Beginner
10 min

Achieve precise and natural control using COM-09032 and ATmega328P

Level up your HMI experience

THUMBSTICK Click with Arduino UNO Rev3

Published Feb 14, 2024

Click board™

THUMBSTICK Click

Dev. board

Arduino UNO Rev3

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

ATmega328P

Achieve precise analog control for gaming consoles and controllers, enhancing the gameplay experience, or applications that require accurate control inputs, such as robotics or drone navigation systems

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

Thumbstick Click is based on the COM-09032, a high-quality 2-axis analog-type thumbstick from Sparkfun. This type of thumbstick has a self-centering feature (spring return) that allows it to center itself the moment when you release it. It also contains a comfortable cup-type black knob/cap, which gives the feel of a thumbstick, making it very similar to the 'analog' joysticks used on joypads on popular gaming consoles like PSP joysticks. This feature makes it suitable for numerous applications as a human-machine interface. It comprises two 10kΩ potentiometers, one for up/down and another for left/right direction, used as dual adjustable voltage dividers providing 2-axis analog input in a control stick form. With the thumbstick fully

assembled and functioning, the voltage will follow the motion of the thumbstick as it is moved around. The measurements of the potentiometer resistance change are needed to read the thumbstick's physical position. That's why the MCP3204, a 12-bit A/D converter with conversion rates of up to 100ksps from Microchip, connects the thumbstick with mikroBUS™ using a simple serial interface compatible with the SPI protocol to determine the value of the joystick's X and Y. As the MCP3204 has a resolution of 12 bits, the values on each analog channel (axis) can vary from 0 to 4095. So, if the stick is moved on the X axis from one end to the other, the X values will change from 0 to 4095, and a similar thing happens when moved along the

Y axis. The value of the thumbstick staying in its center position is around 2048. Also, the thumbstick has a pushbutton feature that sends an interrupt signal to the host MCU through the INT line of the mikroBUS™ socket. This Click board™ can operate with both 3.3V and 5V logic voltage levels selected via SMD jumper. This way, it is allowed for both 3.3V and 5V capable MCUs to 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.

THUMBSTICK 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

NC
NC
AN
NC
NC
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
NC
NC
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

THUMBSTICK 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
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 Thumbstick Click driver.

Key functions:

  • thumbstick_button_state - Get state of thumbstick button function

  • thumbstick_get_position - Get thumbstick position by axis 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 
 * \brief Thumbstick Click example
 * 
 * # Description
 * The demo application shows Clickboard axis postioning and button pressed.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * Initialization of Click board's and log's objects.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 * It reads the position of the thumbstick,
 *  - You will get data on log on every change of thumbstick axis position, or if you hold 
 *      thumbstick in one postion it will repeat the same log when timer reaches timeout.
 *  - You will get data on log whenever you press thumbstick button and release it.
 * 
 * \author Luka Filipovic
 *
 */
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "thumbstick.h"

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

static thumbstick_t thumbstick;
static log_t logger;


static uint8_t old_butt_state;
static uint8_t button_state;

static thumbstick_position_t old_pos;
static thumbstick_position_t thumbstick_pos;

static uint16_t timer_cnt;
#define TIMER_FLAG 1000

static bool change_state;

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

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;
    thumbstick_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.

    thumbstick_cfg_setup( &cfg );
    THUMBSTICK_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    thumbstick_init( &thumbstick, &cfg );
    
    thumbstick_set_sensitivity( POSTION_SENS_DEFAULT );
    
    thumbstick_get_position( &thumbstick, &old_pos );
    old_butt_state = thumbstick_button_state( &thumbstick );
    timer_cnt = 0;
    change_state = false;
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    //Button pressed
    button_state = thumbstick_button_state( &thumbstick );

    if ( old_butt_state != button_state )
    {
        if ( button_state == THUMBSTICK_PRESS_BUTTON )
        {
            log_printf( &logger, ">> Button is pressed \r\n" );
            Delay_ms ( 100 );
        }
        else
        {
            log_printf( &logger, ">> Button is released \r\n" );
            Delay_ms ( 100 );
        }
        old_butt_state = button_state;
    }

    //Thumbstick postion
    thumbstick_get_position( &thumbstick, &thumbstick_pos );
    
    if ( ( old_pos.vertical != thumbstick_pos.vertical ) || ( timer_cnt >= TIMER_FLAG ) )
    {
        if ( thumbstick_pos.vertical == THUMBSTICK_POSITION_TOP )
        {
            log_printf( &logger, ">> TOP \r\n" );
            change_state = true;
        }
        else if ( thumbstick_pos.vertical == THUMBSTICK_POSITION_BOTTOM )
        {
            log_printf( &logger, ">> BOTTOM \r\n" );
            change_state = true;
        }
        
        old_pos = thumbstick_pos;
    }
    
    if ( (old_pos.horizontal != thumbstick_pos.horizontal ) || ( timer_cnt >= TIMER_FLAG )  )
    {
        if ( thumbstick_pos.horizontal == THUMBSTICK_POSITION_LEFT )
        {
            log_printf( &logger, ">> LEFT \r\n" );
            change_state = true;
        }
        else if ( thumbstick_pos.horizontal == THUMBSTICK_POSITION_RIGHT )
        {
            log_printf( &logger, ">> RIGHT \r\n" );
            change_state = true;
        }
        
        old_pos = thumbstick_pos;
    }
    
    if ( ( timer_cnt >= TIMER_FLAG ) || ( change_state == true )  )
    {
        timer_cnt = 0;
        change_state = false;
    }
    
    timer_cnt++;
    Delay_ms ( 1 );
}

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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