Beginner
10 min

Explore how GP2Y0A60SZ0F and PIC18F57Q43 takes distance measurement to a new heights

Seeing with infrared eyes

IR Distance Click with Curiosity Nano with PIC18F57Q43

Published Feb 13, 2024

Click board™

IR Distance Click

Dev Board

Curiosity Nano with PIC18F57Q43

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

PIC18F57Q43

Simplify distance measurement challenges with infrared sensors, paving the way for smarter, more efficient systems across industries

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

IR Distance Click is based on the GP2Y0A60SZ0F, a distance-measuring sensor unit from Sharp. The sensor provides a voltage corresponding to the detection distance, which is why it can also be used as a proximity sensor. The triangulation method of measuring the distance means the determination of the location of an object by forming triangles to the point of known points. In the case of the GP2Y0A60SZ0F, the IR LED emits a narrow light beam and, after reflecting from an object, is directed to the sensor lens of the PSD. Depending on the object, the angle of the reflected light will be different. The conductivity

of the PSD depends on the position where the reflected beam falls and is afterward converted to voltage, where the distance can be calculated using an analog-digital converter. The IR Distance Click communicates with the host MCU by sending analog values over the OUT pin of the mikroBUS™ socket. The OUT pin provides information to the MCU about the presence of an object and its distance, where the output of the distance sensor is inversely proportional, meaning that when the distance grows, the output decreases. The main control pin of the sensor can be accessed over the EN pin of the mikroBUS™

socket, thus enabling the sensor to work. This Click board™ can operate with either 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels selected via the PWR SEL jumpers. This way, both 3.3V and 5V capable MCUs can use the communication lines properly. Note that all the jumpers' positions must be on the same side, or the Click board™ may become unresponsive. 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.

IR Distance Click hardware overview 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

Distance Measurement Value
PA0
AN
Enable
PA7
RST
NC
NC
CS
NC
NC
SCK
NC
NC
MISO
NC
NC
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
NC
NC
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

IR Distance 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 IR Distance Click driver.

Key functions:

  • irdistance_enable - This function enable distance measuring sensor

  • irdistance_read_adc - This function reads ADC data using analog_in_read function

  • irdistance_get_voltage_out - This function calculate the voltage output of distance measuring sensor

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 IR distance Click example
 * 
 * # Description
 * The click board outputs an analog voltage corresponding to the distance of the object 
 * (through the mikroBUS AN pin). An Enable (EN) pin is also utilized.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * Initialization driver enables GPIO, enable IR sensor, initialization ADC, also write log.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 * This is an example which demonstrates the use of IR Distance click board.
 * IR Distance click reads and displays ADC value.
 * Results are being sent to the Usart Terminal where you can track their changes.
 * All data logs on USB uart change for every 1 sec.
 * 
 * 
 * \author MikroE Team
 *
 */
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "irdistance.h"

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

static irdistance_t irdistance;
static log_t logger;

static uint16_t adc_val;
static float voltage_val;

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

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;
    irdistance_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.

    irdistance_cfg_setup( &cfg );
    IRDISTANCE_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    if ( irdistance_init( &irdistance, &cfg ) == ADC_ERROR )
    {
        log_info( &logger, "---- Application Init Error ----" );
        log_info( &logger, "---- Please, run program again ----" );

        for ( ; ; );
    }
    irdistance_enable_device( &irdistance );
    log_info( &logger, "---- Application Init Done ----\r\n" );

    voltage_val = 0;
    adc_val = 0;
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    if ( irdistance_read_adc( &irdistance, &adc_val ) != ADC_ERROR )
    {
        log_printf( &logger, " ADC value on the pin : %u\r\n", adc_val );
    }

    if ( irdistance_get_pin_voltage( &irdistance, &voltage_val ) != ADC_ERROR )
    {
        log_printf( &logger, " Voltage value on the pin : %.2f\r\n", voltage_val );
    }

    log_printf( &logger, "------------------------------\r\n" );
    Delay_ms( 1000 );
}

void main ( void )
{
    application_init( );

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


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

Additional Support

Resources

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