Intermediate
30 min

Improve your power management with LTC3129-1 and ATmega328P

Revolutionary voltage control

Buck-Boost Click with Arduino UNO Rev3

Published Feb 14, 2024

Click board™

Buck-Boost Click

Dev Board

Arduino UNO Rev3

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

ATmega328P

Your power, your rules - our Buck-Boost combo empowers you to take charge like never before.

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

Buck-Boost Click is based on the LTC3129-1, a 1.3μA quiescent current, monolithic, current mode, buck-boost DC/DC converter that can operate over a wide input voltage range of 1.92V to 15V and provide up to 200mA to the load from Analog Devices. The LTC3129-1 is characterized by its low noise and ripple level at the output, high regulating efficiency, and low quiescent current. Eight fixed, user-programmable output voltages can be selected using the three digital programming pins routed to the INT, AN, and CS pins of the mikroBUS™ socket. A proprietary switch control algorithm allows the Buck-Boost converter to regulate output voltage with input voltages above, below, or equal to the output voltage. Transitions between the step-up or step-down operating modes are seamless and free of transients and sub-harmonic switching, making

this product ideal for noise-sensitive applications. Buck-Boost Click possesses two different modes of operation - PWM and Burst Mode, depending on the nature of the application. The PWM mode can be selected by setting the PWM pin of the mikroBUS™ socket to a logic high level and is suitable for working with higher loads connected to the converter output and when extremely low output noise is required. When selecting the PWM mode, LTC3129-1 has a fixed nominal switching frequency of 1.2MHz using an internally compensated average current mode control loop. In this mode, the output voltage's ripple and noise level are minimal. For high-efficiency operation at light loads, automatic Burst Mode operation can be selected, reducing the quiescent current to 1.3µA. Burst mode can be chosen if the PWM pin is set to a logic low level. If the connected load is

light enough, the converter will remain working in Burst mode, running only when necessary to maintain voltage regulation. Otherwise, the PWM mode will automatically engage, providing enough current for the connected load. This Click board™ completely powers itself from the VIN external power supply terminal. Once the power is applied to the VIN terminal, the circuit must also be enabled by setting the RUN pin routed to the RST pin of the mikroBUS™ socket to a high logic level. This will power up the converter, which the PWR LED indicator will indicate. It also includes additional features such as a power-good output with a Power Good LED indicator labeled PGOOD that pulls to the ground when FB drops too far below its regulated voltage. This pin also can sink up to the absolute maximum rating of 15mA when set low.

Buck-Boost 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

28

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

Output Voltage Selection
PC0
AN
Enable
PD2
RST
Output Voltage Selection
PB2
CS
NC
NC
SCK
NC
NC
MISO
NC
NC
MOSI
NC
NC
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
Mode Selection
PD6
PWM
Output Voltage Selection
PC3
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

Buck-Boost 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

This Click board can be interfaced and monitored in two ways:

  • Application Output - Use the "Application Output" window in Debug mode for real-time data monitoring. Set it up properly by following this tutorial.

Software Support

Library Description

This library contains API for Buck-Boost Click driver.

Key functions:

  • buckboost_set_mode_fixed_freq - This function set fixed frequency PWM operation mode of LTC3129-1

  • buckboost_enables_auto_burst_mode - This function enables automatic burst mode operation of LTC3129-1

  • buckboost_set_2500mv - This function set the output voltage of 2500mV

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 
 * \brief Buck-Boost  Click example
 * 
 * # Description
 * The demo application change output voltage from 2500 mV to 15000 mV every 5 seconds.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * Initialization device and set default configuration.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 *  This is a example which demonstrates the use of Buck Boost Click board.
 *  Change output voltage from 2500 mV to 15000 mV every 5 seconds.
 *  All data logs write on usb uart for aproximetly every 5 sec.
 *  
 * \author MikroE Team
 *
 */
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "buckboost.h"

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

static buckboost_t buckboost;
static log_t logger;

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

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;
    buckboost_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 ----\r\n");

    //  Click initialization.

    buckboost_cfg_setup( &cfg );
    BUCKBOOST_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    buckboost_init( &buckboost, &cfg );

    buckboost_default_cfg( &buckboost );
    log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------------\r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "        Buck Boost Click        \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------------\r\n" );
    Delay_ms( 100 );
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    log_printf( &logger, " Set Output Voltage of  2500 mV \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------------\r\n" );
    buckboost_set_2500mv( &buckboost );
    Delay_ms( 5000 );

    log_printf( &logger, " Set Output Voltage of  3300 mV \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------------\r\n" );
    buckboost_set_3300mv( &buckboost );
    Delay_ms( 5000 );

    log_printf( &logger, " Set Output Voltage of  4100 mV \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------------\r\n" );
    buckboost_set_4100mv( &buckboost );
    Delay_ms( 5000 );

    log_printf( &logger, " Set Output Voltage of  5000 mV \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------------\r\n" );
    buckboost_set_5000mv( &buckboost );
    Delay_ms( 5000 );

    log_printf( &logger, " Set Output Voltage of  6900 mV \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------------\r\n" );
    buckboost_set_6900mv( &buckboost );
    Delay_ms( 5000 );

    log_printf( &logger, " Set Output Voltage of  8200 mV \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------------\r\n" );
    buckboost_set_8200mv( &buckboost );
    Delay_ms( 5000 );

    log_printf( &logger, " Set Output Voltage of  12000 mV \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------------\r\n" );
    buckboost_set_12000mv( &buckboost );
    Delay_ms( 5000 );

    log_printf( &logger, " Set Output Voltage of  15000 mV \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------------\r\n" );
    buckboost_set_15000mv( &buckboost );
    Delay_ms( 5000 );
}

void main ( void )
{
    application_init( );

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

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

Additional Support

Resources

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