Arduino and PCF8574 IO Expander – Binary Counter and I2C Bus Read / Write

Abstract

In Embedded system design, whenever shortage of digital IO pins for connecting the sensors, relays, then IO expander are used for providing more digital IOs to the system. This article, discuss about connecting an IO expander to the Arduino and Read / Write operation of that device.

Parts and components

Arduino Uno board

PCF8574 IO expander = 2 Nos

330 Ohm resistor = 12 Nos

10K Ohm resistor = 6

Nos LEDs = 12 Nos

4 way DIP switch = 1 No

PCF8574 is the Input / Output (I/O) expander, which will be connected to the Arduino I2C bus.

I2C data pin (SDA) is connected to ADC4 and clock pin (SCL) is connected to ADC5.

The PCF8574 device provides general-purpose remote I/O expansion. The device features an 8-bit quasi-bidirectional I/O port (P0–P7), including latched outputs with high current drive capability for directly driving LEDs.

Each quasi-bidirectional I/O can be used as an input or output without the use of a data-direction control signal.

The Address range of PCF8574 is 0x20 to 0x27 (7 bit address mode).

The least significant bit of address is used for Write (0) or Read (1) operation selection.

Eight PCF8574 can be connected to the I2C bus, with hardwire address selection on each device.

The 8 LED’s are connected to the PCF8574 Group1 device IO pins through 330 ohm current limiting resistors.

DIP switches are manual electrical switches arranged and packed in Dual Inline Package. Can be directly solder into PCB. Commonly used to select the operating modes of an electronic device for specific situations.

A 4 way DIP switch is connected to the lower nibble of PCF8574 Group2 device IO pins through 10K ohm pullup resistors.

And 4 LEDs are connected to the upper nibble of PCF8574 Group2 device IO pins through 330 ohm current limiting resistors.

The included Wire library allows to communicate to the I2C/TWI bus of Arduino.

The binary counter is incremented by every 300 mS and writes it to the Group 1 IO expander, where LEDs are connected and configured as digital output pins.

Lower nibble of Group 2 IO expander is read and displayed at upper nibble of the same IO expander.

Lower nibble is configured as inputs, and connected with 4 way dip switch.

Upper nibble is configured as output and connected with 4 LEDs.

The project is successfully simulated by using the Proteus.

/// Experiment of PCF8574 IO expander
// Name:- M.Pugazhendi
// Date:-  27thJul2016
// Version:- V0.1
// e-mail:- muthuswamy.pugazhendi@gmail.com
//Include Wire library
#include <Wire.h>
#define DEVICE_1 B0100000
#define DEVICE_2 B0100001
void setup()
{
    Wire.begin();
    IOexpanderWrite(DEVICE_2, 0x0F);
}
void loop()
{
   byte k;
   for(byte i = 0; i<255; i++)
   {
      IOexpanderWrite(DEVICE_1, i);     
      delay(50); 
      k = IOexpanderRead(DEVICE_2);
      delay(50);       
      IOexpanderWrite(DEVICE_2, (k<<4)|0x0F);
      delay(200); 
   }
      
}
//Write a byte to the IO expander
void IOexpanderWrite(byte address, byte _data ) 
{
 Wire.beginTransmission(address);
 Wire.write(_data);
 Wire.endTransmission(); 
}
//Read a byte from the IO expander
byte IOexpanderRead(int address) 
{
 byte _data;
 Wire.requestFrom(address, 1);
 if(Wire.available()) {
   _data = Wire.read();
 }
 return _data;
}