Intermediate
30 min

Increase your voltage with LT1945 and STM32F091RC

Boosted energy = increased potential

Boost 8 Click with Nucleo-64 with STM32F091RC MCU

Published Feb 26, 2024

Click board™

Boost 8 Click

Dev. board

Nucleo-64 with STM32F091RC MCU

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

STM32F091RC

Upgrade your power management and take your engineering game to the next level with a boost converter

A

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

Boost 8 Click is based on the LT1945, a dual micropower DC/DC converter from Analog Devices that boosts an input voltage to a higher level required by an output load. The LT1945 uses a constant off-time control scheme to provide high efficiency over a wide range of output currents. Each converter inside the LT1945 is designed with a 350mA current limit generating well-regulated positive and negative outputs of ±12V or ±24V, making the LT1945 ideal for various applications. It also contains additional circuitry to provide protection during the Start-Up sequence and under short-circuit conditions, reducing the average inductor output current and minimizing the

power dissipation in the power switch.As mentioned, the LT1945 can configure the positive and negative output voltage in the ±12V or ±24V range. The desired output voltage can be selected by positioning SMD jumpers labeled +VOUT SEL and -VOUT SEL to an appropriate position. It is also possible to control the activity of the output channels via two mikroBUS™ pins, EN+ and EN- pins routed to the RST and PWM pin of the mikroBUS™ socket. By setting these pins to a high logic state, the converter outputs are set to an active state, and regulated voltages are available at the output terminals. In the same way, setting these pins to a low logic level disables the channels.

This Click board™ can only be operated from a 3.3V logic voltage level. Therefore, the board must perform appropriate logic voltage level conversion before using MCUs with different logic levels. Additionally, there is a possibility for the LT1945 power supply selection via jumper labeled as VIN SEL to supply the LT1945 from an external power supply terminal in the range from 2.7V to 5V or with 3.3V from mikroBUS™ power rail. 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.

Boost 8 Click hardware overview image

Features overview

Development board

Nucleo-64 with STM32F091RC MCU offers a cost-effective and adaptable platform for developers to explore new ideas and prototype their designs. This board harnesses the versatility of the STM32 microcontroller, enabling users to select the optimal balance of performance and power consumption for their projects. It accommodates the STM32 microcontroller in the LQFP64 package and includes essential components such as a user LED, which doubles as an ARDUINO® signal, alongside user and reset push-buttons, and a 32.768kHz crystal oscillator for precise timing operations. Designed with expansion and flexibility in mind, the Nucleo-64 board features an ARDUINO® Uno V3 expansion connector and ST morpho extension pin

headers, granting complete access to the STM32's I/Os for comprehensive project integration. Power supply options are adaptable, supporting ST-LINK USB VBUS or external power sources, ensuring adaptability in various development environments. The board also has an on-board ST-LINK debugger/programmer with USB re-enumeration capability, simplifying the programming and debugging process. Moreover, the board is designed to simplify advanced development with its external SMPS for efficient Vcore logic supply, support for USB Device full speed or USB SNK/UFP full speed, and built-in cryptographic features, enhancing both the power efficiency and security of projects. Additional connectivity is

provided through dedicated connectors for external SMPS experimentation, a USB connector for the ST-LINK, and a MIPI® debug connector, expanding the possibilities for hardware interfacing and experimentation. Developers will find extensive support through comprehensive free software libraries and examples, courtesy of the STM32Cube MCU Package. This, combined with compatibility with a wide array of Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), including IAR Embedded Workbench®, MDK-ARM, and STM32CubeIDE, ensures a smooth and efficient development experience, allowing users to fully leverage the capabilities of the Nucleo-64 board in their projects.

Nucleo 64 with STM32F091RC MCU double side image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Architecture

ARM Cortex-M0

MCU Memory (KB)

256

Silicon Vendor

STMicroelectronics

Pin count

64

RAM (Bytes)

32768

You complete me!

Accessories

Click Shield for Nucleo-64 comes equipped with two proprietary mikroBUS™ sockets, allowing all the Click board™ devices to be interfaced with the STM32 Nucleo-64 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. More than 1537 Click boards™, which can be stacked and integrated, are at your disposal. The STM32 Nucleo-64 boards are based on the microcontrollers in 64-pin packages, a 32-bit MCU with an ARM Cortex M4 processor operating at 84MHz, 512Kb Flash, and 96KB SRAM, divided into two regions where the top section represents the ST-Link/V2 debugger and programmer while the bottom section of the board is an actual development board. These boards are controlled and powered conveniently through a USB connection to program and efficiently debug the Nucleo-64 board out of the box, with an additional USB cable connected to the USB mini port on the board. Most of the STM32 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 STM32 Nucleo-64 board with our Click Shield for Nucleo-64, you can access hundreds of Click boards™, working with 3.3V or 5V logic voltage levels.

