Beginner
10 min

Create a secure and efficient pathway for your data with ADUM4160 and ATmega2560

Keep it safe, keep it sound: USB isolation is the key

USB UART 2 Click with Arduino Mega 2560 Rev3

Published Feb 14, 2024

Click board™

USB UART 2 Click

Dev. board

Arduino Mega 2560 Rev3

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

ATmega2560

Enhance the longevity and reliability of your devices by implementing our USB isolation solution, which shields them from power fluctuations

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

USB UART 2 Click is based on the ADUM4160, a USB port isolator from Analog Devices. The click is designed to run on either 3.3V or 5V power supply. It communicates with the target microcontroller over UART interface, with additional functionality provided the following pins on the mikroBUS™ line: RST, CS, PWM, INT. Use the USB UART 2 click for isolating USB communication, and preventing voltage spikes from destroying sensitive equipment. The ADUM4160BRWZ is a USB port isolator, based on Analog Devices, iCoupler® technology. Combining high-speed CMOS and

monolithic air core transformer technology, these isolation components provide outstanding performance characteristics and are easily integrated with low and full speed USB-compatible peripheral devices. The ADUM4160BRWZ uses the edge detection based iCoupler technology in conjunction with internal logic to implement a transparent, easily configured, upstream facing port isolator. Isolating an upstream facing port provides several advantages in simplicity, power management, and robust operation. The click takes power both from

the development system and from the USB, so both sides of the isolator can function. The FT232RL chip on board to act as a USB-UART converter. This Click board™ can operate with either 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels selected via the VIO 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.

USB UART 2 Click top side image
USB UART 2 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

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

NC
NC
AN
UART CTS
PL1
RST
Sleep Mode
PL4
CS
NC
NC
SCK
NC
NC
MISO
NC
NC
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
Power Enable
PE4
PWM
UART RTS
PB6
INT
UART TX
PE0
TX
UART RX
PE1
RX
NC
NC
SCL
NC
NC
SDA
Power Supply
5V
5V
Ground
GND
GND
1

Take a closer look

Click board™ Schematic

USB UART 2 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
Arduino Mega 2560 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 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 USB UART 2 Click driver.

Key functions:

  • usbuart2_pwr_ctrl - This function sets the click turns click on.

  • usbuart2_set_cts - This function sets CTS pin.

  • usbuart2_send_command - This function is used for sending commands.

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 USB UART 2 Click Example.
 *
 * # Description
 * This example reads and processes data from USB UART 2 clicks.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * Initializes driver and power module.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 * Reads data and echos it back to device and logs it to board.
 *
 * @author Stefan Ilic
 *
 */

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "usbuart2.h"
#include "string.h"

#define PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE 500

static usbuart2_t usbuart2;
static log_t logger;

static char app_buf[ PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE ] = { 0 };
static int32_t app_buf_len = 0;

void application_init ( void ) {
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;  /**< Logger config object. */
    usbuart2_cfg_t usbuart2_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 " );
    Delay_ms( 100 );

    // Click initialization.

    usbuart2_cfg_setup( &usbuart2_cfg );
    USBUART2_MAP_MIKROBUS( usbuart2_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    
    err_t init_flag  = usbuart2_init( &usbuart2, &usbuart2_cfg );
    if ( UART_ERROR == init_flag ) {
        log_error( &logger, " Application Init Error. " );
        log_info( &logger, " Please, run program again... " );

        for ( ; ; );
    }

    app_buf_len = 0;
    
    usbuart2_pwr_ctrl( &usbuart2, USBUART2_POWER_ON );
    usbuart2_set_cts( &usbuart2, USBUART2_CTS_NO_ACTIVE );
    usbuart2_set_mode( &usbuart2, USBUART2_MODE_NORMAL );
    
    log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
}

void application_task ( void ) {
    app_buf_len = usbuart2_generic_read( &usbuart2, app_buf, PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE );
    
    if ( app_buf_len > 0 ) {
        log_printf( &logger, "%s", app_buf );
        memset( app_buf, 0, PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE );
    }
}

void main ( void ) {
    application_init( );

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

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

Additional Support

Resources

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