# AS3935-based Lightning Detector ## Overview This project implements a lightning detection system using two AS3935 Franklin Lightning Sensors interfaced with an STM32F103 microcontroller. The device communicates over USB CDC (virtual serial port) and exposes a text-based command protocol for configuration, monitoring, and data extraction. In the next version it is possible to add RS-232 or RS-485 as an alternative to USB. Key features: - Dual AS3935 sensors on single SPI channel. - On-chip ADC for internal MCU temperature and voltage supply monitoring (more features may be added in the future). - Persistent configuration storage in internal Flash memory. - USB CDC interface with automatic detection of lightning events. - Extensive command set for real-time tuning and status readout. --- ## Hardware Connections | Pin | Configuration | Function | |--------|-----------|----------| | PA0 | GPIO | INT0 - External interrupt from sensor 0 (pull-down) | | PA1 | GPIO | INT1 - External interrupt from sensor 1 (pull-down) | | PA2 | GPIO | CS0 - SPI chip select for sensor 0 | | PA3 | GPIO | CS1 - SPI chip select for sensor 1 | | PA5 | SPI1 SCK | SPI clock | | PA6 | SPI1 MISO | SPI Master In / Slave Out | | PA7 | SPI1 MOSI | SPI Master Out / Slave In | | PA9 | USART1 Tx | (unused in this version) | | PA10 | USART1 Rx | (unused) | | PA15 | GPIO | USB D+ pull-up control (1.5 kΩ) | | PC13 | GPIO | On-board LED (active low) | The two AS3935 sensors share the SPI bus but have separate chip select lines and interrupt pins. If necessary, it can be expanded to include more sensors. --- ## USB CDC Communication The device appears as a virtual COM port when connected to a host computer. Communication parameters (baud rate, parity, etc.) are ignored — the underlying USB bulk transport guarantees reliable delivery. - **Line coding**: default sent by host (e.g., 115200 8N1) is accepted but not used. - **Ring buffers**: 1024 bytes each for TX and RX. - **Command terminator**: every command must end with a newline (`\n`). The response is also terminated by a newline, except for multi-line outputs (help, dumpconf, SPI). When the host opens the virtual COM port (DTR asserted), the device becomes ready. If the port is closed, the `CDCready` flag is cleared and any outgoing data is discarded. --- ## Command Protocol ### General Syntax ``` [] [ = ] ``` - **command** — case-sensitive name (exactly as listed, all lowercase). - **channel** — numeric index of the sensor (0 or 1). Required for sensor-specific commands; omitted for global commands. - **value** — decimal integer, hexadecimal (`0x` prefix), binary (`0b` prefix), or a string (for commands like `setiface`). For the `SPI` command, the value is a sequence of hex bytes and/or quoted text. - **whitespaces** around `=` and between tokens is ignored. There are two modes: 1. **Getter** — if `=` is absent, the current value is returned: ``` command = ``` No `OK` response follows. 2. **Command** — also don't need `=`, but returns `OK` or error code. 3. **Setter** — if `=` is present, the value after `=` is assigned. The returned value is text describing error code (`OK` etc.). A getter-style response is **not** returned after a successful set; only `OK` appears. For channel-dependent commands the response includes the channel number, e.g.: ``` gain0 = 5 ``` Global commands (no channel) use the same format without a number: ``` restonstart = 1 ``` Commands that are purely actions (e.g., `clearstat`, `resetdef`) only take a channel number and do not accept an `=` sign. On success they reply `OK`. ### Error Codes If a command cannot be executed, one of the following error strings is returned instead of `OK`: | Error String | Meaning | |--------------|---------| | `BADCMD` | Unknown command | | `BADPAR` | Invalid channel number | | `BADVAL` | Invalid value for the setter (out of range or malformed) | | `WRONGLEN` | Buffer overflow or line too long | | `CANTRUN` | SPI communication failure, sensor not responding, or illegal state | | `BUSY` | SPI or ring buffer busy - retry later | | `OVERFLOW` | Input string exceeded maximum length (256 characters) | ### Command Reference All commands are defined in the source file `commproto.cpp` using macro `COMMAND_TABLE`. #### Sensor Configuration Commands These commands read or write parameters of a specific AS3935 sensor. They require the channel number as the first argument. For details, please refer to the sensor's technical documentation. | Command | Description | Value Range | Default | |--------------|-------------|-------------|---------| | `displco` | Display on IRQ pin: 0=nothing, 1=TRCO, 2=SRCO, 3=LCO | 0 - 3 | 0 | | `gain` | Amplifier gain (AFE_GB) | 0 - 31 | 18 | | `lco_fdiv` | Antenna LCO frequency divider | 0 - 3 | 0 | | `maskdist` | Mask disturbers (1 = mask, 0 = allow) | 0 or 1 | 0 | | `minnumlig` | Minimum lightning number (0→1, 1→5, 2→9, 3→16) | 0 - 3 | 0 | | `nflev` | Noise floor level | 0 - 7 | 2 | | `srej` | Spike rejection | 0 - 15 | 2 | | `tuncap` | Tune capacitor setting (n·8 pF) | 0 - 15 | 0 | | `wdthres` | Watchdog threshold | 0 - 15 | 2 | **Syntax examples:** ``` gain 0 = 12 set gain of sensor 0 to 12 gain 1 read gain of sensor 1 → gain1 = 5 displco 0 = 1 configure sensor 0 IRQ pin to output TRCO clock displco 0 read display mode → displco0 = 1 ``` #### Sensor Action & Status Commands These commands do not take a value after `=`, only a channel number. | Command | Description | |--------------|-------------| | `clearstat` | Clear the lightning statistics (last 15 min) | | `distance` | Read estimated distance to the lightning in km (0-63, 63=out of range) | | `energy` | Read energy of the last lightning (24-bit value) | | `intcode` | Read the last interrupt code: 1=Noise, 4=Disturber, 8=Lightning | | `iscalib` | Check if both RCO and TRCO calibrations are done (returns 1 if done) | | `resetdef` | Reset the sensor to factory default settings | | `wakeup` | Wake up the sensor and run RCO calibration | **Examples:** ``` wakeup 0 wake up sensor 0, auto-calibrate → OK iscalib 0 read calibration status → iscalib0 = 1 energy 0 read energy → energy0 = 123456 distance 1 read distance → distance1 = 12 intcode 0 read interrupt flags → intcode0 = 8 clearstat 0 clear statistics → OK resetdef 0 reset to defaults → OK ``` #### Global (Non-Sensor) Commands These commands do not require a channel number. | Command | Description | |---------|-------------| | `dumpconf` | Dump the full current configuration (stored in RAM until saved) | | `eraseflash` | Erase the entire Flash configuration storage | | `help` | Print list of all commands and a repository URL | | `mcureset` | Software reset of the MCU | | `mcutemp` | MCU internal temperature in tenths of °C (e.g., 287 = 28.7℃) | | `readconf` | Read sensor configuration from the chip and update RAM for given channel | | `restonstart` | Restore sensor parameters at start-up (0 or 1) | | `saveconf` | Save the current RAM configuration to Flash | | `setiface` | Get/set the USB interface name string (max 16 characters) | | `time` | Current uptime in milliseconds | | `vdd` | Supply voltage VDD in hundredths of a volt (e.g., 330 = 3.30 V) | **Examples:** ``` mcutemp → mcutemp = 287 vdd → vdd = 330 setiface = MyDetector set interface name to "MyDetector" setiface → setiface = MyDetector restonstart = 1 enable automatic restore at power-up saveconf save current configuration to Flash dumpconf print all stored and current parameters readconf 0 read sensor 0 parameters into RAM (for later save) ``` #### SPI Low-Level Command The `SPI` command allows arbitrary bidirectional SPI transactions to a selected sensor. **Syntax:** ``` SPI = ``` `` is a sequence of bytes expressed as space- or comma-separated hexadecimal numbers (without `0x` prefix), optionally with quoted text strings. Anything inside double quotes is transmitted as raw ASCII. **Example:** ``` SPI 0 = 00 01 "hello" 02 ``` This sends the bytes `0x00, 0x01, 'h','e','l','l','o', 0x02` to sensor 0 and returns the received bytes as a hex dump. **Response format:** ``` SPI0 = 00 01 68 65 6c 6c 6f 02 ``` --- ## Lightning Interrupts The main loop continuously monitors the INT pins (PA0, PA1). When a rising edge is detected and the corresponding `DISPLCO` setting is `0` (not used as clock output), the code reads the interrupt register: - Disturber and noise events are reported as: ``` INTERRUPT0=NOICE,DISTURBER ``` - A lightning event additionally triggers `lightning_info()`, which