I am really interested in to get touch sensiting working together with max/msp, has anyone did that?
I am using the arduino2Max patch to get Arduino talk to max/msp.
hey,
i'm trying to do the same. i was initally using the capsense code but abandoned it because i couldn't seem to create multiply capacitive sensors from it. i'm not that hardcore a programmer you see.
instead, i found this code Arduino Playground - CapacitiveSensor
which works perfectly in arduino, the numbers are outputting and i'm trying to use with the arduino2max patch but no joy. as the pins are declared in the arduino code, surely the max patch should read the digital pins? any help is really appreciated.
Cheers
I'm currently building a capactive measurement system as part of my PHd, I've found, depending on what accuracy you want, that the best way is to use a sigma delta modulation technique. You can find this in Analog Devices AD774x series of Capacitive to Digital Converters. These chips go from one channel to 12 channels for mounting capacitive electrodes and have resolutions between 8 and 24 bits over full scale ranges of around 25pF with a bit of calibration, obviously, that gives a lot of sensitivity.
The chips communicate with a host through the i2c bus, so you ca use Arduino's wire library to get the data out of the slave chip (I sweated over a prototype function for a PIC i2c protocol for months when I found arduino!) and use that to manipulate the data anyway you want.
the only thing is that these chips are only available in TSSOP form so can be a bit of a pain in the arse to solder, however it's quite a nice solution as I am finding out.
What is the purpose of the guard pin (pin 10)? The code seems to work just as well without it...
You are correct that the guard pin doesn't do much and can easily be omitted. This was a klugy way to implement a technique which is used with op amps and other high impedance (low current) circuits.
You can now use the [[Arduino Playground - HomePage capSense library]] and use any pins you want. The results will vary a bit from pin to pin though.
But if you do want to make the wire insensitive and only the foil at the end sensitive, use shielded audio wire and ground the shield on the duino end only. (Make sure the shield on the other end doesn't touch the sensor, or it won't work.
Paul
What is the difference between this and Arduino Playground - CapacitiveSensor? Is the one wire method only for direct touch, while this can sense a longer distance?
bump*
This post is a bit old now but I have a question...
I have used this circuit and because I didn't have a large enough resistor, I connected up an LDR.
I then got a smoothed value of 0 and 4 when I touched it. When I covered up the LDR, producing a massive resistance it would give me values of 100-200 when I was ~1m away and then increase to just over 1000 when I walked up to it.
I am wanting to use this setup to sense people close to a project but I would like a normal resistor. Anyone got any ideas as to what kind of size/value I should be looking at?
Thanks,
Mowcius
hi! this code is fantastic!! I am actually thinking of using this for my project so thanks!
i was wondering what the coding would be if i wanted to put an LED and have it blink when the wire is touched. Im not very code-savvy, so any suggestions would be awesome!
Ok, since I posted that, I have learnt a lot about all this!
It will be easy to sense touching a wire. Use the tutorial and serial read to see what values you get when you touch the wire. Then use 'if' commands for if it is this value or higher then light up the LED.
If you need any more help then just say
Mowcius
ok, this is going to sound a bit dumb, but i dont EXACTLY know what the coding should look like....and i have tried looking at the page that helps with coding, but i just get so nervous...
so i guess my next question would be what exactly is the right "lingo" of coding that i should enter? So working off the code here for instance:
Arduino as Capacitive Sensor
10.02.2007 at 03:57:38 Some experiments with the Arduino as a capacitive sensor. All it requires is a 10 M resistor and a piece of wire. I was able to sense a hand about four inches from my 1.5" sq aluminum foil sensor.
Included are some machine code and port manipulation and an easy smoothing filter.
// CapSense.pde
// Paul Badger 2007
// Fun with capacitive sensing and some machine code - for the Arduino (or Wiring Boards).
// Note that the machine code is based on Arduino Board and will probably require some changes for Wiring Board
// This works with a high value (1-10M) resistor between an output pin and an input pin.
