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PCA9685 Servo Driver - Proteus Model

16-Channel Servo Driver with Arduino | Perfect Solution for Many Servos

In this post, I will share a Servo driver model library for Proteus. With this driver, you can control multiple servos using only two pins on your Arduino board. This servo driver is based on the PCA9685 LED controller, which is already provided in Proteus under their Microprocessor Category.

PCA9685 Controller

The PCA9685 is a 16-channel, 12-bit PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) controller designed to drive LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) and similar devices. It’s commonly used in projects where precise control of multiple LEDs or other PWM-controlled devices is required, such as in lighting systems, robotics, and motor control.

Key features of the PCA9685

Smooth LED Operations:

Minimize current spikes by independently setting on/off times for each of the 16 channels.

Fine-Tuned Brightness:

Achieve precise brightness control with 4096 steps (12-bit PWM), offering more options than the PCA9635’s 256 steps.

Syncing Across Devices:

Use a prescaler to synchronize PWM pulse widths across multiple devices, avoiding inconsistencies found in the PCA9635.

External Clock Support:

Sync multiple devices with a user-supplied clock (up to 50 MHz), a feature not present in the PCA9635.

Adjustable PWM Frequencies:

Customize PWM frequencies from 24 Hz to 1526 Hz, allowing compatibility with external power supply controllers.

Servo Driver Proteus Model

The PCA9685 can function as a servo controller, as servos are typically controlled using PWM signals, which the PCA9685 can generate. In Proteus, this PWM controller is already utilized as a servo controller. Additionally, various servo driver boards from different brands incorporate this PWM controller. Therefore, based on these boards, I have enhanced the graphics to provide a more appealing and realistic user interaction experience.

Servo Driver
Servo Driver

How to use Servo Driver with Arduino

The Adafruit PCA9685 PWM Servo Driver library is a popular choice for controlling servos and other PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) devices using the PCA9685 chip. This library provides an easy-to-use interface for Arduino microcontrollers to communicate with the PCA9685 chip, allowing precise control of servo motors and other PWM-driven components.

To install the library, you can use the Arduino Library Manager or manually download the library and add it to your Arduino IDE. Next, open the example file Program (Servo) in an IDE window. Compile this sketch and copy the hex file location into the Arduino model in Proteus. Make sure you have connected the Driver board with Arduino via I2C Pins.

Servo Driver Proteus Simulation
Servo Driver Proteus Simulation

By default, the servo example sketch runs 8 servos, so you have to modify the code according to your choice of how many servos you want to run.

Download Library

Simply click on the button to download the library. You can refer to this post for instructions on how to install the library in Proteus 8. How to Download and install Library in Proteus (electronicstree.com)

Please wait 120 seconds: after that, your download will begin

ZIP Password : electronicstree.com

If you have any requests for Arduino Module Libraries in Proteus, please leave a comment or message us using the contact form.

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