PWM Signal on Nuvoton N76E003 Microcontroller - LED Dimming using Duty Cycle Control

This project demonstrates how a digital microcontroller can control the perceived brightness of an LED using Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). Microcontrollers like the Nuvoton N76E003 operate on digital logic, meaning their output pins are typically either fully on (5V or 3.3V) or fully off (0V). To achieve intermediate levels of brightness without a true variable voltage output, the microcontroller rapidly switches the digital output pin between high and low states. This technique creates a square wave signal defined by its duty cycle, which is the percentage of time the signal stays high during one complete switching cycle. By writing code in the Keil IDE, you configure the internal hardware timers of the N76E003 to generate this PWM waveform. When connected to an LED, a higher duty cycle keeps the LED turned on for a longer portion of the cycle, making it appear brighter to the human eye. Conversely, a lower duty cycle reduces the average electrical power delivered to the LED, causing it to appear dimmer. The Nu-Link Programmer facilitates transferring your compiled code from your computer onto the N76E003 development board. Power can be supplied directly through the programmer connection or an independent 5V power supply unit, ensuring stable operation of the microcontroller as it modulates the duty cycle.

PWM is widely used in real-world applications such as motor speed control, LED brightness dimming, power regulation, and generating analog-like outputs from digital microcontrollers.