Microchip CURIOSITY LPC development board : What hardware does it have?

Embedded Development Boards, Kits, Programmers
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The Microchip CURIOSITY LPC development board DM164137 is a highly integrated 8-bit PIC MCU development platform designed for rapid prototyping and learning. Below is an analysis of its core hardware components and functions, combining official documentation, user feedback, and extended application scenarios:

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I. Core Processing and Programming Modules

PIC MCU Socket (DIP20)

  • Supported Models: 8-bit PIC® MCUs with 8/14/20 pins (e.g., standard PIC16F18446, compatible with PIC18F16Q41, etc.).
  • Expansion Capability: Dual-row expansion headers (J8/J11) expose all IO pins, supporting ICSP programming (requires enabling the LVP bit) for easy connection of peripherals like sensors and relays.
  • Advantage: The DIP socket design supports hot-swapping and allows one board to be compatible with multiple MCU models, reducing learning costs.

On-Board PICkit (PKOB4)

  • Function: Integrates Low-Voltage Programming (LVP) and In-Circuit Debugging (ICD), connecting directly to a computer via USB without extra programmers (e.g., PICkit 3).
  • Compatibility: Seamlessly docks with MPLAB X IDE, supporting breakpoint debugging and register monitoring, which improves development efficiency by over 50% (user test data).

II. Expansion Interfaces and Peripherals

mikroBUS™ Sockets (Main/Secondary)

  • Compatibility: Supports over 1,700 MikroElektronika Click modules (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, OLED, temperature/humidity sensors).
  • Limitations: MCUs with fewer than 28 pins require remapping signals like RST/CS via solder blob jumpers (User Guide Appendix B.1), such as disconnecting the default RD0-RST and connecting to the J8 header.
  • Case Examples: Inserting an RN4020 Bluetooth module for BLE communication, or using an ADC Click module to collect analog signals from a potentiometer.

Dual-Row Expansion Headers (All Pins Exposed)

  • Purpose: Exposes all MCU IO, power (VDD/GND), and ICSP (PGC/PGD/MCLR) for custom circuit construction.
  • Typical Applications: Connecting servos (PWM), 7-segment displays (parallel IO), or serial screens (UART).

III. User Interaction and Indicator Components

Interactive Inputs

  • Push Button S1 (Mechanical Button): General-purpose input supporting long/short press detection, commonly used for mode switching (e.g., adjusting LED blinking frequency).
  • mTouch® Button S3 (Capacitive Touch): Contactless operation, suitable for waterproof devices or high-frequency clicking scenarios (e.g., smart home switches).
  • Potentiometer POT1 (10kΩ): Analog input (0-3.3V) for adjusting LED brightness, PWM duty cycle, or serving as a sensor calibration knob.

Status Indicators

  • 4×LED (D4-D7): Programmable control (e.g., D4 as a constant power indicator, D5-D7 for communication status), supporting effects like breathing lights and running lights.
  • Virtual Serial Port Indicator: Automatically enumerates as a COM port after USB connection, allowing debug messages (e.g., “Hello World”) to be printed via a serial assistant.

IV. Power and Communication

USB Connector (Micro-B)

  • Functions: Provides 5V power (bus-powered) and data transmission for programming, debugging, and virtual serial port.
  • Compatibility: Supports Win/macOS/Linux, with drivers auto-recognized (virtual serial port requires MPLAB drivers).

Bluetooth Module (RN4020 Reserved Footprint)

  • Expansion: Soldering an RN4020 enables BLE 4.2 for mobile app control (e.g., connecting to cloud platforms via Microchip’s MQTT library).
  • Power Consumption: Sleep mode draws only a few μA, suitable for low-power IoT devices.

V. Underlying Hardware Design

Power Management

  • 3.3V LDO: Stabilizes power for the MCU and peripherals, supporting battery power (requires external power modules).
  • VDD/GND Expansion: Application headers provide independent power interfaces for connecting 5V devices (e.g., motors).

Solder Blob Jumpers

  • Flexible Remapping: Default connections can be disconnected by scraping off solder, e.g., remapping mikroBUS CS from RD3 to RA5 to adapt to different MCU pin limitations.

VI. Development Ecosystem Support

  • Software Tools: MPLAB X IDE + MCC (graphical code generator) auto-configures peripherals like IO, UART, and PWM, reducing code volume by 70% (user cases).
  • Low-Power Optimization: Supports sleep mode (500nA), with power control verified via onboard potentiometers and touch buttons (e.g., sleep-wake experiments).

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