Upgrade your supply needs with TPS61391 and PIC18F57Q43
Unleash the Boost!
Published Feb 13, 2024
Click board™
Boost 3 Click
Dev Board
Curiosity Nano with PIC18F57Q43
Compiler
NECTO Studio
MCU
PIC18F57Q43
Add a boost converter to your solution today and enjoy seamless power management
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Hardware Overview
How does it work?
Boost 3 Click is based on the TPS61391, a 700-kHz pulse-width modulating (PWM) Step-Up converter with a 70V switch FET from Texas Instruments. It supports an input voltage of up to 5.5V and operates at a 700 kHz pulse-width modulation (PWM), crossing the whole load range. There are two ratio options for the current proportional to the APD current: MON1 (4:5) and MON2 (1:5). By connecting an additional RC filter for low ripple applications from the mirror output pins to the GND, the current flowing through the APD is converted into the voltage crossing the resistor from MON1/MON2 pins to GND. Additionally, high-power optical protection, with a response time typically of 0.5 μs, is integrated by clamping the pre-set current limit (programmed by the R6 resistor) and could recover automatically when the high optical power is removed. The output voltage of the TPS61391 is externally adjustable using a resistor divider network. The equation gives the relationship between the output voltage and the resistor divider: VOUT = ( VREF + 0.1V ) * ( 1 + ( VR1 + R8 ) / R9 ) [V], where VREF has a typical
value of 1.2V.When the potentiometer has a 0V value, the output voltage has its minimum value of 20V. Increasing the resistance of a potentiometer and reaching its maximum value of 500kΩ, the output voltage reaches its maximum value of 70V. The potentiometer featured on the Boost 3 Click can change the feedback, thus influencing a change in the output voltage. This feature makes the Click board™ extremely practical because you can get a wide voltage range with a simple potentiometer turn. Boost 3 Click communicates with MCU using only one GPIO pin routed on the CS pin of the mikroBUS™ socket labeled as EN. An under-voltage lockout (UVLO) circuit stops the operation of the converter when the input voltage drops below the typical UVLO threshold of 2.5 V. When the input voltage is above the maximal UVLO rising threshold of 2.5 V, and the EN pin is pulled above the high threshold (1.2V minimum), the TPS61391 is enabled. When the EN pin is pulled below the low threshold (0.4 maximum), the device goes into Shutdown Mode.
It also possesses the output terminal labeled APD used for biasing and monitoring the avalanche photodiodes (APD) and high optical power protection. This line has an additional FET in a series of power-path connecting with the APD output terminal. When the current flowing through the external APD exceeds the short protection threshold, set by connecting the resistor from R6 to the ground, the on-resistance of the internal FET becomes larger to clamp the current within the protection threshold by lowering the APD bias voltage. It typically takes 0.5μs for the FET to respond in case of high optical power occurring. When the high optical power condition is released, the TPS61391 recovers automatically back to Normal Operation Mode. This Click board™ can operate with either 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels selected via the VCC 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.
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.
Microcontroller Overview
MCU Card / MCU
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.
Used MCU Pins
mikroBUS™ mapper
Take a closer look
Schematic
Step by step
Project assembly
Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the Curiosity Nano with PIC18F57Q43 as your development board.
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.
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™.
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.
Software Support
Library Description
This library contains API for Boost 3 Click driver.
Key functions:
void boost3_dev_enable ( uint8_t state );- Function is used to enable or disable the device.
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 Boost 3 Click example
*
* # Description
* Boost 3 click provides an adjustable output voltage through the onboard
* potentiometer. The chip is a 700-kHz pulse-width modulating (PWM) step-up
* converter with an 85-V switch FET with an input ranging from 2.5 V to 5.5 V.
*
* The demo application is composed of two sections :
*
* ## Application Init
* Initializes GPIO and LOG structures, and set CS pin as output.
*
* ## Application Task
* Turns ON the device for 10 seconds and then turns it OFF for 3 seconds.
* It also displays appropriate messages on the USB UART.
*
* \author MikroE Team
*
*/
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES
#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "boost3.h"
// ------------------------------------------------------------------ VARIABLES
static boost3_t boost3;
static log_t logger;
// ------------------------------------------------------ APPLICATION FUNCTIONS
void application_init ( void )
{
log_cfg_t log_cfg;
boost3_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.
boost3_cfg_setup( &cfg );
BOOST3_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
boost3_init( &boost3, &cfg );
}
void application_task ( void )
{
boost3_dev_enable( &boost3, BOOST3_ENABLE );
log_printf( &logger, "The click board is enabled!\r\n" );
log_printf( &logger, "Please use the on-board potentiometer" );
log_printf( &logger, " to adjust the voltage output.\r\n" );
log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------------\r\n" );
Delay_ms ( 10000 );
boost3_dev_enable( &boost3, BOOST3_DISABLE );
log_printf( &logger, "The click board is turned OFF!\r\n" );
log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------------\r\n" );
Delay_ms ( 3000 );
}
void main ( void )
{
application_init( );
for ( ; ; )
{
application_task( );
}
}
// ------------------------------------------------------------------------ END
