Intermediate
30 min

Experience ultra-fast CAN connectivity with TCAN4550 and ATmega328P

Lightning-fast communication

CAN FD 6 Click with Arduino UNO Rev3

Published Feb 14, 2024

Click board™

CAN FD 6 Click

Dev. board

Arduino UNO Rev3

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

ATmega328P

Engineered for high-speed excellence, our CAN FD transceiver delivers unmatched performance in automotive and industrial systems

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

CAN FD 6 Click is based on the TCAN4550, a CAN transceiver that supports CAN and CAN FD protocols and provides an interface between the CAN bus and the CAN protocol controller up to 5 megabits per second (Mbps) from Texas Instruments. It is characterized by high-bandwidth and data-rate flexibility, provides an SPI interface between the CAN bus and the system processor, and supports wake-up features local and bus wake using the CAN bus. The device includes many protection features providing CAN bus robustness, including fail-safe mode, internal dominant state timeout, and wide bus operating range. The TCAN4550 has one pin for waking the device from Sleep mode. This pin is connected to an external button labeled WAKE and the PWM pin of the mikroBUS™ socket labeled WKP to generate a local Wake-Up function. A Wake-Up event on the CAN bus switches the inhibit output pin INH to the high level. The INH pin provides an internal switch towards the battery supply voltage and controls external voltage regulators, the MCP1804 from

Microchip. Through SMD jumpers labeled as 3V3JMP and 5VJMP, the LDO's output voltages can power up the mikroBUS™ 3.3V and 5V power rails. However, it should be noted that Mikroe does not advise powering up their systems this way. That is why these jumpers are left unpopulated by default. CAN FD 6 Click communicates with MCU using a standard SPI interface supporting clock rates up to 18MHz to transmit and reception CAN frames. With an additional 40MHz crystal, the TCAN4550 can meet CAN FD rates up to 5 Mbps data rates to support higher data throughput and operates from a 6V to 24V external power supply header on the board's right side. This feature makes the TCAN4550 device ideal for many applications, including automotive ones. This Click board™ comes equipped with the industry-standard DB-9 connector, making interfacing with the CAN bus simple and easy. Besides, the user can connect the CAN signals directly through the CAN External header on the board's left edge. In addition to these features, the TCAN4550 uses

several GPIO pins connected to the mikroBUS™ socket. The RST pin, the mikroBUS™, can perform the Hardware Reset function, which resets the device to the default settings and puts it into standby mode. This feature can also be achieved through the onboard push-button labeled as RST. Next to these pins, the ATA6571 uses the WKR pin as a dedicated wake-up request pin from a bus wake request and the INT pin as an interrupt feature routed on the AN and INT pin of the mikroBUS™ socket. The user can also use GPIO pins from the header on the board's right side for interrupt purposes. This Click board™ can operate with both 3.3V and 5V logic voltage levels selected via the VIO SEL jumper. It allows both 3.3V and 5V capable MCUs to use the UART 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.

CAN FD 6 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

DB9 Cable Female-to-Female (2m) cable is essential for establishing dependable serial data connections between devices. With its DB9 female connectors on both ends, this cable enables a seamless link between various equipment, such as computers, routers, switches, and other serial devices. Measuring 2 meters in length, it offers flexibility in arranging your setup without compromising data transmission quality. Crafted with precision, this cable ensures consistent and reliable data exchange, making it suitable for industrial applications, office environments, and home setups. Whether configuring networking equipment, accessing console ports, or utilizing serial peripherals, this cable's durable construction and robust connectors guarantee a stable connection. Simplify your data communication needs with the 2m DB9 female-to-female cable, an efficient solution designed to meet your serial connectivity requirements easily and efficiently.

CAN FD 6 Click accessories image

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

Wake Request
PC0
AN
Reset
PD2
RST
SPI Chip Select
PB2
CS
SPI Clock
PB5
SCK
SPI Data OUT
PB4
MISO
SPI Data IN
PB3
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
Wake Up
PD6
PWM
Interrupt
PC3
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

Click board™ Schematic

CAN FD 6 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

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 CAN FD 6 Click driver.

Key functions:

  • canfd6_mcan_write_txbuffer - This function will write a CAN message to a specified TX buffer that can be transmitted at a later time with the transmit buffer contents function

  • canfd6_mcan_transmit_buffer_contents - This function writes the specified buffer index bit value into the TXBAR register to request a message to send

  • canfd6_mcan_read_nextfifo - This function will read the next MCAN FIFO element specified and return the corresponding header information and data payload.