prints the energy and distance: ``` INTERRUPT0=LIGHTNING energy0 = 123456 distance0 = 12 ``` If the pin is configured as a clock output (`displco` != 0), no interrupt processing occurs. You can mask disturber interrupts by command `maskdist n = 0`, in this case only `NOICE` and `LIGHTNING` will be monitored. --- ## Configuration Storage User settings are stored in the internal Flash of the STM32F103. The Flash area reserved for configuration starts at a fixed address (defined in the linker script) and has a limited capacity. The structure `user_conf` contains: - `userconf_sz` — magic cookie (size of the structure). - `iInterface` + `iIlength` — USB interface name (stored as two bytes per character for Unicode). - `spars[]` — per-sensor parameters (gain, WDTH, NF_LEV, SREJ, MIN_NUM_LIG, MASK_DIST, LCO_FDIV, TUN_CAP). - `flags.restore` — if 1, all parameters are automatically applied after reset. **Mechanism:** - Each time `saveconf` is issued, a new copy of the configuration is appended to the Flash storage. A binary search at boot finds the last valid entry. - If the storage becomes full, the next `saveconf` will first erase the entire storage and then write the current configuration. - `eraseflash` erases the whole configuration area; `restonstart` controls whether the stored configuration is uploaded to sensors at start-up. **Capacity:** Approximately `(FLASH_SIZE * 1024 - offset) / sizeof(user_conf)` configurations can be stored. For a typical 64 KB device, this is hundreds of entries. --- ## ADC and Internal Sensors The STM32’s ADC continuously samples the internal temperature sensor (channel 16) and the internal reference voltage (channel 17) in scan mode with DMA circular buffer. A median filter of 9 samples is applied to each channel. - **`mcutemp`** returns temperature in tenths of °C, computed as: `T = 25 + (V_25 - Vsense)/Avg_Slope`, with `V_25=1.45 V` and `Avg_Slope=4.3 mV/°C`. - **`vdd`** calculates the supply voltage using the internal 1.2 V reference: `Vdd = 1.2 * 4096 / (ADC reading of Vrefint)`. These commands do not require a sensor channel. --- ## Examples ### Typical Workflow 1. Connect the device to a USB port and open a terminal at any baud rate. 2. Type `help` to see the available commands. 3. Wake up the sensors and calibrate: ``` wakeup 0 wakeup 1 ``` 4. Configure gains, thresholds and other values if need: ``` gain 0 = 10 wdthres 1 = 3 ``` 5. Verify settings: ``` dumpconf ``` 6. Enable persistent configuration: ``` restonstart = 1 saveconf ``` 7. Monitor lightning events — the device will print `INTERRUPT...` messages automatically. If need, you can clear statistics periodically or call other setters/getters; for example, reduce the sensitivity or lightning strike threshold during a severe thunderstorm and restore these values ​​after it ends ### Reading Sensor Status Any time you can read sensor status (to get noice information or other data): ``` intcode 0 energy 0 distance 0 ``` ### Saving and Restoring Configuration ``` dumpconf # see current settings saveconf # write to flash mcureset # reboot (only if something goes wrong) ``` After reset, the configuration is automatically loaded (if `restonstart` was 1). --- ## How to distinguish between identical device The device uses standard USB VID/PID, which are shared for free use by ST. Therefore, it may be difficult to determine which `/dev/ttyACMx` this particular device corresponds to. You can set custom interface name (`setiface=...`). After storing in flash, reconnect or reset device and run `lsusb -v` for given device. At `iInterface` field you will see stored name. This field can be used to create human-readable symlinks in `/dev`. For automatical creation of symlink in `/dev` to your `/dev/ttyACMx`, add this udev-script to `/etc/udev/rules.d/99-usbids.rules` ``` ACTION=="add", DRIVERS=="usb", ENV{USB_IDS}="%s{idVendor}:%s{idProduct}" ACTION=="add", ENV{USB_IDS}=="0483:5740", ATTRS{interface}=="?*", PROGRAM="/bin/bash -c \"ls /dev | grep $attr{interface} | wc -l \"", SYMLINK+="$attr{interface}%c", MODE="0666", GROUP="tty" ``` --- ## Build Information Typing `help` you will see project repository URL, build number and build date at first string. The code is distributed under GPLv3.