1.16 Time System Service Multi Client
This example application demonstrates the multi-client system timer functionality.
Description
For Curiosity PIC32MX470 Development Board and PIC32 Ethernet Starter Kit:
- This application demonstrates timer functionality (with two clients to the Time System Service) by periodically printing a message on console every two seconds and blinking an LED every one second
- Delay, counter and single shot timer functionality is demonstrated on a switch press
- On a switch press, the application reads the current value of the 64-bit counter (say, count 1)
- It then starts a delay of 500 ms and waits for the delay to expire
- Once the delay has expired, the application again reads the current value of the 64-bit counter (say, count 2) and calculates the difference between the two counter values
- The difference count indicates the time spent for the delay and is printed on the console as, Delay time = x ms, where x is the delay value and is equal to 500 ms in the given example
- The application then starts a single shot timer of 100 ms
- When the single shot timer
expires, a message is printed on the console that says
Single shot timer of 100 ms expired - This message is printed only once on every switch press
For PIC32MX Starter Kit:
- This application demonstrates timer functionality (with two clients to the Time System Service) by blinking two LEDs at two different periods, one every one second and another every two seconds
- This application also demonstrates delay functionality. If a switch is kept pressed, an LED is blinked with the period of 500 ms using delay functionality.
Downloading and Building the Application
To clone or download this application from GitHub, go to the main page of this repository and then click Clone button to clone this repository or download as zip file. This content can also be downloaded using content manager by following these instructions.
Path of the application within the repository is apps/system/time/sys_time_multiclient/firmware.
To build the application, refer to the following table and open the project using its IDE.
| Project Name | Description |
|---|---|
| pic32mx470_curiosity.X | MPLAB X project for Curiosity PIC32MX470 Development Board |
| pic32mx_eth_sk2.X | MPLAB X project for PIC32 Ethernet Starter Kit |
| pic32mx_sk.X | MPLAB X project for PIC32MX Starter Kit |
Setting Up the Hardware
The following table shows the target hardware for the application projects.
| Project Name | Description |
|---|---|
| pic32mx470_curiosity.X | Curiosity PIC32MX470 Development Board |
| pic32mx_eth_sk2.X | PIC32 Ethernet Starter Kit |
| pic32mx_sk.X | PIC32MX Starter Kit |
Setting Up Curiosity PIC32MX470 Development Board
- Connect mini USB cable to the Debug USB connector (J3) on the board to the computer
- Install the USB UART Click board onto the mikroBUS socket J5 of Curiosity PIC32MX470 Development Board
- Connect mini USB cable to the
USB UART Click board. This will enumerate the
USB to UART port.Note: Ensure that the series resistors on the mikroBUS headers are of value 0Ω.
Setting Up PIC32 Ethernet Starter Kit
- Mount PIC32 Ethernet Starter Kit on the J1 connector of Starter Kit I/O Expansion Board
- Connect TX pin of USB UART Click to U2RX pin of J11 header on Starter Kit I/O Expansion Board
- Connect RX pin of USB UART Click to U2TX pin of J11 header on Starter Kit I/O Expansion Board
- Connect GND pin of USB UART Click to GND pin of J11 header on Starter Kit I/O Expansion Board
- Connect mini USB cable to the USB UART Click board. This will enumerate the USB to UART port.
- Connect the Debug USB port on the board to the computer using a micro USB cable
- Connect mini USB cable to the Debug USB connector (J7) on the PIC32 Ethernet Starter Kit to the computer
Setting Up PIC32MX Starter Kit
- Connect mini USB cable to the Debug USB connector (J1) on the board to the computer
Running the Application
For Curiosity PIC32MX470 Development Board and PIC32 Ethernet Starter Kit:
- Open the Terminal application (e.g., Tera Term) on the computer.
- Connect to the EDBG Virtual COM
port and configure the serial settings as follows:
- Baud: 115200
- Data: 8 bits
- Parity: None
- Stop: 1 bit
- Flow Control: None
- Build and program the application using its IDE.
- Observe the following message
getting printed on the console every two seconds.

- Press the switch and observe the
following output on the terminal (highlighted in red box).

Delay time = 500 msindicates the amount of time spent during the delaySingle shot timer of 100 ms expiredis printed only once on every switch press
- LED indicates the periodic timer
functionality:
- LED is toggled periodically every one second
| Board | Switch Name | LED Name |
|---|---|---|
| Curiosity PIC32MX470 Development Board | S1 | LED1 |
| PIC32 Ethernet Starter Kit | SW1 | LED1 |
For PIC32MX Starter Kit:
- Build and program the application using its IDE.
- Observe LED1 blinks every one second.
- Observe LED2 blinks every two seconds.
- If switch SW1 is continuously pressed then observe LED3 blinks every 500 ms.
