Intermediate
30 min

Achieve the perfect balance of speed, efficiency, and data density with MB85AS8MT and PIC18F57Q43

Say goodbye to lag with ReRAM's lightning-fast speed

ReRAM 2 Click with Curiosity Nano with PIC18F57Q43

Published Feb 13, 2024

Click board™

ReRAM 2 Click

Dev. board

Curiosity Nano with PIC18F57Q43

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

PIC18F57Q43

Enhance your data storage capabilities with ReRAM, the innovative solution that's redefining how we store and access information

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

ReRAM 2 Click is based on the MB85AS8MT, a highly reliable 8Mbit resistive random-access memory (ReRAM) organized as 1,048,576 words of 8 bits from Fujitsu Semiconductor. It uses the resistance-variable memory process and silicon-gate CMOS process technologies to form nonvolatile memory cells. The MB85AS8MT specifies 1.000.000 endurance cycles with data retention of a minimum of 10 years, which gives the MB85AS8MT the capability to handle unlimited reads/writes to the memory. One prominent feature of the MB85AS8MT is an extremely small average current, despite its large density, for reading operations of 0.15mA at an operating frequency of 5MHz, which is only 5% of

large-density EEPROM devices. This feature enables minimal power consumption when in applications with frequent data-read operations. Besides higher write endurance, it has faster write speeds than EEPROM and flash memory, while its electric specifications, such as commands and timings, are compatible with EEPROM products. The ReRAM 2 Click communicates with MCU through a standard SPI interface that enables high clock speeds up to 10MHz, supporting the two most common SPI modes, SPI Mode 0 and 3. An additional feature of this Click board™ represents the configurable Write Protection function labeled as WP routed on the PWM pin of the mikroBUS™ socket. The WP pin protects the entire memory

and all registers from write operations and must be set to a low logic state to inhibit all the write operations. All memory and register write are prohibited when this pin is low, and the address counter is not incremented. Besides, the ReRAM 2 Click also has an additional HOLD pin, routed to the RST pin of the mikroBUS™ socket labeled as HO, to interrupt a serial operation without aborting it. This Click board™ can be operated only with a 3.3V 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.

ReRAM 2 Click top side image
ReRAM 2 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
Data Transfer Pause
PA7
RST
SPI Chip Select
PD4
CS
SPI Clock
PC6
SCK
SPI Data OUT
PC5
MISO
SPI Data IN
PC4
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
Write Protection
PB0
PWM
NC
NC
INT
NC
NC
TX
NC
NC
RX
NC
NC
SCL
NC
NC
SDA
NC
NC
5V
Ground
GND
GND
1

Take a closer look

Click board™ Schematic

ReRAM 2 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
Charger 27 Click front image hardware assembly
PIC18F47Q10 Curiosity Nano front image hardware assembly
Prog-cut hardware assembly
Board mapper by product8 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

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 ReRAM 2 Click driver.

Key functions:

  • reram2_read_device_id - ReRAM 2 read device ID function.

  • reram2_write_memory - ReRAM 2 write memory function.

  • reram2_read_memory - ReRAM 2 read memory function.

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 ReRAM2 Click example
 *
 * # Description
 * This library contains API for ReRAM 2 Click driver.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 *
 * ## Application Init
 * Initializes SPI driver and log UART.
 * After driver initialization the app set default settings, 
 * performs device wake-up, check Device ID,
 * set Write Enable Latch command and write demo_data string ( mikroE ), 
 * starting from the selected memory_addr ( 1234 ).
 *
 * ## Application Task
 * This is an example that demonstrates the use of the ReRAM 2 Click board™.
 * In this example, we read and display a data string, which we have previously written to memory, 
 * starting from the selected memory_addr ( 1234 ).
 * Results are being sent to the Usart Terminal where you can track their changes.
 *
 * @author Nenad Filipovic
 *
 */

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "reram2.h"

static reram2_t reram2;
static log_t logger;
static char demo_data[ 9 ] = { 'm', 'i', 'k', 'r', 'o', 'E', 13 ,10 , 0 };
static uint32_t memory_addr;

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;        /**< Logger config object. */
    reram2_cfg_t reram2_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.
    reram2_cfg_setup( &reram2_cfg );
    RERAM2_MAP_MIKROBUS( reram2_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    if ( SPI_MASTER_ERROR == reram2_init( &reram2, &reram2_cfg ) )
    {
        log_error( &logger, " Communication init." );
        for ( ; ; );
    }
    
    if ( RERAM2_ERROR == reram2_default_cfg ( &reram2 ) )
    {
        log_error( &logger, " Default configuration." );
        for ( ; ; );
    }
    
    reram2_wake_up( &reram2 );
    Delay_ms( 100 );
    
    if ( RERAM2_ERROR == reram2_check_device_id( &reram2 ) )
    {
        log_error( &logger, " Communication Error. " );
        log_info( &logger, " Please, run program again... " );
        for( ; ; );
    }

    reram2_send_command( &reram2, RERAM2_CMD_WREN );
    Delay_ms( 100 );
    
    log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
    
    memory_addr = 1234;   
    log_printf( &logger, "\r\n  Write data : %s", demo_data );
    reram2_write_memory( &reram2, memory_addr, &demo_data[ 0 ], 9 );
    log_printf( &logger, "-----------------------\r\n" );
    Delay_ms( 1000 );
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    static char rx_data[ 9 ] = { 0 };
    
    reram2_read_memory( &reram2, memory_addr, &rx_data[ 0 ], 9 );
    log_printf( &logger, "  Read data  : %s", rx_data ); 
    log_printf( &logger, "-----------------------\r\n" );
    Delay_ms( 2000 );
}

void main ( void )
{
    application_init( );

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

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

Additional Support

Resources

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