Intermediate
30 min

Take your motor control experience to the next level with DRV8874 and STM32F407VGT6

Precise control, endless possibilities

DC Motor 15 Click with EasyMx PRO v7 for STM32

Published May 31, 2023

Click board™

DC Motor 15 Click

Dev Board

EasyMx PRO v7 for STM32

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

STM32F407VGT6

Embrace the power of brushed motor control today and automagically regulate the current during the Start-up sequence of a DC motor!

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

DC Motor 15 Click is based on the DRV8874, an integrated motor driver with N-channel H-bridge, charge pump, current sensing and proportional output, current regulation, and protection circuitry from Texas Instruments. The DRV8874 operates from the external power supply from 4.5V to 37V, providing a wide range of output load currents for various motors and loads. The charge pump feature improves efficiency by supporting N-channel MOSFET half-bridges and 100% duty cycle driving. This Click board™ also integrates current sensing, regulation, and feedback. These features allow the DRV8874 to sense the output current without an external sense resistor or sense circuitry reducing system cost and complexity. This also allows the device to limit the output current in the case of the motor stall or high torque events and give detailed feedback to the MCU about the load

current through a proportional output on the AN pin of the mikroBUS™, labeled as IPR. The DRV8874 integrates an H-bridge output power stage that can be operated in different control modes by the PMODE pin setting. The PMODE pin on this Click board™ is set to a logic low level, meaning the device is latched into PH/EN mode. PH/EN mode allows the H-bridge to be controlled with a speed and direction type of interface through two GPIO pins labeled IN2 and IN1, routed to the PWM and CS pins of the mikroBUS™ socket. It also has a Sleep Mode that achieves ultra-low quiescent current draw by shutting down most of the internal circuitry. The SLP pin routed to the RST pin of the mikroBUS™ socket provides an ultra-low power mode to minimize current draw during system inactivity. As mentioned in the product description, DC Motor 15 Click communicates with MCU using several GPIO pins.

In addition to the pins used to adjust the speed and rotation direction of the motor, this Click board™ also has an interrupt labeled as FLT routed to the INT pin of the mikroBUS™ socket used to protect the device and the output load. The DRV8874 enters Fault Mode when a fault is encountered, leaves Fault Mode, and re-enters Active Mode when the recovery condition is met. 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. 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.

dc-motor-15-click-hardware-overview

Features overview

Development board

EasyMx PRO v7 for STM32 is the seventh generation of ARM development boards specially designed for the needs of rapid development of embedded applications. It supports a wide range of 32-bit ARM microcontrollers from STMicroelectronics and a broad set of unique functions, such as a powerful onboard mikroProg programmer and In-Circuit debugger over USB-B. The development board is well organized and designed so that the end-user has all the necessary elements, such as switches, buttons, indicators, connectors, and others, in one place. With two different connectors for each port, EasyMx PRO v7 for STM32 allows you to connect accessory boards, sensors, and custom electronics

more efficiently than ever. Each part of the EasyMx PRO v7 for STM32 development board contains the components necessary for the most efficient operation of the same board. An integrated mikroProg, a fast USB 2.0 programmer with mikroICD hardware In-Circuit Debugger, offers many valuable programming/debugging options and seamless integration with the Mikroe software environment. Besides it also includes a clean and regulated power supply block for the development board. It can use a wide range of external power sources, including an external 12V power supply, 7-23V AC or 9-32V DC via DC connector/screw terminals, and a power source via the USB Type-B (USB-B) connector. Communication options such

as USB-UART, USB-HOST/DEVICE, CAN, and Ethernet are also included, including the well-established mikroBUS™ standard, one display option for the TFT board line of products, and a standard TQFP socket for the seventh-generation MCU cards. This socket covers a wide range of 32-bit ARM MCUs, like STM32 Cortex-M3 and -M4 MCUs. EasyMx PRO v7 for STM32 is an integral part of the Mikroe ecosystem for rapid development. Natively supported by Mikroe software tools, it covers many aspects of prototyping and development thanks to a considerable number of different Click boards™ (over a thousand boards), the number of which is growing every day.

EasyMx PRO v7 for STM32 horizontal image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Type

7th Generation

Architecture

ARM Cortex-M4

MCU Memory (KB)

10

Silicon Vendor

STMicroelectronics

Pin count

100

RAM (Bytes)

100

You complete me!

Accessories

DC Gear Motor - 430RPM (3-6V) represents an all-in-one combination of a motor and gearbox, where the addition of gear leads to a reduction of motor speed while increasing the torque output. This gear motor has a spur gearbox, making it a highly reliable solution for applications with lower torque and speed requirements. The most critical parameters for gear motors are speed, torque, and efficiency, which are, in this case, 520RPM with no load and 430RPM at maximum efficiency, alongside a current of 60mA and a torque of 50g.cm. Rated for a 3-6V operational voltage range and clockwise/counterclockwise rotation direction, this motor represents an excellent solution for many functions initially performed by brushed DC motors in robotics, medical equipment, electric door locks, and much more.

