Intermediate
30 min

Generate high-frequency clock output with ICS501 and TM4C123GH6PMI

Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) mechanism

PLL Click with EasyMx PRO v7 for Tiva

Published Aug 09, 2023

Click board™

PLL Click

Dev Board

EasyMx PRO v7 for Tiva

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

TM4C123GH6PMI

Generate highly stable and coherent high-frequency signals for applications requiring tight synchronization and minimal phase noise

A

A

Hardware Overview

How does it work?

PLL Click is based on the ICS501, a LOCO™ PLL clock multiplier, from Integrated Device Technology. This IC uses the Phase-Locked Loop to provide a high-frequency clock output, deriving input from a much cheaper, standard fundamental frequency crystal oscillator. Besides the onboard crystal oscillator fixed at 12MHz, it is possible to select the signal from the mikroBUS™ PWM pin as the clock input source. To select the desired multiplication factor, the states of the two input pins, S0 and S1, are routed to the mikroBUS™ pins RST and AN, respectively. These pins can be set to a HIGH or LOW logic state or disconnected (by tri-stating the MCU pins). The combination of these pins states will set the PLL

Click to a specific multiplier. The Output Enable (OE) pin of the ICS501 is used to turn off the output clock by setting it to a LOW logic level. It will additionally set the clock output pin in high impedance (Hi-Z) mode, allowing complete disconnection and no influence on the rest of the circuit, which is useful for experimenting and prototyping purposes. This pin is internally pulled to a HIGH logic level. The OE pin is routed to the CS pin of the mikroBUS™. PLL Click is equipped with two onboard SMD jumpers. The SMD jumper labeled as the VCC SEL is used to select the operating voltage level, consequently limiting the amplitude of the clock output signal with respect to the selected voltage. The other SMD jumper

labeled as the OSC SEL chooses the clock input source between the onboard 12MHz crystal oscillator or the external clock signal. The output signal is routed through the onboard SMA connector, which provides a secure connection and good signal shielding. PLL Click has a library containing functions for all the MIKROE compilers (mikroBASIC, mikroPASCAL, and mikroC). Although relatively easy to control, the library offers comprehensive functions that make the code readable and easy to use. The included example application demonstrates the use of these functions, and it can be used as a reference for custom projects.

PLL click hardware overview image

Features overview

Development board

EasyMx PRO v7 for TIVA 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 Texas Instruments 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 TIVA allows you to connect accessory boards, sensors, and custom electronics more efficiently than ever. Each part of the EasyMx

PRO v7 for TIVA 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 TIVA-series ARM Cortex-M4 MCUs. EasyMx PRO v7 for TIVA 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 Tiva horizontal image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Type

7th Generation

Architecture

ARM Cortex-M4

MCU Memory (KB)

256

Silicon Vendor

Texas Instruments

Pin count

64

RAM (Bytes)

32k

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

Multiplier Adjustment
PE4
AN
Multiplier Adjustment
PE0
RST
Output Enable
PB0
CS
NC
NC
SCK
NC
NC
MISO
NC
NC
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
External Clock Source
PD0
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

Schematic

PLL 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 Tiva 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 PLL Click driver.

Key functions:

  • pll_set_clock_output - This function settings clock output

  • pll_set_pll_4x - This function settings PLL x4

  • pll_set_pll_6x - This function settings PLL x6

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 
 * \brief PLL Click example
 * 
 * # Description
 * This app sets PLL signals.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 * 
 * ## Application Init 
 * Initializes device.
 * 
 * ## Application Task  
 * Every 2 seconds, the PLL increases the input clock from min (x2) to max (x8) level.
 * 
 * \author MikroE Team
 *
 */
// ------------------------------------------------------------------- INCLUDES

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "pll.h"

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

static pll_t pll;
static log_t logger;

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

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;
    pll_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.
    pll_cfg_setup( &cfg );
    PLL_MAP_MIKROBUS( cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    pll_init( &pll, &cfg );
    pll_set_clock_output( &pll, PLL_CLOCK_ENABLE );
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    log_printf( &logger, " PLL level: x2\r\n\n" );
    pll_set_pll_2x( &pll );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    log_printf( &logger, " PLL level: x3\r\n\n" );
    pll_set_pll_3x( &pll );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    log_printf( &logger, " PLL level: x3.125\r\n\n" );
    pll_set_pll_3_125x( &pll );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    log_printf( &logger, " PLL level: x4\r\n\n" );
    pll_set_pll_4x( &pll );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    log_printf( &logger, " PLL level: x5\r\n\n" );
    pll_set_pll_5x( &pll );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    log_printf( &logger, " PLL level: x5.3125\r\n\n" );
    pll_set_pll_5_3125x( &pll );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    log_printf( &logger, " PLL level: x6\r\n\n" );
    pll_set_pll_6x( &pll );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    log_printf( &logger, " PLL level: x6.25\r\n\n" );
    pll_set_pll_6_25x( &pll );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    Delay_ms ( 1000 );
    log_printf( &logger, " PLL level: x8\r\n\n" );
    pll_set_pll_8x( &pll );
    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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