Unleashing the agility of DC motors with L99UDL01 and PIC18F57Q43
Motor control made brilliantly simple
Published Feb 13, 2024
Click board™
H-Bridge 9 Click
Dev. board
Curiosity Nano with PIC18F57Q43
Compiler
NECTO Studio
MCU
PIC18F57Q43
Revolutionize your engineering project with tailored motor control solutions; unleash more than one DC motor with this solution!
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Hardware Overview
How does it work?
H-Bridge 9 Click is based on the L99UDL01, a half-bridge driver PWM configurable and current-regulated from STMicroelectronics. The device contains six MOSFET half-bridge outputs and protection and diagnostic functions designed to improve safety and simplify the design. As a complete solution, this Click board™ replaces several separate motor drivers along with their associated analog and passive components, offering at the same time a more sophisticated functionality. The L99UDL01 can enter four different operating modes to control the working sequence: Normal mode, Sleep mode, Emergency override mode, and Standby mode as its default operation. In the Sleep mode, no-active circuitry is supplied, where logic is initialized but not operational. There is no function present in either mode to minimize the current consumption. Only wake-up circuitry is active in the Standby mode. Also, an emergency mode represents a crash override mechanism that will interrupt any current actuation command in progress and drive outputs
according to the programmed values in the command and configuration registers. Benefits are further enhanced by PWM control of the output current and sophisticated diagnostic functions that detect over-currents, line breaks, and short circuits to the battery and ground. The load-integrity tests can also be performed without activating the load. Also, programmable current limiting allows users to reduce the load, thereby increasing reliability. The output MOSFETs are fully protected with low RDS(ON) values, increasing energy efficiency and facilitating thermal management. The L99UDL01 communicates with MCU using the standard SPI serial interface with a maximum frequency of 4MHz, supporting the most common SPI mode, SPI Mode 0. It also features an interrupt function labeled as DO and routed to the INT pin of the mikroBUS™ socket that provides the host processor with a real-time fault indication. Besides an interrupt pin, Enable pin labeled as ENO and routed to the PWM pin of the mikroBUS™ socket enables the output
functionality while held high and turns off the outputs when kept low. This pin can also be used to initiate an output timed actuation, based on programmed parameters, on a rising edge. The H-Bridge 9 Click supports an external power supply for the L99UDL01, which can be connected to the input terminal labeled as VS and should be within the range of 6V to 18V, while the DC motor coils can be connected to the terminals labeled from O1 to O6. These outputs are configured as switching drivers incorporating active re-circulation to minimize power dissipation. It also has over-current protection, under-current detection, and OFF-state diagnostics. 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.
DC Gear Motor - 430RPM (3-6V) represents an all-in-one combination of a motor and gearbox, where the addition of gear leads to a reduction of motor speed while increasing the torque output. This gear motor has a spur gearbox, making it a highly reliable solution for applications with lower torque and speed requirements. The most critical parameters for gear motors are speed, torque, and efficiency, which are, in this case, 520RPM with no load and 430RPM at maximum efficiency, alongside a current of 60mA and a torque of 50g.cm. Rated for a 3-6V operational voltage range and clockwise/counterclockwise rotation direction, this motor represents an excellent solution for many functions initially performed by brushed DC motors in robotics, medical equipment, electric door locks, and much more.
Used MCU Pins
mikroBUS™ mapper
Take a closer look
Click board™ 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
1. Application Output - In Debug mode, the 'Application Output' window enables real-time data monitoring, offering direct insight into execution results. Ensure proper data display by configuring the environment correctly using the provided tutorial.
2. UART Terminal - Use the UART Terminal to monitor data transmission via a USB to UART converter, allowing direct communication between the Click board™ and your development system. Configure the baud rate and other serial settings according to your project's requirements to ensure proper functionality. For step-by-step setup instructions, refer to the provided tutorial.
3. Plot Output - The Plot feature offers a powerful way to visualize real-time sensor data, enabling trend analysis, debugging, and comparison of multiple data points. To set it up correctly, follow the provided tutorial, which includes a step-by-step example of using the Plot feature to display Click board™ readings. To use the Plot feature in your code, use the function: plot(*insert_graph_name*, variable_name);. This is a general format, and it is up to the user to replace 'insert_graph_name' with the actual graph name and 'variable_name' with the parameter to be displayed.
Software Support
Library Description
This library contains API for H-Bridge 9 Click driver.
Key functions:
hbridge9_write_register- This function writes a desired data to the selected registerhbridge9_read_register- This function reads a desired data from the selected registerhbridge9_send_actuation_pulse- This function sends an actuation pulse by toggling the ENO pin
Open Source
Code example
The complete application code and a ready-to-use project are available through the NECTO Studio Package Manager for direct installation in the NECTO Studio. The application code can also be found on the MIKROE GitHub account.
/*!
* @file main.c
* @brief HBridge9 Click example
*
* # Description
* This example demonstrates the use of H-Bridge 9 Click board.
*
* The demo application is composed of two sections :
*
* ## Application Init
* Initializes the driver and performs the Click default configuration which will
* set the OUT1 to LOW, OUT2 to HIGH polarity, and the runtime to 1000ms.
*
* ## Application Task
* Sends an actuation pulse every 5 seconds which will run the motor for a certain amount of time
* as set by default configuration.
*
* @note
* The Voltage should be supplied with 6 to 18V power supply.
* Make sure to use a motor that operates in the above voltage range.
*
* @author Stefan Filipovic
*
*/
#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "hbridge9.h"
static hbridge9_t hbridge9;
static log_t logger;
void application_init ( void )
{
log_cfg_t log_cfg; /**< Logger config object. */
hbridge9_cfg_t hbridge9_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.
hbridge9_cfg_setup( &hbridge9_cfg );
HBRIDGE9_MAP_MIKROBUS( hbridge9_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
err_t init_flag = hbridge9_init( &hbridge9, &hbridge9_cfg );
if ( SPI_MASTER_ERROR == init_flag )
{
log_error( &logger, " Application Init Error. " );
log_info( &logger, " Please, run program again... " );
for ( ; ; );
}
init_flag = hbridge9_default_cfg ( &hbridge9 );
if ( HBRIDGE9_ERROR == init_flag )
{
log_error( &logger, " Default Config Error. " );
log_info( &logger, " Please, run program again... " );
for ( ; ; );
}
log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
}
void application_task ( void )
{
hbridge9_send_actuation_pulse( &hbridge9 );
log_printf( &logger, " Actuation pulse has been sent. \r\n\n" );
Delay_ms ( 1000 );
Delay_ms ( 1000 );
Delay_ms ( 1000 );
Delay_ms ( 1000 );
Delay_ms ( 1000 );
}
int main ( void )
{
/* Do not remove this line or clock might not be set correctly. */
#ifdef PREINIT_SUPPORTED
preinit();
#endif
application_init( );
for ( ; ; )
{
application_task( );
}
return 0;
}
// ------------------------------------------------------------------------ END
