Ensure error-free and robust RS485 data transfer in harsh environments using MAX3471 and STM32F103RB

RS485 2 Click is based on the MAX3471, an RS-422/485, half-duplex, differential transceiver for battery-powered systems, from Analog Devices. This click is intended to be used as a physical layer device, often referred to as PHY, providing physical interfacing of the MCU TTL level UART lines with the RS422/485 bus. It is well suited for transmitting smaller blocks of data over long distances, using a shielded differential pair, for both TX and RX signals, allowing for half-duplex asynchronous communication. The MAX3471 transceiver consists of a separate driver and receiver sections, with Driver Enable and Receiver Enable pins (#RE and DE), used to enable appropriate sections. Driver section is used to drive the RS422/485 bus with the signal received on the UART RX line labeled as RO on the IC, while the receiver section returns data from the bus back to the MCU via the UART TX line, labeled as DI on the IC in the schematics. RS422/485 standard only specifies electrical characteristics of the transmitter and the receiver. It does not specify or recommend any communications protocol, only the physical layer. The top layer communication protocol of choice can be used, such as the MODBUS or similar protocols. Therefore RS485 2 click offers UART RX and TX pins, routed to the appropriate mikroBUS™ TX and RX UART pins. These pins are used by the MCU to send data to the RS485 bus, in a form determined by the user protocol. Additional DE and RE pins are routed to the mikroBUS™ CS and PWM pin respectively. These pins are labeled on

the Click board™ as DE and RE, the same as on the IC itself. Pull-up and pull-down are used to determine states on these pins when they are left floating. MAX3471 IC allows data rates up to 64kbps. In general, the maximal transfer speed is determined by the bus length: longer bus lines will result in less transfer speed. The RS485/422 bus needs to be terminated with the resistor on both ends, which is equal to the characteristic impedance of the used cable, in order to prevent line reflections. However, the MAX3471 IC features a reduced slew rate on its driver outputs, resulting with slower speed, but with far more robust signal at the same time, which is immune to EMI and other types of interferences that appear on long lines or connection stubs (unterminated parts of the bus). This IC is also able to work on the unterminated bus, commonly used in low speed and low power systems. The RS-485 standard specifies that a compliant driver must be able to drive 32 unit loads (UL), where 1 unit load represents a load impedance of approximately 12 kΩ. Since the MAX3471 IC device is 1/8 UL, up to 256 such receivers can be supported by a single driver. In cases when the RS485/422 bus voltage is close to 2.5V, the device is able to drive up to 8 loads, which means that it can drive up to 64 receivers. As the bus voltage rises, more drivers can be added, so that for 5V the device can drive the number of devices specified by the standard. There are situations on the RS485/422 bus, which might lead to a differential voltage which can

increase the current which runs through the driver output. This state is known as the bus contention, and it commonly appears during the initialization, bus fault conditions, or with multiple nodes, which have their drivers active at the same time. The MAX3471 IC provides driver output protection, which limits this current and prevents damage to the driver output stage. The MAX3471 receiver employs input filtering and input hysteresis to enhance noise immunity when differential signals have very slow rise and fall times. MAX3471 IC features a true fail-safe receiver input, which guarantees a logic HIGH receiver output in cases when the receiver inputs are open or shorted, or when they are connected to a terminated transmission line with all drivers disabled. There is one 4-pole screw terminal on board (VCC, RX, TX, GND) for connecting RS422/485 bus twisted pair cable, along with the GND and VCC. The jumper labeled as VCC SEL is used to set the operating voltage of the Click board™ to either 3.3V or 5V. GND and VCC rails can be used to provide the power supply for another node. Note that the VCC terminal is directly routed to either 3.3V or 5V rail of the mikroBUS™, depending on the VCC SEL jumper position. MikroElektronika provides a library that contains functions compatible with the MikroElektronika compilers, which can be used for working with the RS485 2 Click. The library also contains an example application, which demonstrates their use. This example application can be used as a reference for custom designs.

Nucleo-64 with STM32F103RB 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.