DC Motor 15 Click accessories image

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

Analog Current Output
PA4
AN
Sleep Mode
PC2
RST
Motor Control Input 2
PD13
CS
NC
NC
SCK
NC
NC
MISO
NC
NC
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
Motor control input 1
PA0
PWM
Fault Indicator
PD10
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

Schematic

DC Motor 15 Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

EasyPIC Fusion v7 front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the EasyMx PRO v7 for STM32 as your development board.

EasyPIC Fusion v7 front image hardware assembly
GNSS2 Click front image hardware assembly
EasyPIC FUSION v7 ETH MCUcard with PIC32MZ2048EFH144 front image hardware assembly
GNSS2 Click complete accessories setup image hardware assembly
EMxPRO-STM32-TIVA/EPIC Fusion v7 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 Compiler Selection Step Image hardware assembly
NECTO Output Selection Step Image hardware assembly
Necto image step 6 hardware assembly
EasyPIC PRO v7a MCU Selection Necto Step hardware assembly
EasyPIC PRO v7a Display Selection Necto Step hardware assembly
Necto image step 9 hardware assembly
Necto image step 10 hardware assembly
Necto PreFlash Image hardware assembly

Track your results in real time

Application Output via UART Mode

1. Once the code example is loaded, pressing the "FLASH" button initiates the build process, and programs it on the created setup.

2. After the programming is completed, click on the Tools icon in the upper-right panel, and select the UART Terminal.

3. After opening the UART Terminal tab, first check the baud rate setting in the Options menu (default is 115200). If this parameter is correct, activate the terminal by clicking the "CONNECT" button.

4. Now terminal status changes from Disconnected to Connected in green, and the data is displayed in the Received data field.

UART_Application_Output

Software Support

Library Description

This library contains API for DC Motor 15 Click driver.

Key functions:

  • void dcmotor15_forward ( ); - Function is used to drive the motor forward.
  • void dcmotor15_reverse ( ); - Function is used to drive the motor in reverse.
  • void dcmotor15_brake ( ); - Function is used to brake the motor.

Open Source

Code example

This example can be found in NECTO Studio. Feel free to download the code, or you can copy the code below.

/*!
 * @file main.c
 * @brief DC Motor 15 Click Example.
 *
 * # Description
 * This example demonstrates the use of DC Motor 15 click board. 
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 *
 * ## Application Init
 * Initializes the driver and makes an initial log.
 *
 * ## Application Task
 * Drives the motor in the forward direction for 5 seconds, then pulls brake for 2 seconds, 
 * and after that drives it in the reverse direction for 5 seconds, and finally, 
 * disconnects the motor for 2 seconds. It will also calculates and displays the motor current consumption.
 * Each step will be logged on the USB UART where you can track the program flow.
 *
 * @author Stefan Filipovic
 *
 */

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "dcmotor15.h"

// Number of ADC conversions that will be performed for a single current measurement.
#define NUM_OF_ADC_CONVERSATIONS        1000  

// Time period for forward and reverse modes in seconds.  
#define RUN_PERIOD                      6  

// Time period for brake and stop modes in seconds.               
#define IDLE_PERIOD                     3     

static dcmotor15_t dcmotor15;   /**< DC Motor 15 Click driver object. */
static log_t logger;            /**< Logger object. */

void display_current ( dcmotor15_t *ctx, uint16_t delay )
{
    float current = 0;
    for ( uint8_t cnt = 0; cnt < delay; cnt++ ) 
    {  
        Delay_ms( 1000 );
        current = dcmotor15_get_current ( &dcmotor15, NUM_OF_ADC_CONVERSATIONS );
        log_printf( &logger, " Current : %.3f [A]\r\n", current ); 
    }
    log_printf( &logger, " ------------------------------\r\n" );   
}

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;              /**< Logger config object. */
    dcmotor15_cfg_t dcmotor15_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 );
    Delay_ms( 100 );
    log_info( &logger, " Application Init " );

    // Click initialization.

    dcmotor15_cfg_setup( &dcmotor15_cfg );
    DCMOTOR15_MAP_MIKROBUS( dcmotor15_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    if ( ADC_ERROR == dcmotor15_init( &dcmotor15, &dcmotor15_cfg ) )
    {
        log_error( &logger, " Application Init Error. " );
        log_info( &logger, " Please, run program again... " );

        for ( ; ; );
    }
    dcmotor15_default_cfg ( &dcmotor15 );
    log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
}

void application_task ( void ) 
{
    log_printf( &logger, " The motor turns forward! \r\n" );
    dcmotor15_forward( &dcmotor15 );
    display_current ( &dcmotor15, RUN_PERIOD );
    log_printf( &logger, " Pull brake! \r\n" );
    dcmotor15_brake( &dcmotor15 );
    display_current ( &dcmotor15, IDLE_PERIOD );
    log_printf( &logger, " The motor turns in reverse! \r\n" );
    dcmotor15_reverse( &dcmotor15 );
    display_current ( &dcmotor15, RUN_PERIOD );
    log_printf( &logger, " The motor is disconnected (High-Z)!  \r\n" );
    dcmotor15_stop( &dcmotor15 );
    display_current ( &dcmotor15, IDLE_PERIOD );
}

void main ( void ) 
{
    application_init( );

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

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

Additional Support

Resources

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