Intermediate
30 min

Design a convenient and portable charging solution with RT9480 and ATmega328P

Recharge on the fly

PowerBank 2 Click with Arduino UNO Rev3

Published Feb 14, 2024

Click board™

PowerBank 2 Click

Dev. board

Arduino UNO Rev3

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

ATmega328P

Supercharge your solution's charging capabilities with this compact, durable, and incredibly efficient power bank solution - the ultimate addition to your design, ensuring uninterrupted power on the go

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

PowerBank 2 Click is based on the RT9480, a highly integrated IC for Li-Ion battery power bank from Richtek. It includes a linear charger 1.2A, a synchronous Boost 5.1V, two output load management, an LED indicator, and a torch function. Based on the thermal regulation function, the charging current can support up to 1.2A If the input voltage (VBUS) is higher than the threshold voltage VOVP, the internal OVP signal will go high, and the charger will stop charging until VIN is below VOVP − ΔVOVP and if the internal voltage (VMID) is higher than the threshold voltage VOVP, the internal OVP signal will go high, and the charger will stop charging until VMID is below VOVP − ΔVOVP. The converter senses the current signal when the high-side P-MOSFET turns on. As a result, The OCP is a cycle-by-cycle current limitation. If the OCP occurs, the converter holds off the next pulse until the inductor

current drops below the OCP limit. It also has over-temperature protection. When the junction temperature exceeds the thermal shutdown rising threshold, the system will be latched, and the output voltage will no longer be regulated until the junction temperature drops under the falling threshold. In the case of output short to ground, the system will be latched, and the output voltage will no longer be regulated until the power is reset. Constant current loops, voltage loops, and thermal regulation loops control the charging current. The temperature sense input TS pin can be connected to a thermistor to determine whether the battery is too hot or cold for charging. If the battery's temperature is out of range, charging is paused until it re-enters the valid range. A 4-LED indicates battery volume and the state of charging and discharging. Together with torch-light

control, the RT9480 provides an all-in-one solution for power banks and similar applications without an external microcontroller. Detailed information about LED indicators can be found in the RT9480 datasheet. The PowerBank 2 Click is also equipped with an MCP3221, a successive approximation A/D converter (ADC) with a 12-bit resolution to monitor battery voltage over an I2C bus over a mikroBUS™ socket. This Click board™ can only be operated with a 3.3V logic voltage level. The board must perform appropriate logic voltage level conversion before using MCUs with different logic levels. However, the Click board™ comes equipped with a library containing functions and an example code that can be used as a reference for further development.

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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

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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

Li-Polymer Battery is the ideal solution for devices that demand a dependable and long-lasting power supply while emphasizing mobility. Its compatibility with mikromedia boards ensures easy integration without additional modifications. With a voltage output of 3.7V, the battery meets the standard requirements of many electronic devices. Additionally, boasting a capacity of 2000mAh, it can store a substantial amount of energy, providing sustained power for extended periods. This feature minimizes the need for frequent recharging or replacement. Overall, the Li-Polymer Battery is a reliable and autonomous power source, ideally suited for devices requiring a stable and enduring energy solution. You can find a more extensive choice of Li-Polymer batteries in our offer.

PowerBank 2 Click accessories image

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

NC
NC
AN
NC
NC
RST
NC
NC
CS
NC
NC
SCK
NC
NC
MISO
NC
NC
MOSI
NC
NC
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
NC
NC
PWM
NC
NC
INT
NC
NC
TX
NC
NC
RX
I2C Clock
PC5
SCL
I2C Data
PC4
SDA
Power Supply
5V
5V
Ground
GND
GND
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Take a closer look

Click board™ Schematic

PowerBank 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
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
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 PowerBank 2 Click driver.

Key functions:

  • uint16_t powerbank2_read_data ( ); - Function is used to read raw data from MCP3221.
  • uint16_t powerbank2_read_voltage ( uint16_t v_ref ); - Function is used to calculate voltage of the connected battery.

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 Powerbank2 Click example
 * 
 * # Description
 * This single chip includes a linear charger, a synchronous Boost with dual output load 
 * management and a torch function support. 
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * Initalizes I2C driver and makes an initial log.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 * This example shows the capabilities of the Power Bank 2 Click
 * by measuring voltage of the connected battery. In order to get correct calculations 
 * the user should change "v_ref" value to his own power supply voltage.
 * 
 * \author MikroE Team
 *
 */
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "powerbank2.h"

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

static powerbank2_t powerbank2;
static log_t logger;

static uint16_t voltage;
static uint16_t v_ref = 5000; // milivolts

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

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;
    powerbank2_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.

    powerbank2_cfg_setup( &cfg );
    POWERBANK2_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    powerbank2_init( &powerbank2, &cfg );
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    voltage = powerbank2_read_voltage( &powerbank2, v_ref );

    log_printf( &logger, "Battery voltage: %u mV\r\n", voltage );

    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
}

int main ( void ) 
{
    /* Do not remove this line or clock might not be set correctly. */
    #ifdef PREINIT_SUPPORTED
    preinit();
    #endif
    
    application_init( );
    
    for ( ; ; ) 
    {
        application_task( );
    }

    return 0;
}

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

Additional Support

Resources

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