Intermediate
30 min

Bridge the gap between RS232 and SPI interfaces using MAX3100 and ATmega2560

From RS232 to SPI: A revolution in data transformation

RS232 SPI Click with Arduino Mega 2560 Rev3

Published Feb 14, 2024

Click board™

RS232 SPI Click

Dev. board

Arduino Mega 2560 Rev3

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

ATmega2560

Effortlessly convert RS232 data into the SPI format with our user-friendly solution, streamlining the process of modernizing data communication

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

RS232 SPI Click is based on two ICs - MAX3100 and MAX3232. The MAX3100 serves as UART interface to the SPI/MICROWIRE compatible interface converter. In the same time, MAX3232 device enables RS232 SPI click to meet the requirements of TIA/EIA-232-F and also provides the electrical interface between an asynchronous communication controller and the serial-port connector. The charge pump and four small external capacitors allow operation from a single 3-V to 5.5-V supply. RS232 SPI click Uses an SPI™/MICROWIRE™ interface for communication with the host microcontroller (µC). Then, the MAX3100 is responsible for conversion from synchronous serial data from a microcontroller to asynchronous, serial-data communication port such as RS-232, RS-485, IrDA. In this case the

RS232 protocol is used. The MAX3100 includes a crystal oscillator and a baud rate generator with software-programmable divider ratios for all common baud rates from 300 baud to 230k baud. The transmitter section accepts SPI/MICROWIRE data, formats it, and transmits it in asynchronous serial format from the TX output. Data is loaded into the transmit buffer register from the SPI/MICROWIRE interface. The MAX3100 adds start and stop bits to the data and clocks the data out at the selected baud rate. A software- or hardware-invoked shutdown lowers quiescent current to 10µA, while allowing the MAX3100 to detect receiver activity. An 8-word-deep first-in/first-out (FIFO) buffer minimizes processor overhead. This device also includes a flexible interrupt with four maskable sources, including address recognition

on 9-bit networks. Two hardware-handshaking control lines are included (one input and one output). Because of the features contained in its modules, the RS232 SPI click can be used for handheld instruments, UART in SPI systems, small networks in HVAC or Building control, battery-powered systems, PDAs, notebooks and many more. This Click board™ can operate with either 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels selected via the VCC SEL jumper. This way, both 3.3V and 5V capable MCUs can use the communication lines properly. Also, this 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.

RS232 SPI Click top side image
RS232 SPI Click bottom side image

Features overview

Development board

Arduino Mega 2560 is a robust microcontroller platform built around the ATmega 2560 chip. It has extensive capabilities and boasts 54 digital input/output pins, including 15 PWM outputs, 16 analog inputs, and 4 UARTs. With a 16MHz crystal

oscillator ensuring precise timing, it offers seamless connectivity via USB, a convenient power jack, an ICSP header, and a reset button. This all-inclusive board simplifies microcontroller projects; connect it to your computer via USB or power it up

using an AC-to-DC adapter or battery. Notably, the Mega 2560 maintains compatibility with a wide range of shields crafted for the Uno, Duemilanove, or Diecimila boards, ensuring versatility and ease of integration.

Arduino Mega 2560 Rev3 double side image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Architecture

AVR

MCU Memory (KB)

256

Silicon Vendor

Microchip

Pin count

100

RAM (Bytes)

8192

You complete me!

Accessories

Click Shield for Arduino Mega comes equipped with four mikroBUS™ sockets, with two in the form of a Shuttle connector, allowing all the Click board™ devices to be interfaced with the Arduino Mega board with no effort. Featuring an AVR 8-bit microcontroller with advanced RISC architecture, 54 digital I/O pins, and Arduino™ compatibility, the Arduino Mega board offers limitless possibilities for prototyping and creating diverse applications. This board is controlled and powered conveniently through a USB connection to program and debug the Arduino Mega board efficiently out of the box, with an additional USB cable connected to the USB B port on the board. Simplify your project development with the integrated ATmega16U2 programmer and unleash creativity using the extensive I/O options and expansion capabilities. There are eight switches, which you can use as inputs, and eight LEDs, which can be used as outputs of the MEGA2560. In addition, the shield features the MCP1501, a high-precision buffered voltage reference from Microchip. This reference is selected by default over the EXT REF jumper at the bottom of the board. You can choose an external one, as you would usually do with an Arduino Mega board. There is also a GND hook for testing purposes. Four additional LEDs are PWR, LED (standard pin D13), RX, and TX LEDs connected to UART1 (mikroBUS™ 1 socket). 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 Mega board with Click Shield for Arduino Mega, you can access hundreds of Click boards™, working with 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels.

Click Shield for Arduino Mega 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.

RS232 SPI Click accessories image

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

NC
NC
AN
Shutdown
PL1
RST
SPI Chip Select
PL4
CS
SPI Clock
PB1
SCK
SPI Data OUT
PB3
MISO
SPI Data IN
PB2
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
NC
NC
PWM
Interrupt
PB6
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

RS232 SPI Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

Click Shield for Arduino Mega front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the Arduino Mega 2560 Rev3 as your development board.

Click Shield for Arduino Mega front image hardware assembly
Arduino Mega 2560 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 MEGA 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 RS232 SPI Click driver.

Key functions:

  • rs232spi_reg_write - This function writes two bytes of data using the SPI serial interface.

  • rs232spi_reg_read - This function reads two bytes of data using the SPI serial interface.

  • rs232spi_digital_write_rst - This function writes the specified digital signal to the RST pin.

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 Rs232Spi Click example
 * 
 * # Description
 * This example showcases how to initialize and use the RS232 SPI Click. The Click has a uni-
 * versal asynchronous transceiver which uses a SPI serial interface to communicate with the 
 * MCU. In order for this example to work, 2 Clicks are needed - a receiver and a transmitter.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * This function initializes and configures the logger and Click modules. Additional configura-
 * ting is done in the default_cfg(...) function.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 * This function receives and displays UART data in the "read mode" and sends the predefined 
 * message in the "write mode".
 * 
 * \author MikroE Team
 *
 */
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "rs232spi.h"

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

static rs232spi_t rs232spi;
static log_t logger;

static const uint8_t message[ 9 ] = { 'M', 'i', 'k', 'r', 'o', 'E', 13, 10, 0 };

static const uint8_t RX_MODE = 1;
static const uint8_t TX_MODE = 0;

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

void application_init ( )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;
    rs232spi_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.

    rs232spi_cfg_setup( &cfg );
    RS232SPI_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    rs232spi_init( &rs232spi, &cfg );
    Delay_ms ( 100 );
    rs232spi_digital_write_rst( &rs232spi, 1 );
    Delay_ms ( 100 );
    rs232spi_default_cfg( &rs232spi, 115200 );
    Delay_ms ( 100 );
    rs232spi_flush( &rs232spi );
    Delay_ms ( 100 );
    log_printf( &logger, "App init done...\r\n" );
}

void application_task ( )
{
    uint8_t mode = RX_MODE;
    uint8_t cnt;
    char txt;

    if ( mode == RX_MODE )
    {
        if ( rs232spi_data_ready( &rs232spi ) != 0 )
        {
            txt = rs232spi_transfer( &rs232spi, RS232SPI_CMD_READ_DATA );
            log_printf( &logger, "%c", txt );
        }
    }
    else if ( mode == TX_MODE )
    {
        for ( cnt = 0; cnt < 9; cnt++ )
        {
            rs232spi_data_write( &rs232spi, message[ cnt ] );
            Delay_ms ( 500 );
        }
    }
}

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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