Intermediate
30 min

Bridge the gap between RS232 and SPI interfaces using MAX3100 and STM32F413ZH

From RS232 to SPI: A revolution in data transformation

RS232 SPI Click with Nucleo 144 with STM32F413ZH MCU

Published Feb 14, 2024

Click board™

RS232 SPI Click

Dev. board

Nucleo 144 with STM32F413ZH MCU

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

STM32F413ZH

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

Nucleo-144 with STM32F413ZH MCU board offers an accessible and adaptable avenue for users to explore new ideas and construct prototypes. It allows users to tailor their experience by selecting from a range of performance and power consumption features offered by the STM32 microcontroller. With compatible boards, the

internal or external SMPS dramatically decreases power usage in Run mode. Including the ST Zio connector, expanding ARDUINO Uno V3 connectivity, and ST morpho headers facilitate easy expansion of the Nucleo open development platform. The integrated ST-LINK debugger/programmer enhances convenience by

eliminating the need for a separate probe. Moreover, the board is accompanied by comprehensive free software libraries and examples within the STM32Cube MCU Package, further enhancing its utility and value.

Nucleo 144 with STM32F413ZH MCU double side image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Architecture

ARM Cortex-M4

MCU Memory (KB)

1536

Silicon Vendor

STMicroelectronics

Pin count

144

RAM (Bytes)

327680

You complete me!

Accessories

Click Shield for Nucleo-144 comes equipped with four mikroBUS™ sockets, with one in the form of a Shuttle connector, allowing all the Click board™ devices to be interfaced with the STM32 Nucleo-144 board with no effort. This way, MIKROE allows its users to add any functionality from our ever-growing range of Click boards™, such as WiFi, GSM, GPS, Bluetooth, ZigBee, environmental sensors, LEDs, speech recognition, motor control, movement sensors, and many more. Featuring an ARM Cortex-M microcontroller, 144 pins, and Arduino™ compatibility, the STM32 Nucleo-144 board offers limitless possibilities for prototyping and creating diverse applications. These boards are controlled and powered conveniently through a USB connection to program and efficiently debug the Nucleo-144 board out of the box, with an additional USB cable connected to the USB mini port on the board. Simplify your project development with the integrated ST-Link debugger and unleash creativity using the extensive I/O options and expansion capabilities. 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 STM32 Nucleo-144 board with our Click Shield for Nucleo-144, you can access hundreds of Click boards™, working with 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels.

Click Shield for Nucleo-144 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
PA13
RST
SPI Chip Select
PA4
CS
SPI Clock
PB3
SCK
SPI Data OUT
PB4
MISO
SPI Data IN
PB5
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
NC
NC
PWM
Interrupt
PF13
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 Nucleo-144 accessories 1 image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the Nucleo 144 with STM32F413ZH MCU as your development board.

Click Shield for Nucleo-144 accessories 1 image hardware assembly
Nucleo 144 with STM32F446ZE MCU front image hardware assembly
Charger 27 Click front image hardware assembly
Prog-cut hardware assembly
Charger 27 Click complete accessories setup image hardware assembly
Nucleo 144 with STM32F413ZH MCU 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
STM32F413ZH Nucleo 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 );
        }
    }
}

void main ( )
{
    application_init( );

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

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

Additional Support

Resources

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