/Microchip_Curiosity_Nano_Examples

Experiments with Microchip Curiosity Nano boards

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Microchip Curiosity Nano Examples

My experiments, snippets and documents about some Microchip Curiosity Nano boards I use for my projects or for learning. Actually there are examples for following Nano Boards:

  • 16F18446 (*)
  • 16F15376
  • 18F57Q43

(*) For my experiments I used the old "MPLAB Xpress PIC16F18446 Evaluation Board" now that board is called "PIC16F18446 Curiosity Nano" : debugger pinout is different!!!

For Datasheets and Documents, please take a look in the assets folder.
I've put all boards pinout in the pinouts document.

Powering Curiosity Nano

Running at 5 or 3.3V

By default Curiosity nano runs at 3.3V when powered from USB: there is a software controlled variable regulator on board that generates the VTG (V Target). If you want to run the board @5V when you power it from USB you must change a parameter in the project configuration:

  • Right click on project in Projects tree and select Properties
  • in Categories box on the left, select PKOB Nano
  • in Option Categories dropdown box, on the right, select Power
  • check the Power target circuit checkbox
  • write 5 in the blank field Voltage level
  • press OK

The project property will be changed and will be active the next time you'll program the board. Voltage change is permanent, so there is no need to keep this setting every-time for every project: be careful. This setting, obviously, only affect the V Target when you power the board from USB. Following picture illustrates where this setting is located:

VTG modification

Powering from external

If you want to power the board from the external instead of USB, you must tie to GND the pin VOFF: it's the second pin on the right, starting from top, having the USB connector on top: this will disable the on board regulator. After you've tied VOFF to GND you can power the board on the pin VTG: it's the sixth pin on the right, starting from top, having the USB connector on top. The voltage you apply will not be affected by the modification explained above. 5V is the maximum allowed.

Curiosity Nano Debugger Pinout

WARNING: if you use the old PIC16F18446 revision (Called MPLAB Xpress PIC16F18446 Evaluation Board) there is no VOFF pin (notice that this debug header has fewer pins!) and you must cut some traces below the board for powering from external, please refer to old documents in the assets folder and to the pinouts document.

Usage of certain pins

Following infos are for the PIC16F15376 Curiosity Nano.

  • RCO and RC1: Normally, those pins are not routed from edge connector to PIC MCU, so if you would to use them, put a solder blob on pads on the bottom of the board marked as RC0 - RC1. They're not connected since you can choose to use them for the Secondary Oscillator (SOSC) soldering a 32768Hz Crystal on top.
  • RB6 and RB7: Those pins are not shown on the silkscreen. They are used by the debugger (DBG1/ICSPCLK and DBG0/ICSPDAT respectively), maybe is safe to use if you disconnect them first than programming
  • RD0 and RD1: are shared with USB CDC and used by debugger, they appears on the silkscreen. EUSART2 can use those pins, so if you want to redirect serial communication over USB configure the EUSART2 for using UART TX on RD0 and UART RX on RD1.
  • RE0: is connected to LED anode (pin low = led ON).
  • RE2: is connected to DGB2 Debugger pin and shared with SW0. RE2 marking does not appear on silkscreen
  • RE3: this pin is shared with MCLR and is connected with DBG3 debugger pin. RE3 marking does not appear on silkscreen

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