Beginner
10 min

Step into the world of digital data with MCP3551 and ATmega328

Where analog meets digital

ADC 2 Click with Arduino UNO Rev3

Published Feb 14, 2024

Click board™

ADC 2 Click

Dev Board

Arduino UNO Rev3

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

ATmega328

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

ADC 2 Click is based on the MCP3551, a 22-bit precise single-channel ΔΣ analog-to-digital converter from Microchip. The MCP3551 includes fully differential analog input on a VIN terminal, a third-order delta-sigma modulator, a fourth-order modified SINC decimation filter (allows superior averaging performance), an on-chip, low-noise internal oscillator, a power supply monitoring circuit, and an SPI digital interface. It can be easily used to measure low-frequency, low-level signals such as those found in pressure transducers, temperature, strain gauges, industrial control, or process control applications. This Click board™ communicates with MCU through a 3-Wire SPI interface (read-only) with a maximum frequency of 5MHz. The interface offers two conversion modes: A single Conversion mode for multiplexed

applications and a Continuous Conversion mode for multiple conversions in series, where every conversion is independent of each other (all internal registers are flushed between conversions). When the MCP3551 is not converting, it automatically goes into Shutdown mode, characterized by low power consumption. The MCP3551 provides single-cycle conversions with no digital filter settling time. Every conversion includes an internal offset and gain auto-calibration to reduce device error, which is transparent to the user and done in real-time during the conversion, allowing multiplexed applications. Like any ADC, the MCP3551 uses a reference voltage as the differential voltage range. The reference voltage level selection is performed by positioning the SMD jumper labeled as VREF

SEL to an appropriate position choosing between 3.3V or 5V provided by the mikroBUS™ power rails or 4.096V provided by MCP1541. These voltages may be used as the reference input that results in accuracy and stability. Besides, the ADC 2 Click supports an external power supply for the MCP3551, which can be connected to the input terminal labeled as VCC OUT and should be within the range of 2.7V to 5.5V. This Click board™ can operate with either 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels selected via the PWR 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.

ADC 2 Click hardware overview image

Features overview

Development board

Arduino UNO is a versatile microcontroller board built around the ATmega328P chip. It offers extensive connectivity options for various projects, featuring 14 digital input/output pins, six of which are PWM-capable, along with six analog inputs. Its core components include a 16MHz ceramic resonator, a USB connection, a power jack, an

ICSP header, and a reset button, providing everything necessary to power and program the board. The Uno is ready to go, whether connected to a computer via USB or powered by an AC-to-DC adapter or battery. As the first USB Arduino board, it serves as the benchmark for the Arduino platform, with "Uno" symbolizing its status as the

first in a series. This name choice, meaning "one" in Italian, commemorates the launch of Arduino Software (IDE) 1.0. Initially introduced alongside version 1.0 of the Arduino Software (IDE), the Uno has since become the foundational model for subsequent Arduino releases, embodying the platform's evolution.

Arduino UNO Rev3 double side image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Architecture

AVR

MCU Memory (KB)

32

Silicon Vendor

Microchip

Pin count

32

RAM (Bytes)

2048

You complete me!

Accessories

Click Shield for Arduino UNO has two proprietary mikroBUS™ sockets, allowing all the Click board™ devices to be interfaced with the Arduino UNO board without effort. The Arduino Uno, a microcontroller board based on the ATmega328P, provides an affordable and flexible way for users to try out new concepts and build prototypes with the ATmega328P microcontroller from various combinations of performance, power consumption, and features. The Arduino Uno has 14 digital input/output pins (of which six can be used as PWM outputs), six analog inputs, a 16 MHz ceramic resonator (CSTCE16M0V53-R0), a USB connection, a power jack, an ICSP header, and reset button. Most of the ATmega328P microcontroller pins are brought to the IO pins on the left and right edge of the board, which are then connected to two existing mikroBUS™ sockets. This Click Shield also has several switches that perform functions such as selecting the logic levels of analog signals on mikroBUS™ sockets and selecting logic voltage levels of the mikroBUS™ sockets themselves. Besides, the user is offered the possibility of using any Click board™ with the help of existing bidirectional level-shifting voltage translators, regardless of whether the Click board™ operates at a 3.3V or 5V logic voltage level. Once you connect the Arduino UNO board with our Click Shield for Arduino UNO, you can access hundreds of Click boards™, working with 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels.

Click Shield for Arduino UNO accessories 1 image

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

NC
NC
AN
NC
NC
RST
SPI Chip Select
PB2
CS
SPI Clock
PB5
SCK
SPI Data OUT
PB4
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

ADC 2 Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

Click Shield for Arduino UNO front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the Arduino UNO Rev3 as your development board.

Click Shield for Arduino UNO front image hardware assembly
Arduino UNO Rev3 front image hardware assembly
Charger 27 Click front image hardware assembly
Prog-cut hardware assembly
Charger 27 Click complete accessories setup image hardware assembly
Arduino UNO Rev3 Access 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
Arduino UNO 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 ADC 2 Click driver.

Key functions:

  • adc2_adc_Value_Read - Function is used to read specific data from ADC convertor.

  • adc2_check_Over_Low - Function is used to check overflow low state.

  • adc2_check_Over_High - Function is used to check overflow high state.

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 Adc2 Click example
 * 
 * # Description
 * This application enables usage of the 22bit ADC.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * Initalizes SPI driver and makes an initial log.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 * This is an example that shows the capabilities of the ADC 2 click
 * 
 * 
 * \author MikroE Team
 *
 */
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "adc2.h"

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

static adc2_t adc2;
static log_t logger;

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

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;
    adc2_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.

    adc2_cfg_setup( &cfg );
    ADC2_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    adc2_init( &adc2, &cfg );

    Delay_ms( 100 );
    
    adc2_set_vref( &adc2, ADC2_VCC_3v3 );

    log_printf( &logger, "------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "    ADC 2 Click   \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "------------------\r\n" );
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    float adc_val;

    //  Task implementation.

    adc_val = adc2_read_adc_data( &adc2 );

    log_printf( &logger, "Value : %.2f mV\r\n", adc_val );
    
    if ( adc2.ovf_h )
        log_printf( &logger, "HIGH OVERFLOW DETECTED\r\n" );
    else if ( adc2.ovf_l )
        log_printf( &logger, "LOW OVERFLOW DETECTED\r\n" );
    
    log_printf( &logger, "------------------\r\n" );
    Delay_ms( 500 );
}

void main ( void )
{
    application_init( );

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


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

Additional Support

Resources

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