Control IoT devices with a swipe. One board, round screen, wireless built-in. See how this design can speed up your product idea.
The PIC32MZ DA RGDB MiWi IoT Gateway reference design from Microchip combines a round graphics display interface with a MiWi protocol module on a single board. The gateway is built around the PIC32MZ DA graphics microcontroller (MCU) platform, which uses a 32-bit MIPS32 microAptiv core running at 200 MHz and delivering up to 330 DMIPS of processing power.
The board features a 3-inch radial LCD module for the graphical user interface (GUI) and integrates the ATSAMR30M18A 802.15.4 Sub-GHz module for handling MiWi wireless transmission and reception. The GUI supports swipe-based navigation, enabling users to browse through connected IoT nodes and select or control them from the display.
The design uses the MPLAB Harmony 3 Graphics Suite, which allows developers to create prototypes for Human-Machine Interface (HMI) solutions. The PIC32MZ DA series also integrates a graphics controller, a graphics processor, and up to 32 MB of on-chip DDR2 DRAM for rendering visuals in MCU-based designs.
The application exchanges messages with the SAMR3018A MiWi protocol module on the Radial Graphics Board (RGDB). This module communicates with SAMR30M sensor boards over the MiWi protocol, enabling the gateway to connect with multiple IoT devices in the network.
By combining both a round display interface and IoT communication on a single board, the design removes the need for separate display and connectivity hardware. This results in an architecture with fewer points of failure and easier integration into products.
The MiWi protocol provides low-power, long-range, and reliable wireless communication, making it suitable for applications where battery life and coverage are important. Using the onboard ATSAMR30M18A module, the gateway can communicate with multiple IoT nodes without additional wireless infrastructure.
The PIC32MZ DA MCU’s on-chip DDR2 DRAM, integrated graphics controller, and graphics processor bring graphics capabilities to an MCU environment. This removes the need for external graphics chips, reducing complexity while delivering visuals.
The MPLAB Harmony 3 Graphics Suite supports the development process by providing graphics tools and templates, which help create interactive HMIs. Developers can test and refine designs without starting from scratch.
For developers, this reference design shortens time to market by combining hardware, software, and connectivity into a single platform. The integrated tools and modules allow prototyping and testing, helping turn ideas into working products faster.
The round display interface offers a different look compared to rectangular displays. The swipe-based GUI improves usability, allowing users to control IoT devices with gestures.
With communication between system components and the integration of both graphics and wireless modules, this design reduces the cost and complexity of development. It also lowers the risk of compatibility issues that occur when combining separate display and communication subsystems.
The ability to achieve visuals and smooth interaction on an MCU platform means developers can create products with rich interfaces without using processor solutions that consume more power. This expands design options while maintaining energy efficiency and small form factors.
Microchip has tested this reference design. It comes with a bill of materials (BOM), schematics, assembly drawing, printed circuit board (PCB) layout, and more. The company’s website has additional data about the reference design. To read more about this reference design, click here.