// When the output pin changes it changes the state of the input pin in a time constant determined by R * C
// where R is the resistor and C is the capacitance of the pin plus any capacitance present at the sensor.
// It is possible when using this setup to see some variation in capacitance when one's hand is 3 to 4 inches from the sensors
// Try experimenting with larger sensors. Lower values of R will probably yield higher reliability.
// Use 1 M resistor (or less maybe) for absolute touch to activate.
// With a 10 M resistor the sensor will start to respond 1-2 inches away
// Setup
// Connect a 10M resistor between pins 8 and 9 on the Arduino Board
// Connect a small piece of alluminum or copper foil to a short wire and also connect it to pin 9
// When using this in an installation or device it's going to be important to use shielded cable if the wire between the sensor is
// more than a few inches long, or it runs by anything that is not supposed to be sensed.
// Calibration is also probably going to be an issue.
// Instead of "hard wiring" threshold values - store the "non touched" values in a variable on startup - and then compare.
// If your sensed object is many feet from the Arduino Board you're probably going to be better off using the Quantum cap sensors.
// Machine code and Port stuff from a forum post by ARP http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1169088394/0#0
int i;
unsigned int x, y;
float accum, fout, fval = .07; // these are variables for a simple low-pass (smoothing) filter - fval of 1 = no filter - .001 = max filter
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
DDRB=B101; // DDR is the pin direction register - governs inputs and outputs- 1's are outputs
// Arduino pin 8 output, pin 9 input, pin 10 output for "guard pin"
// preceding line is equivalent to three lines below
// pinMode(8, OUTPUT); // output pin
// pinMode(9, INPUT); // input pin
// pinMode(10, OUTPUT); // guard pin
digitalWrite(10, LOW); //could also be HIGH - don't use this pin for changing output though
}
void loop() {
y = 0; // clear out variables
x = 0;
for (i=0; i < 4 ; i++ ){ // do it four times to build up an average - not really neccessary but takes out some jitter
// LOW-to-HIGH transition
PORTB = PORTB | 1; // Same as line below - shows programmer chops but doesn't really buy any more speed
// digitalWrite(8, HIGH);
// output pin is PortB0 (Arduino 8), sensor pin is PortB1 (Arduinio 9)
while ((PINB & B10) != B10 ) { // while the sense pin is not high
// while (digitalRead(9) != 1) // same as above port manipulation above - only 20 times slower!
x++;
}
delay(1);
// HIGH-to-LOW transition
PORTB = PORTB & 0xFE; // Same as line below - these shows programmer chops but doesn't really buy any more speed
//digitalWrite(8, LOW);
while((PINB & B10) != 0 ){ // while pin is not low -- same as below only 20 times faster
// while(digitalRead(9) != 0 ) // same as above port manipulation - only 20 times slower!
y++;
}
delay(1);
}
fout = (fval * (float)x) + ((1-fval) * accum); // Easy smoothing filter "fval" determines amount of new data in fout
accum = fout;
Serial.print((long)x, DEC); // raw data - Low to High
Serial.print( " ");
Serial.print((long)y, DEC); // raw data - High to Low
Serial.print( " ");
Serial.println( (long)fout, DEC); // Smoothed Low to High
}
what do i type in? and where?
Ok first thing, please just modify your post and put the code in # (code brackets - takes up less room)
Have you tried that code on your arduino? I suggest you conect up the circuit and try that code. Just copy everything from '// CapSense.pde' downwards straight into the arduino IDE and upload it.
The resistor doesn't have to be 10M, anything near will do if you don't have a 10M.
Then use the serial monitor to work out what values you get 'normally' and when you are touching it.
Then at the start of the code you need to define your LED. Use pin 13 as it has an inbuilt LED (on newer boards).
So the code should look like this at the top:
int i;
unsigned int x, y;
float accum, fout, fval = .07; // these are variables for a simple low-pass (smoothing) filter - fval of 1 = no filter - .001 = max filter
int ledPin = 13; // LED connected to digital pin 13
[edit]You also need to define the pin, just stick it after defining serial in setup:
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
[/edit]
Then after Serial.println( (long)fout, DEC); // Smoothed Low to High
you want to put an 'if' command.
