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[Reply #15 on:]

The "problem" with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, IR, what ever:

I need another "remote sending device".

It is an ALARM CLOCK, it would seem slightly over the top for what it is doing.

And, it would need batteries.  Typically one day they would be flat, and I won't be able to turn off the alarm, or something.

[Reply #16 on:]

It isn't quite a SIMPLE alarm clock.  It has a few other functions/features as well which makes it handy to have.

I am curious about these other functions/features, if you don't mind sharing.

How many buttons do you plan on having on the clock in the end to cover all your functions/features?

[Reply #17 on:]

Well,

That's an interesting question.

Originally I was confused to what to do, but after a lot of bashing my head against the wall and studying the code, I have "learnt" that the EXISTING 6 buttons can be used for different things depending on what the program is doing.

So  though they are "scroll buttons" for menus, ENTER and ESCAPE, I have used 5 of those 6 for other things when the clock is displaying.

When the clock was showing, ANY key would excape back to the menu.

That was a severe waste of 5 buttons.

So now, ONLY the ESCAPE key exits the clock.

The other 4 buttons (up, down, left and right) do other things.

I have a "spare button" which is the ENTER one.


Alas the big problem is WHERE these buttons are.  As I have a PHI-2 shield, and a LCD ontop of this, the buttons are back from the front of the panel.  So they are not visible.   
Sure I can put longer thingies on teh buttons so they extend past the front panel and so I can get to them when the unit is mounted in the box.   
So really there aren't that many buttons to "put on it".  But initially I was confused knowing about this "trick" I since learnt.   
As I do'nt like to waste things learnt, and I researched the MCP 23017 which will givev me more I/O I am going to install it anyway as the beauty with this project is that it ca grow easier than the older one I had which if it "grew" mean more wires, a lot more electronics and the linke.  This only needs a few more lines of code to do things.   
I have bigger ideas for it once I get the next couple of problems resolved.   
I did upload a couple of piccies, but can't find them now. 

[Reply #18 on:]

You could also have 4 distinct functions per button (simple push, double, long, extra-long).
Also, if you are looking for compactness, you can replace (hardware-wise) 2 simple buttons with a rotary encoder. Which rotary encoder could also have another push button by itself.
Or, you could use a piezo sensor and program it to detect all kinds of knocks or pressures. With only one input you could have a lot of inputs.

[Reply #19 on:]

That isn't the problem just now.

It is more:  Getting the buttons acessable from the outside of the box.

So I don't want to put the 6 buttons on the "outside" when I may need another 'n' buttons.

I am thinking of going for broke and putting enough to leave some available for expansion.

Also more outputs.

[Reply #20 on:]

My Wise Clock 4 has a lot of functionality and only 3 buttons. They are enough for any new functions I will add.

Getting the buttons acessable from the outside of the box.

Mechanically (holes, screws etc)?
Or choosing the right (size, look-and-feel) buttons?

[Reply #21 on:]

I shall post my code to date soon for you to look at.
There is a fairly recent version in this thread:
http://arduino.cc/forum/index.php/topic,109250.15.html


I'd appreciate looking at your code as well.

Thing is this clock's "functions" are based on something I build 25-30 years ago.

WRT the buttons:
I still have no idea what kind/type/style.

[Reply #22 on:]

This is my latest WORKING code:

In the ZIP file, there is a README.TXT file, that kind of explains the changes.

[Reply #23 on:]

Dude. Can you post some pictures? I have read through both your threads and I am really curious what this alarm clock you intend to recreate looks like...

[Reply #24 on:]

No worries.

here are a couple:

[Reply #25 on:]

You could also have 4 distinct functions per button (simple push, double, long, extra-long).
Also, if you are looking for compactness, you can replace (hardware-wise) 2 simple buttons with a rotary encoder. Which rotary encoder could also have another push button by itself.
Or, you could use a piezo sensor and program it to detect all kinds of knocks or pressures. With only one input you could have a lot of inputs.

Out of interest, could you point me in the direction of the code to detect the length of button press?
(oh, and that is only 3 functions per button.)

But no worries.

