Getting started with GPIO

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This article explains what is GPIO and how to use it through examples

1 GPIO definition

GPIO stands for general purpose input/output. It is a type of pin found on an integrated circuit that does not have a specific function. While most pins have a dedicated purpose, such as sending a signal to a certain component, the function of a GPIO pin is customizable and can be controlled by the software.

2 Configure GPIO for LED toggling

2.1 Objective

Learn how to setup the pin and GPIO port in STM32CubeMX
Modify the code generated by STM32CubeMX and use the HAL functions

2.2 How

Configure the GPIO pin in STM32CubeMX and generate the code
Add into the project the HAL_Delay function and HAL_GPIO_Toggle function
Verify the correct functionality on toggling LED

2.3 Create the project in STM32CubeMX

New project > Access to board selector on main panel or Menu > File > New Project
Select NUCLEO-L476RG

File:SelectL476.png

If you want to start the project with a board, the LED pin is already selected (PA5 on NucleoL476RG. For other boards refer to the user manual)

Note: During the download of a firmware package with STM32CubeMX, existing examples can be find at the following path for example: c:\Users\YourUserName\STM32Cube\Repository\STM32Cube_FW_G0_V1.3.0\Projects\NUCLEO-G071RB\Examples\GPIO\GPIO_IOToggle\GPIO_IOToggle.ioc and open them with STM32CubeMX.

2.3.1 GPIO configuration

Select the push-pull mode
No pull-up and pull-down
Output speed set to very high is important for faster peripherals such as SPI or USART.

File:GPIO config.png

2.3.2 GPIO (pin) output-speed configuration

Change the rising and falling edge when the pin state changes from high to low or low to high.
A higher GPIO speed increases the EMI noise from STM32 and increases the STM32 consumption.
It is good to adapt the GPIO speed with the peripheral speed. For example toggling GPIO on 1 Hz is low optimal settings, but with SPI on 45 MHz the very high must be set..

File:GPIO Speed.png

2.3.3 Set the project details for generation

File:Manage GPIO Project.png

2.3.4 Open the main.c in our IDE

We do the LED toggling in a function inside main.c

Information

Between /* USER CODE BEGIN 3 */ and /* USER CODE END 3 */ tags

 /* USER CODE BEGIN 3 */
  /* Infinite loop */
  while (1)
  {
    HAL_GPIO_WritePin(GPIOG, GPIO_PIN_14, GPIO_PIN_SET);
    HAL_Delay(500);
    
    HAL_GPIO_WritePin(GPIOG, GPIO_PIN_14, GPIO_PIN_RESET);
    HAL_Delay(500);
  }
  /* USER CODE END 3 */

2.4 Compile and flash

Every 500 ms the green LED state changes.

Warning

All GPIOs are able to drive 5 V and 3 V in input mode, but they are only able to generate 3 V in output push-pull mode