Eg:
Serial.print((long)x, DEC); // raw data - Low to High
Serial.print( " ");
Serial.print((long)y, DEC); // raw data - High to Low
Serial.print( " ");
Serial.println( (long)fout, DEC); // Smoothed Low to High
if(x > 50)
digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);
else
digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);
delay(20) //Delay for good measure! (not strictly necessary but might as well have it)
}//Last line of code - nothing after this!
Put the 'if' value as just below the lowest value you get when you touch the wire.
There may be a stupid error in that code but it should work.
Say if it doesn't work and i'll fix it
Mowcius
alright! First off, thank you thank you so much for at least putting the effort! I really really appreciate it! So i have run the code with the revisions, and i get a small light up from the LED...
i believe the serial monitor is giving me the highest value of 4 when i touch the wire...and so i tried putting that code
if(x > 3)
digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);
else
digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);
out of curiosity, how can i make the light more visible?
i really really appreciate all your help!
The LED should light up bright when the digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH) function is called. If the led is dim, you either have too large a resistor in series with the LED, or you have not declared that the ledPin is an output pin.
Can you post your code, and describe (or show) the hardware setup?
alright! First off, thank you thank you so much for at least putting the effort! I really really appreciate it! So i have run the code with the revisions, and i get a small light up from the LED...
i believe the serial monitor is giving me the highest value of 4 when i touch the wire...and so i tried putting that code
Ok, yes my value was a bit high then but it changes with the resistor. If you put in a larger value resistor then you get much bigger numbers and you can sense proximity to the sensor. This varies quite bit though due to where your body is/who else is in the room!
Glad the code works for you.
out of curiosity, how can i make the more visible?
i really really appreciate all your help!
If you change the ledPin to another pin, 8 for example then you can put in your own LED with a resistor from that pin to ground (Gnd - next to pin 13). The on board LED cannot be any brighter, it is just there as an indicator for testing.
Mowcius
The LED should light up bright when the digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH) function is called. If the led is dim, you either have too large a resistor in series with the LED, or you have not declared that the ledPin is an output pin.
Can you post your code, and describe (or show) the hardware setup?
Oh come on, RTT (read the thread). It has been stated clearly that the on board LED (13) is being used and therefore it cannot be made brighter.
Mowcius
thanks for all the help!
hopefully this will work to turn on a projector! I was planning on using an IR light in place of the LED and when the wire was touched, the IR light would flash, and would turn on the pico 2 projector....
just wish the IR light was stronger....
How do you know that the IR light isn't "bright" enough? You can't see it.
the IR LED usually is a bright bright flash...but when i touch the wire, there is a dimmer glow
the IR LED usually is a bright bright flash...but when i touch the wire, there is a dimmer glow
if you are still using it on pin 13 then move it to a different pin. Pin 13 already has resistor on it which may not be suitable for the LED you are using/have. Make sure you put in a suitable resistor for the LED if you do move it to another pin though.
Mowcius
OMG IT WORRRRKS!!! The light is soo much stronger!!! Thank you thank you!!!
now the next obstacle i must tackle is the following:
I need to make this IR light able to turn on a Pico 2 projector. Now i discovered that the projector comes with an IR remote control. So i intend to replace that remote and use this device i just built for that. I also discovered that the IR remote that comes with the projector is MP4....would that be something of use?
also, i think i found code for the "IR" tv translation and looks like this:
brand(PHILIPSTV) ;
button(POWER,2) ; // hello world
delay(15000) ;
button(ZERO,2) ; // change channel to 03
delay(100) ;
button(THREE,2) ;
delay(100) ;
button(MUTE,2) ; // mute the TV
delay(15000) ;
button(POWER,2) ; // over and out
I know the brand isnt right, but does arduino have a code for MP4? and if so, where would i put it?