Microchip® Advanced Software Framework

Quick start guide for the SAM USART module

This is the quick start guide for the USART module, with step-by-step instructions on how to configure and use the driver in a selection of use cases.

The use cases contain several code fragments. The code fragments in the steps for setup can be copied into a custom initialization function, while the steps for usage can be copied into, e.g., the main application function.

Note
Some SAM devices contain both USART and UART modules, with the latter being a subset in functionality of the former but physically separate peripherals. UART modules are compatible with the USART driver, but only for the functions and modes supported by the base UART driver.

USART use cases

Note
The USART pins configuration are not included here. Please refer the related code in board_init() function.

Basic use case - transmit a character

In this use case, the USART module is configured for:

  • Using USART0
  • Baudrate: 9600
  • Character length: 8 bit
  • Parity mode: Disabled
  • Stop bit: None
  • RS232 mode

Setup steps

Prerequisites

  1. System Clock Management (sysclock)
  2. Common IOPORT API (ioport)

Example code

The following configuration must be added to the project (typically to a conf_usart.h file, but it can also be added to your main application file.)

#define USART_SERIAL USART0
#define USART_SERIAL_ID ID_USART0 //USART0 for sam4l
#define USART_SERIAL_BAUDRATE 9600
#define USART_SERIAL_CHAR_LENGTH US_MR_CHRL_8_BIT
#define USART_SERIAL_PARITY US_MR_PAR_NO
#define USART_SERIAL_STOP_BIT US_MR_NBSTOP_1_BIT

Add to application initialization:

const sam_usart_opt_t usart_console_settings = {
USART_SERIAL_BAUDRATE,
US_MR_CHMODE_NORMAL
};
#if SAM4L
#else
#endif
usart_init_rs232(USART_SERIAL, &usart_console_settings,
usart_enable_tx(USART_SERIAL);
usart_enable_rx(USART_SERIAL);

Workflow

  1. Initialize system clock:
  2. Configure the USART Tx and Rx pins by call the board init function:
    Note
    Set the following define in conf_board.h file to enable COM port,it will be used in board_init() function to set up IOPorts for the USART pins. For SAM4L:
    #define CONF_BOARD_COM_PORT
    For other SAM devices:
    #define CONF_BOARD_UART_CONSOLE
  3. Create USART options struct:
    const sam_usart_opt_t usart_console_settings = {
    USART_SERIAL_BAUDRATE,
    US_MR_CHMODE_NORMAL
    };
  4. Enable the clock to the USART module:
    #if SAM4L
    #else
    #endif
  5. Initialize the USART module in RS232 mode:
    usart_init_rs232(USART_SERIAL, &usart_console_settings,
  6. Enable the Rx and Tx modes of the USART module:
    usart_enable_tx(USART_SERIAL);
    usart_enable_rx(USART_SERIAL);

Usage steps

Example code

Add to application C-file:

usart_putchar(USART_SERIAL, 'a');

Workflow

  1. Send an 'a' character via USART
    usart_putchar(USART_SERIAL, 'a');