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 CANFD6 Click example
 *
 * # Description
 * This application presents the capabilities of the
 * CAN FD 6 click board. The board can be used both
 * as a receiver and a transmitter. Use def directive
 * to define the receive or transmit app.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 *
 * ## Application Init
 * The app starts by initializing the UART LOG and
 * SPI drivers. The default cfg function performs the
 * mandatory settings of the device. The user's default
 * configuration can be modified ( for more information
 * about device configuration, check the datasheet ).
 * Additionally, the app writes two messages to the FIFO
 * buffer and sends them if the transmit buffer content
 * event is triggered.
 *
 * ## Application Task
 * Depending on the defined app option, the application
 * task performs the following procedure. If the transmitter
 * is preferred, the application task triggers the transmit
 * buffer contents event of the first message and, later on,
 * the second message. On the other hand, the receiver waits
 * for the CAN FD interrupt, where the payload is read along
 * with the header ID.
 *
 * @author Stefan Nikolic
 *
 */

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "canfd6.h"

// Comment out the line below in order to switch the application mode to receiver
#define DEMO_APP_TRANSMITTER

#define CANFD6_FIRST_MSG                        0
#define CANFD6_SECOND_MSG                       1

static canfd6_t canfd6;
static log_t logger;

void application_init ( void ) {
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;        /**< Logger config object. */
    canfd6_cfg_t canfd6_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.
    canfd6_cfg_setup( &canfd6_cfg );
    CANFD6_MAP_MIKROBUS( canfd6_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    err_t init_flag = canfd6_init( &canfd6, &canfd6_cfg );
    if ( init_flag == SPI_MASTER_ERROR ) {
        log_error( &logger, " Application Init Error. " );
        log_info( &logger, " Please, run program again... " );

        for ( ; ; );
    }

    canfd6_default_cfg( &canfd6 );
    Delay_ms( 100 );
#ifdef DEMO_APP_TRANSMITTER
    canfd6_mcan_tx_header_t canfd6_header = { 0 };
    uint8_t data_send_buf[ 64 ] = { 0 };
    strcpy ( data_send_buf, "MIKROE" );
    canfd6_header.DLC = CANFD6_MCAN_DLC_6B;
    canfd6_header.ID = 0x123;
    canfd6_header.FDF = 1;
    canfd6_header.BRS = 1;
    canfd6_header.EFC = 0;
    canfd6_header.MM  = 0;
    canfd6_header.RTR = 0;
    canfd6_header.XTD = 0;
    canfd6_header.ESI = 0;
    canfd6_mcan_write_txbuffer( &canfd6, CANFD6_FIRST_MSG, &canfd6_header, data_send_buf );

    strcpy ( data_send_buf, "CAN FD 6 click board" );
    canfd6_header.DLC = CANFD6_MCAN_DLC_20B;
    canfd6_header.ID = 0x456;
    canfd6_header.FDF = 1;
    canfd6_header.BRS = 1;
    canfd6_header.EFC = 0;
    canfd6_header.MM  = 0;
    canfd6_header.RTR = 0;
    canfd6_header.XTD = 0;
    canfd6_header.ESI = 0;
    canfd6_mcan_write_txbuffer( &canfd6, CANFD6_SECOND_MSG, &canfd6_header, data_send_buf );
    log_printf( &logger, " Application Mode: Transmitter\r\n" );
#else
    log_printf( &logger, " Application Mode: Receiver\r\n" );
#endif
    log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
}

void application_task ( void ) {
#ifdef DEMO_APP_TRANSMITTER
    log_printf( &logger, " Transmit first message\r\n" );
    canfd6_mcan_transmit_buffer_contents( &canfd6, CANFD6_FIRST_MSG );
    Delay_ms( 2000 );
    log_printf( &logger, " Transmit second message\r\n" );
    canfd6_mcan_transmit_buffer_contents( &canfd6, CANFD6_SECOND_MSG );
    Delay_ms( 2000 );
#else
    uint8_t cnt = 0;
    if ( !canfd6_get_int_pin( &canfd6 ) ) {
        canfd6_device_interrupts_t canfd6_dev_ir = { 0 };
        canfd6_mcan_interrupts_t canfd6_mcan_ir = { 0 };
        canfd6_device_read_interrupts( &canfd6, &canfd6_dev_ir );
        canfd6_mcan_read_interrupts( &canfd6, &canfd6_mcan_ir );

        if ( canfd6_dev_ir.SPIERR ) {
            canfd6_device_clear_spierr( &canfd6 );
        }

        if ( canfd6_mcan_ir.RF0N ) {
            canfd6_mcan_rx_header_t canfd6_msg_header = { 0 };
            uint8_t num_bytes = 0;
            uint8_t data_payload[ 64 ] = { 0 };

            canfd6_mcan_clear_interrupts( &canfd6, &canfd6_mcan_ir );

            num_bytes = canfd6_mcan_read_nextfifo( &canfd6, CANFD6_RXFIFO0, &canfd6_msg_header, data_payload );
            
            log_printf( &logger, " Message received ID[ 0x%X ]: ", canfd6_msg_header.ID );

            while ( cnt < 64 ) {
                if ( data_payload[ cnt ] ) {
                    log_printf( &logger, "%c", data_payload[ cnt ] );
                    cnt++;
                } else {
                    log_printf( &logger, "\r\n" );
                    cnt = 64;
                }
            }
        }
    }
#endif
}

void main ( void ) {
    application_init( );

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

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

Additional Support

Resources

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