D_L );
    
#elif __KINETIS__/*< MKV58F1M0VLQ24*/
    
#define D_S    2
#define D_L    11

#define DELAY_SHORT \
    Delay_Cyc( D_S );
    
#define DELAY_LONG \
    Delay_Cyc( D_L );
    
#endif

#elif __MIKROC_AI_FOR_PIC32__ /*< PIC32MZ2048EFH144 */

#define D_L    4
    
#define DELAY_SHORT \
    asm nop
    
#define DELAY_LONG \
    Delay_Cyc( D_L );
#endif
    
/*< You need to define long and short delay */
#if !defined(DELAY_SHORT) && !defined(DELAY_LONG)

#define DELAY_SHORT     
#define DELAY_LONG 

#endif



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

static c7segrgb_t c7segrgb;
static log_t logger;

static uint8_t CHARACTER_TABLE[ 10 ] = 
{
    0x3F, // '0'
    0x06, // '1'    _a_
    0x5B, // '2'  f|   |b
    0x4F, // '3'   |_g_|
    0x66, // '4'  e|   |c
    0x6D, // '5'   |_d_|.dp
    0x7D, // '6'
    0x07, // '7'
    0x7F, // '8'
    0x6F  // '9'
};
                                       
static c7segrgb_segment_t segments_data[ 8 ] = {
    { true , 40, 0, 0},
    { true , 0, 40, 0},
    { true , 0, 0, 40},
    { true , 10, 40, 40},
    { true , 40, 10, 40},
    { true , 40, 40, 10},
    { true , 10, 20, 30},
    { true , 30, 20, 10}
};

// ------------------------------------------------------- ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS

void logic_one ( void )
{
    digital_out_high( &c7segrgb.pwm );
    DELAY_LONG;
    
    digital_out_low( &c7segrgb.pwm);
    DELAY_SHORT;
}

void logic_zero ( void )
{
    digital_out_high( &c7segrgb.pwm );
    DELAY_SHORT;
    
    digital_out_low( &c7segrgb.pwm);
    DELAY_LONG;
}

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

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;
    c7segrgb_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.


    c7segrgb_cfg_setup( &cfg );
    cfg.logic_one = &logic_one;
    cfg.logic_zero = &logic_zero;
    C7SEGRGB_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    c7segrgb_init( &c7segrgb, &cfg );
    
    for ( uint8_t cnt = 0; cnt < 8; cnt++ )
    {
        c7segrgb.segments[ cnt ] = segments_data[ cnt ];
    }
    c7segrgb_set_seven_seg( &c7segrgb );
    Delay_ms( 3000 );
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    uint8_t cnt_i;
    uint8_t cnt_j;
    
    for ( cnt_i = 0; cnt_i < 10; cnt_i++ )
    {
        for ( cnt_j = 10; cnt_j > 0; cnt_j-- )
        {
            c7segrgb_set_num( &c7segrgb, CHARACTER_TABLE[ cnt_i ], 4 * cnt_i, 4 * cnt_j, cnt_i * cnt_j );
            Delay_ms( 100 );
        }
    }
    
    c7segrgb_set_num( &c7segrgb, C7SEGRGB_POINT, 10, 10, 10 );
    Delay_ms( 1000 );
    
    c7segrgb_set_num( &c7segrgb, C7SEGRGB_ZERO, 40, 40, 40 );
    Delay_ms( 1000 );

    c7segrgb_set_num( &c7segrgb, C7SEGRGB_ONE, 40, 0, 0 );
    Delay_ms( 1000 );

    c7segrgb_set_num( &c7segrgb, C7SEGRGB_TWO, 0, 40, 0 );
    Delay_ms( 1000 );

    c7segrgb_set_num( &c7segrgb, C7SEGRGB_THREE, 0, 0, 40 );
    Delay_ms( 1000 );

    c7segrgb_set_num( &c7segrgb, C7SEGRGB_FOUR, 40, 0, 40 );
    Delay_ms( 1000 );

    c7segrgb_set_num( &c7segrgb, C7SEGRGB_FIVE, 0, 40, 40 );
    Delay_ms( 1000 );

    c7segrgb_set_num( &c7segrgb, C7SEGRGB_SIX, 40, 40, 0 );
    Delay_ms( 1000 );

    c7segrgb_set_num( &c7segrgb, C7SEGRGB_SEVEN, 20, 30, 40 );
    Delay_ms( 1000 );

    c7segrgb_set_num( &c7segrgb, C7SEGRGB_EIGHT, 40, 15, 31 );
    Delay_ms( 1000 );

    c7segrgb_set_num( &c7segrgb, C7SEGRGB_NINE, 20, 10, 30 );
    Delay_ms( 1000 );
     
    c7segrgb_pwm_low( &c7segrgb );
}

void main ( void )
{
    application_init( );

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


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

Additional Support

Resources