Buck 16 Click

How does it work?

Buck 16 Click as its foundation uses the TPS62912, a low-noise, low-ripple synchronous buck converter with a fixed-frequency current-mode from Texas Instruments. This converter has a filtered internal reference that achieves a low-noise output similar to low-noise LDOs. Besides, it has an output-voltage error of less than 1%, which helps ensure tight output-voltage accuracy, and lower output voltage ripple achieved by using a switching frequency of either 2.2MHz or 1MHz. That’s why this Click board™ is suitable for noise-sensitive applications that generally use an LDO for post-regulation.

This Click board™ communicates with MCU using one GPIO pin in addition to a 3-wire SPI serial interface. The device-enable feature, routed to the RST pin of the mikroBUS™ socket, optimizes power consumption and is used for power ON/OFF purposes (driver operation permission). Once the Click board™ is enabled, the operation mode is then set by the configuration of the CONF SEL (Smart Configuration) jumper by positioning the SMD jumper to an appropriate position marked as VIN or GND.

Besides, this pin is also used for device synchronization. Once an external clock signal, which must be within the clock synchronization frequency range set by the Smart Configuration jumper, is applied to this pin through an onboard header marked as SYNC, the device is enabled and reads the configuration of the Smart Configuration pin. When this signal changes from a clock to a static high, the device switches from an external clock to an internal clock.

With all that, this device also has a power-good output available on the onboard header labeled as PGOOD. The PGOOD pin goes into a high impedance state once the feedback pin voltage, obtained by the MCP4161 digital potentiometer and controlled by the DIGI POT switch, is above 95% of the nominal voltage and is driven low once the voltage falls below typically 90% of the nominal voltage. The power-good signal can be used to sequence multiple rails by connecting to the enable pin of other converters.

This Click board™ can operate with both 3.3V and 5V logic voltage levels selected via the VCC SEL jumper. It allows for both 3.3V and 5V capable MCUs to use the communication lines properly. Additionally, there is a possibility for the TPS62912 power supply selection via jumper labeled as VIN SEL to supply the TPS62912 from an external power supply terminal in the range from 3 to 17V or with VCC voltage levels from mikroBUS™ power rails. 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.

Specifications

Pinout diagram

This table shows how the pinout on Buck 16 Click corresponds to the pinout on the mikroBUS™ socket (the latter shown in the two middle columns).

Notes	Pin					Pin	Notes
	NC	1	AN	PWM	16	NC
Enable	RST	2	RST	INT	15	NC
SPI Chip Select	CS	3	CS	RX	14	NC
SPI Clock	SCK	4	SCK	TX	13	NC
	NC	5	MISO	SCL	12	NC
SPI Data IN	SDI	6	MOSI	SDA	11	NC
Power Supply	3.3V	7	3.3V	5V	10	5V	Power Supply
Ground	GND	8	GND	GND	9	GND	Ground

Onboard settings and indicators

Buck 16 Click electrical specifications

Software Support

We provide a library for the Buck 16 Click as well as a demo application (example), developed using MikroElektronika compilers. The demo can run on all the main MikroElektronika development boards.

Package can be downloaded/installed directly from NECTO Studio Package Manager(recommended way), downloaded from our LibStock™ or found on Mikroe github account.

Library Description

This library contains API for Buck 16 Click driver.

Key functions:

• buck16_enable_output – Enable/Disable voltage output.
• buck16_set_potentiometer – Set potentiometer resistivity.
• buck16_set_output – Set output voltage.

Examples description

This example showcases ability of the device to control voltage output of device. Output voltage can range from 800 to 5500 depending of VIN. By default it will go from 800 to 3300 VIN==VCC.

void application_task ( void )
{
    log_printf( &logger, " > Setting output to 0.9Vrn" );
    buck16_set_output( &buck16, 900 );
    Delay_ms( 5000 );
    log_printf( &logger, " > Setting output to 2.5Vrn" );
    buck16_set_output( &buck16, 2500 );
    Delay_ms( 5000 );
    log_printf( &logger, " > Disable outputrn" );
    buck16_enable_output( &buck16, 0 );
    Delay_ms( 3000 );
    log_printf( &logger, " > Enable outputrn" );
    buck16_enable_output( &buck16, 1 );
    Delay_ms( 3000 );
    log_printf( &logger, " > Setting output to 1.5Vrn" );
    buck16_set_output( &buck16, 1500 );
    Delay_ms( 5000 );
}

The full application code, and ready to use projects can be installed directly from NECTO Studio Package Manager(recommended way), downloaded from our LibStock™ or found on Mikroe github account.

Other mikroE Libraries used in the example:

• MikroSDK.Board
• MikroSDK.Log
• Click.Buck16

Additional notes and informations

Depending on the development board you are using, you may need USB UART click, USB UART 2 click or RS232 click to connect to your PC, for development systems with no UART to USB interface available on the board. The terminal available in all MikroElektronika compilers, or any other terminal application of your choice, can be used to read the message.

mikroSDK

This Click board™ is supported with mikroSDK – MikroElektronika Software Development Kit. To ensure proper operation of mikroSDK compliant Click board™ demo applications, mikroSDK should be downloaded from the LibStock and installed for the compiler you are using.

For more information about mikroSDK, visit the official page.