Click Shield for Nucleo-64 accessories 1 image

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

NC
NC
AN
Positive Channel Control
PC12
RST
NC
NC
CS
NC
NC
SCK
NC
NC
MISO
NC
NC
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
Negative Channel Control
PC8
PWM
NC
NC
INT
NC
NC
TX
NC
NC
RX
NC
NC
SCL
NC
NC
SDA
NC
NC
5V
Ground
GND
GND
1

Take a closer look

Click board™ Schematic

Boost 8 Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

Click Shield for Nucleo-64 accessories 1 image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the Nucleo-64 with STM32F091RC MCU as your development board.

Click Shield for Nucleo-64 accessories 1 image hardware assembly
Nucleo 64 with STM32F401RE MCU front image hardware assembly
LTE IoT 5 Click front image hardware assembly
Prog-cut hardware assembly
LTE IoT 5 Click complete accessories setup image hardware assembly
Nucleo-64 with STM32XXX MCU Access MB 1 Mini B Conn - 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
Clicker 4 for STM32F4 HA 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 Boost 8 Click driver.

Key functions:

  • boost8_enable_positive_voltage Enable positive voltage output function.

  • boost8_disable_positive_voltage Disable positive voltage output function.

  • boost8_enable_negative_voltage Enable negative voltage output 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 main.c
 * @brief Boost 8 Click Example.
 *
 * # Description
 * This is an example that demonstrates the use of the Boost 8 Click board.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 *
 * ## Application Init
 * Initializes EN+ and EN- pins, UART log, and performs default configuration.
 *
 * ## Application Task
 * Waits for user input in order to determine what output should be enabled.
 *
 * @author Stefan Ilic
 *
 */

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "boost8.h"

static boost8_t boost8;   /**< Boost 8 Click driver object. */
static log_t logger;    /**< Logger object. */

/**
 * @brief Boost 8 log list of commands.
 * @details This function is used for logging a list of available commands used in this example.
 */
void boost8_list_of_commands( void );

void application_init ( void ) 
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;  /**< Logger config object. */
    boost8_cfg_t boost8_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 " );

    // Click initialization.
    boost8_cfg_setup( &boost8_cfg );
    BOOST8_MAP_MIKROBUS( boost8_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    if ( DIGITAL_OUT_UNSUPPORTED_PIN == boost8_init( &boost8, &boost8_cfg ) ) 
    {
        log_error( &logger, " Communication init." );
        for ( ; ; );
    }
    
    boost8_default_cfg ( &boost8 );
    
    log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
    boost8_list_of_commands();
}

void application_task ( void ) 
{
    char inx;
    
    // Waiting for the user input and performing actions based on a selected command.
    if ( log_read( &logger, &inx, 1 ) != BOOST8_ERROR )
    {
        switch(inx)
        {
            case '1' :
            {
                log_printf( &logger, "Turning on positive output \r\n" );
                boost8_enable_positive_voltage( &boost8 );
                break;
            }
            case '2' :
            {
                log_printf( &logger, "Turning off positive output \r\n" );
                boost8_disable_positive_voltage( &boost8 );
                break;
            }
            case '3' :
            {
                log_printf( &logger, "Turning on negative output \r\n" );
                boost8_enable_negative_voltage( &boost8 );
                break;
            }
            case '4':
            {
                log_printf( &logger, "Turning off negative output \r\n" );
                boost8_disable_negative_voltage( &boost8 );
                break;
            }
            case '5' :
            {
                log_printf( &logger, "Turning on both outputs \r\n" );
                boost8_enable_both_outputs( &boost8 );
                break;
            }
            case '6' :
            {
                log_printf( &logger, "Turning off both outputs \r\n" );
                boost8_disable_both_outputs( &boost8 );
                break;
            }
            default:
            {
                log_printf( &logger, "> Invalid command \r\n" );
                boost8_list_of_commands();
                break;
            }
        }
    }
    
}

void main ( void ) 
{
    application_init( );

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

void boost8_list_of_commands( void )
{
    log_printf( &logger, "> List of valid commands: \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "1 - Turn on positive output \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "2 - Turn off positive output \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "3 - Turn on negative output \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "4 - Turn off negative output \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "5 - Turn on both outputs \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "6 - Turn off both outputs \r\n" );
    log_printf( &logger, "Enter command from provided list:  \r\n" );
}

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

Additional Support

Resources

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