Experience a seamless expansion of I/O pins with TPIC6A595 and PIC18F57Q43
Expand, Connect, Innovate!
Published Feb 13, 2024
Click board™
EXPAND 4 Click
Dev Board
Curiosity Nano with PIC18F57Q43
Compiler
NECTO Studio
MCU
PIC18F57Q43
Unlock new levels of connectivity and control as our port expander technology provides you with the tools to expand your I/O capabilities, effortlessly manage data flow, and improve the efficiency of your electronic systems
A
A
Hardware Overview
How does it work?
Expand 4 Click is based on the TPIC6A595, a monolithic, high-voltage, high-current power logic 8-bit shift register from Texas Instruments. The TPIC6A595 contains a built-in voltage clamp on the outputs for inductive transient protection. Each output is a low-side, open-drain DMOS transistor with output ratings of 50V and a 350mA continuous sink current capability, featuring an independent chopping current-limiting circuit to prevent damage in the case of a short circuit. This Click board™ is designed for use in systems that require relatively high load power, such as relays, solenoids, and other medium-current or high-voltage loads. This TPIC6A595 contains an 8-bit serial-in, parallel-out shift register that feeds an 8-bit, D-type storage register. Data transfers through the shift and storage register on the rising edge
of the shift register clock (SPI clock pin on the mikroBUS™ socket) and the register clock (CS clock pin on the mikroBUS™ socket), respectively. The storage register transfers data to the output buffer when the shift register clear pin is set to a high logic state. This function can be done via the existing CLR jumper by placing it in the appropriate VCC or CLR position. In this way, it is possible to permanently bind this function so that the storage register always transfers data to the output buffer by setting the jumper to the VCC position or controlled digitally by setting the jumper to the CLR position. This way, controlling the shift-register-clear via the RST pin of the mikroBUS™ socket marked as CLR is possible. The input shift register is cleared when CLR is in a low logic state. In the same way, it is possible to
manage the outputs of the port expander, eight pins above the mikroBUS™ socket (D0-D7), using EN jumper, more precisely define the output management mode, constantly ON or digital control over them through PWM pin of the mikroBUS™ socket marked as EN. When the EN pin is held in a high logic state, all data in the output buffers is kept low, and all drain outputs are OFF. When EN is LOW, data from the storage register is transparent to the output buffers. This Click board™ can be operated only with a 5V logic voltage level. The board must perform appropriate logic voltage level conversion before using MCUs with different logic levels. Also, it comes equipped with a library containing 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 EXPAND 4 Click driver.
Key functions:
expand4_write_data- Function write 8-bit data function to TPIC6A595 shift registerexpand4_enable_output- Function turn on output buffers - set PWM pin lowexpand4_reset- Function clear input TPIC6A595 shift register.
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 Expand4 Click example
*
* # Description
* Example demonstrates use of Expand 4 Click board.
*
* The demo application is composed of two sections :
*
* ## Application Init
* Initialization driver enable's - Clear TPIC6A595 register and start write log.
*
* ## Application Task
* This is a example which demonstrates the use of Expand 4 Click board.
* In this example, the LED pin mask is transferred via SPI bus,
* LEDs connected to D0-D7 pins are lit accordingly by turning ON LEDs from D0 to D7 for 3 sec.
* Results are being sent to the Usart Terminal where you can track their changes.
* All data logs on usb uart for aproximetly every 3 sec. when the change pin who is connected.
*
*
* \author MikroE Team
*
*/
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES
#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "expand4.h"
// ------------------------------------------------------------------ VARIABLES
static expand4_t expand4;
static log_t logger;
// ------------------------------------------------------ APPLICATION FUNCTIONS
void application_init ( void )
{
log_cfg_t log_cfg;
expand4_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.
expand4_cfg_setup( &cfg );
EXPAND4_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
expand4_init( &expand4, &cfg );
expand4_reset( &expand4 );
}
void application_task ( void )
{
uint8_t pin_position;
for ( pin_position = 0; pin_position < 8; pin_position++ )
{
expand4_disable_output( &expand4 );
Delay_ms( 100 );
expand4_turn_on_by_position( &expand4, pin_position );
Delay_ms( 100 );
log_printf( &logger, " D%d", pin_position );
expand4_enable_output( &expand4 );
Delay_ms( 3000 );
}
log_printf( &logger, "\n----------------------------------\n");
}
void main ( void )
{
application_init( );
for ( ; ; )
{
application_task( );
}
}
// ------------------------------------------------------------------------ END
