Getting Started Training Module Using MPLAB® Code Configurator (MCC): Step 2

Last modified by Microchip on 2023/11/15 12:57

Configure RTC Peripheral Library

Under the left side tab, Resource Management (MCC), go to Device Resources and expand Libraries > Harmony > Peripherals > RTC.

Click on the green plus symbol green plus icon beside RTC to add the RTC peripheral library (PLIB) to the project graph.

Add RTC

Once it is successfully added, RTC will be listed under the Project Resources tab.


From the Clock Easy View MPLAB® Code Configurator (MCC) plugin, verify that the RTC clock is set to run at 1 kHz internal ultra-low-power clock.

When a module is added to the project graph, MCC automatically enables the clock to the module. The default RTC clock source is an external 1 kHz clock (OSCULP1K).

Verify RTC clock

Note: RTC can be clocked through several low power clocks sources of 1 kHz and 32 kHz as shown above on the SAM E51 device. The 1 kHz clock source retained (OSCULP1K) is enough to generate time periods of 500 milliseconds, 1 second, 2 seconds, and 4 seconds.

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Go back to the project graph and configure the RTC PLIB to generate a compare interrupt every 500 milliseconds.

Configure RTC

Note: The Compare Value is set as 0x200. This compare value generates an RTC compare interrupt every 500 milliseconds.

  • RTC clock = 1024 Hz
  • RTC Prescaler = 1
  • Required Interrupt rate = 500 ms

Hence, Compare Value = (500/1000) x 1024 = 512 (0x200).

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Configure USART Peripheral Library and USART Pins

Under the left tab Resource Management (MCC), go to Device Resources and expand Libraries > Harmony > Peripherals > SERCOM.

Click on the green plus symbol green plus beside SERCOM 5 to add the SERCOM instance 5 (SERCOM 5 PLIB) to the project.Add SERCOM for USART

Select the SERCOM 5 Peripheral Library in the Project Graph and configure it for USART protocol.

Configuration Options pane

Verify the default baud rate is set to 115,200 Hz.

Note: The application will use the SERCOM 5 (as USART) PLIB for printing messages on the serial terminal. Hence, only the transmit functionality is enabled and the receive functionality is disabled.

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From the Project Graph tab, select Plugins > Pin Configuration to launch the Pin Configuration windows.

Configure SERCOM for USART

Three new windows, Pin Diagram, Pin Table, and Pin Settings are opened in the project’s main window.

Pin Diagram, Pin Table, and Pin Settings tabs

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Select the Pin Table tab of MCC and then scroll down to the SERCOM 5 module. Enable USART_TX on PB16 (Pin #39).

Pin Table tab

Pin Table tab

Note: In the SERCOM 5 (as USART) configuration, USART is enabled for TX functionality and no USART Rx functionality is enabled.

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Configure DMA Peripheral Library

From the Project Graph tab, select Plugins > DMA Configuration to launch the DMA Configuration window.

MCC plugins DMA Configuration

A new window, DMA Settings, is opened in the project’s main window.

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Click on the DMA Settings tab. Configure DMA Channel 0 to transfer the application buffer to the USART TX register. The DMA transfers 1 byte from the user buffer to the USART transmit buffer on each trigger.

Based on the trigger source, the DMA channel configuration is automatically set by MCC.

  • Trigger Action: Action taken by DMA on receiving a trigger
    • One beat transfer: Generally used during a memory-to-peripheral or peripheral-to-memory transfer.
    • One block transfer: Generally used during memory-to-memory transfer on a software trigger.
  • Source Address Mode, Destination Address Mode: Select whether to increment the Source/Destination Address after every transfer. Automatically set by MCC based on the trigger type. For example:
    • If the trigger source is USART transmit, then the Source Address is incremented, and the Destination Address is fixed.
    • If the trigger source is USART receive, then the Source Address is fixed, and the Destination Address is incremented.
  • Beat Size: Size of one beat. The default value is 8 bits. For example:
    • If the SPI peripheral is configured for 16-bit/32-bit mode, then the beat size must be set to 16-bits/32-bits respectively.

DMA channel 0 configuration

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Disable USART Interrupt

Under the Project Graph window, click on the SERCOM 5 block.

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In the Configuration Options pane, change Operating Mode to Blocking mode from Non-blocking mode.MCC USART configuration

Note: In this lab, the SERCOM 5 (as USART) interrupt is disabled as the application does not need a callback on the USART transfer complete. A USART transmit buffer empty event triggers DMA to transfer 1 byte of data from the source (user buffer) to the destination (USART Tx register). When all the requested bytes are transmitted, DMA PLIB notifies the application by calling the registered DMA event handler.

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