[Reply #26 on:]

I used this class in this project:
http://timewitharduino.blogspot.ca/2010/02/introducing-illyclock.html

CButton.h:

Code:

#ifndef _CBUTTON_
#define _CBUTTON_


#if ARDUINO < 100
  #include <WProgram.h>
#else
  #include <Arduino.h>
#endif


// user input actions;
enum {NO_ACTION, BTN_PUSH, BTN_DBL_PUSH, BTN_HOLD, BTN_HOLD_LONG};


class CButton
{
  public:
    CButton(byte pin);

    int checkButton();


  private:
    byte buttonPin;

    // Button timing variables
    static const int debounce      = 20;      // ms debounce period to prevent flickering when pressing or releasing the button
    static const int DCgap         = 250;     // max ms between clicks for a double click event
    static const int holdTimeShort = 1000;    // ms hold period: how long to wait for press+hold event
    static const int holdTimeLong  = 5000;    // ms long hold period: how long to wait for press+hold event

    // Button variables
    boolean buttonVal;   // value read from button
    boolean buttonLast;  // buffered value of the button's previous state
    boolean DCwaiting;  // whether we're waiting for a double click (down)
    boolean DConUp;     // whether to register a double click on next release, or whether to wait and click
    boolean singleOK;    // whether it's OK to do a single click
    long downTime;         // time the button was pressed down
    long upTime;           // time the button was released
    boolean ignoreUp;   // whether to ignore the button release because the click+hold was triggered
    boolean waitForUp;        // when held, whether to wait for the up event
    boolean holdEventPast;    // whether or not the hold event happened already
    boolean longHoldEventPast;  // whether or not the long hold event happened already
};

#endif

CButton.cpp:

Code:

#include "CButton.h"


CButton::CButton(byte pin)
{
  buttonPin = pin;

  pinMode(pin, INPUT);
  digitalWrite(pin, HIGH);

  // Button variables
  buttonVal = HIGH;   // value read from button
  buttonLast = HIGH;  // buffered value of the button's previous state
  DCwaiting = false;  // whether we're waiting for a double click (down)
  DConUp = false;     // whether to register a double click on next release, or whether to wait and click
  singleOK = true;    // whether it's OK to do a single click
  downTime = -1;         // time the button was pressed down
  upTime = -1;           // time the button was released
  ignoreUp = false;   // whether to ignore the button release because the click+hold was triggered
  waitForUp = false;        // when held, whether to wait for the up event
  holdEventPast = false;    // whether or not the hold event happened already
  longHoldEventPast = false;// whether or not the long hold event happened already
}


int CButton::checkButton()
{
    int event = NO_ACTION;
    buttonVal = digitalRead(buttonPin);

    // Button pressed down
    if (buttonVal == LOW && buttonLast == HIGH && (millis() - upTime) > debounce) {
        downTime = millis();
        ignoreUp = false;
        waitForUp = false;
        singleOK = true;
        holdEventPast = false;
        longHoldEventPast = false;
        if ((millis()-upTime) < DCgap && DConUp == false && DCwaiting == true)  DConUp = true;
        else  DConUp = false;
        DCwaiting = false;
    }
    // Button released
    else if (buttonVal == HIGH && buttonLast == LOW && (millis() - downTime) > debounce) {       
        if (not ignoreUp) {
            upTime = millis();
            if (DConUp == false) DCwaiting = true;
            else {
                event = BTN_DBL_PUSH;
                DConUp = false;
                DCwaiting = false;
                singleOK = false;
            }
        }
    }
    // Test for normal click event: DCgap expired
    if ( buttonVal == HIGH && (millis()-upTime) >= DCgap && DCwaiting == true && DConUp == false && singleOK == true && event != BTN_DBL_PUSH) {
        event = BTN_PUSH;
        DCwaiting = false;
    }
    // Test for hold
    if (buttonVal == LOW && (millis() - downTime) >= holdTimeShort) {
        // Trigger "normal" hold
        if (not holdEventPast) {
            event = BTN_HOLD;
            waitForUp = true;
            ignoreUp = true;
            DConUp = false;
            DCwaiting = false;
            //downTime = millis();
            holdEventPast = true;
        }
        // Trigger "long" hold
        if ((millis() - downTime) >= holdTimeLong) {
            if (not longHoldEventPast) {
                event = BTN_HOLD_LONG;
                longHoldEventPast = true;
            }
        }
    }
    buttonLast = buttonVal;
    return event;
}

[Reply #27 on:]

florinc,

A rotary switch - to call it - would need two inputs, right?

Not that I am going to use one, but I am thinking back to how they work.

They use quadrature modulation don't they?  Similar to mice, etc.

[Reply #28 on:]

florinc,

A rotary switch - to call it - would need two inputs, right?

Not that I am going to use one, but I am thinking back to how they work.

They use quadrature modulation don't they?  Similar to mice, etc.

They don't have to. A rotary encoder can be as many bits wide as you like.

[Reply #29 on:]

But they can't be ONE bit can they?

You need at least two for reference.

Sorry, I can't remember all the details.  I only touched on that stuff.