Intermediate
30 min

Seamlessly transform varying frequencies into precise voltage signals with TC9400 and STM32F031K6

Frequency-to-Voltage: Unveiling the magic of signal transformation!

Hz To V Click with Nucleo 32 with STM32F031K6 MCU

Published Oct 01, 2024

Click board™

Hz To V Click

Dev. board

Nucleo 32 with STM32F031K6 MCU

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

STM32F031K6

Navigate the world of signal analysis with confidence using our frequency-to-voltage solution, offering unparalleled precision in capturing and converting frequency data into voltage signals

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

Hz to V Click is based on the TC9400, a voltage-to-frequency and frequency-to-voltage converter from Microchip. It accepts a signal with the frequency within a range between 1kHz and 10kHz on the input and generates DC voltage with the level corresponding to the input frequency, ranging from 0.33V to 3.3V, with a highly linear response. This signal is further passed through the operational amplifier, in order to scale it down to a level acceptable by the MCU. The input signal can be applied either to the PWM pin of the mikroBUS™ or the external input terminal. The input source can be selected with the onboard switch, labeled as INPUT SEL. When Hz to V click is operated for the first time, it needs to be calibrated. The click is equipped with a variable resistor for the offset fine tuning. The following procedure should be followed to calibrate the

device: an input signal with a frequency of 1kHz should be applied to the input. The offset should be adjusted so that a 330mV DC signal appears on the output. Hz to V click is equipped with the input signal terminal (FREQ IN), which is used to connect the signal with a frequency which is in the acceptable range between 1kHz and 10kHz. Besides this signal input terminal, it is possible to select the PWM signal generated by the host MCU as the input, too. INPUT SEL switch can be set so that the PWM pin from the mikroBUS™ is used as the control voltage input. It is recommended that the signal amplitude does not exceed 3.3V. The output terminal (VOLT OUT) is used to output the generated voltage. As already explained, the voltage level depends on the input signal frequency. This generated voltage is also available on the AN pin of the mikroBUS™. The output

signal is passed through the operational amplifier (OPAMP) which is used both as the output buffer and a voltage adjust stage for the output voltage. A well known general purpose operational amplifier LM318 from Texas Instruments is used for this purpose. To provide 12V for the TC9400 and the LM318 OPAMP, Hz to V click employs a boost converter built around the MIC2606, a boost regulator from Microchip, which works at 2MHz. This IC provides 12V for supplying the TC9400 out of 5V routed from the mikroBUS™ socket. The EN pin of the boost regulator is routed to the mikroBUS™ CS pin and it is used to enable power output from the boost regulator, effectively enabling the TC9400 itself. The EN pin is pulled to a HIGH logic level (3.3V) by the onboard resistor.

Hz To V Click hardware overview image

Features overview

Development board

Nucleo 32 with STM32F031K6 MCU board provides an affordable and flexible platform for experimenting with STM32 microcontrollers in 32-pin packages. Featuring Arduino™ Nano connectivity, it allows easy expansion with specialized shields, while being mbed-enabled for seamless integration with online resources. The

board includes an on-board ST-LINK/V2-1 debugger/programmer, supporting USB reenumeration with three interfaces: Virtual Com port, mass storage, and debug port. It offers a flexible power supply through either USB VBUS or an external source. Additionally, it includes three LEDs (LD1 for USB communication, LD2 for power,

and LD3 as a user LED) and a reset push button. The STM32 Nucleo-32 board is supported by various Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) such as IAR™, Keil®, and GCC-based IDEs like AC6 SW4STM32, making it a versatile tool for developers.

Nucleo 32 with STM32F031K6 MCU double side image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Architecture

ARM Cortex-M0

MCU Memory (KB)

32

Silicon Vendor

STMicroelectronics

Pin count

32

RAM (Bytes)

4096

You complete me!

Accessories

Click Shield for Nucleo-32 is the perfect way to expand your development board's functionalities with STM32 Nucleo-32 pinout. The Click Shield for Nucleo-32 provides two mikroBUS™ sockets to add any functionality from our ever-growing range of Click boards™. We are fully stocked with everything, from sensors and WiFi transceivers to motor control and audio amplifiers. The Click Shield for Nucleo-32 is compatible with the STM32 Nucleo-32 board, providing an affordable and flexible way for users to try out new ideas and quickly create prototypes with any STM32 microcontrollers, choosing from the various combinations of performance, power consumption, and features. The STM32 Nucleo-32 boards do not require any separate probe as they integrate the ST-LINK/V2-1 debugger/programmer and come with the STM32 comprehensive software HAL library and various packaged software examples. This development platform provides users with an effortless and common way to combine the STM32 Nucleo-32 footprint compatible board with their favorite Click boards™ in their upcoming projects.

Click Shield for Nucleo-32 accessories 1 image

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

Analog Output
PA0
AN
NC
NC
RST
Chip Enable
PA4
CS
NC
NC
SCK
NC
NC
MISO
NC
NC
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
Frequency Input
PA8
PWM
NC
NC
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

Hz To V Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

Click Shield for Nucleo-144 front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the Nucleo 32 with STM32F031K6 MCU as your development board.

Click Shield for Nucleo-144 front image hardware assembly
Nucleo 144 with STM32L4A6ZG MCU front image hardware assembly
Stepper 22 Click front image hardware assembly
Prog-cut hardware assembly
Stepper 22 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
STM32 M4 Clicker HA MCU/Select 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

Software Support

Library Description

This library contains API for Hz To V Click driver.

Key functions:

  • hztov_read_voltage - Read voltage function

  • hztov_set_input_frequency - Changing the output voltage 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 
 * \brief HzToV Click example
 * 
 * # Description
 * This example demonstrates the use of Hz to V Click board.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * Initializes the driver and enables the Click board.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 * Sets the PWM frequency then reads the voltage from VO pin and logs all data on USB UART.
 * 
 * @note
 * In order to set PWM frequency down to 1 kHz, the user will probably need to 
 * lower the main MCU clock frequency.
 * The output voltage may vary, depending on the offset potentiometer setting on the Click.
 * 
 * \author MikroE Team
 *
 */
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "hztov.h"

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

static hztov_t hztov;
static log_t logger;
static float voltage;
static uint16_t fin;

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

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;
    hztov_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.

    hztov_cfg_setup( &cfg );
    HZTOV_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    hztov_init( &hztov, &cfg );
    
    hztov_set_enable ( &hztov, HZTOV_ENABLE );
    
    fin = HZTOV_MIN_FREQ;
    
    Delay_ms ( 100 );
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    if ( fin > HZTOV_MAX_FREQ )
        fin = HZTOV_MIN_FREQ;
    hztov_set_input_frequency( &hztov, fin );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    log_printf( &logger, "Frequency: %u Hz \r\n", fin );
    voltage = 0;
    for ( uint8_t cnt = 0; cnt < 100; cnt++ )
    {
        voltage += hztov_read_voltage( &hztov );
    }
    log_printf( &logger, "Voltage: %.2f V \r\n", voltage / 100.0 );
    log_printf( &logger, "-------------------\r\n" );
    
    fin += 1000;
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
}

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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