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[on:]

Hello everyone.

I tried to do this on a workshop and it worked great:

http://little-scale.blogspot.com/2009/04/how-to-use-arduino-to-generate-glitchy.html

And this is our result (with VGA splitter, keep in mind):

However, I couldn't find out what the arduino was doing exactly. This is the code it was running:

Code:

void setup() {
DDRD = B11111111;
}

void loop() {
PORTD = analogRead(0);
}

Is this true C? Or assembler or something? Can anyone explain it to me or give me some links for research?

[Reply #1 on:]

The code is very simple, first of all:

Code:

DDRD = B11111111;

Sets PORT D to be all outputs, with DDRD being the Port D Data Direction Register. See:

http://www.arduino.cc/en/Reference/PortManipulation

Next:

Code:

PORTD = analogRead(0);

This reads the value from Analog pin 0 and converts it to a digital value, and then outputs it to Port D (which will be sent to the monitor)

See:

http://www.arduino.cc/en/Reference/AnalogRead

[Reply #2 on:]

PORTD = analogRead(0);

So analogRead returns a unsigned int of 10 bits, what bits end up in the 8 bit PORTD register? Wouldn't one have to scale or map the 10 bit value to a 8 bit value before sending it out an 8 bit port?

Lefty

[Reply #3 on:]

Thanks. I'll have a look into it.

[Reply #4 on:]

@retrolefty, I think it just takes the last 8 bits of the 10 bit analog in.

That's at least what the original programmer states on the website.

[Reply #5 on:]

I think it just takes the last 8 bits of the 10 bit analog in.

Last 8 bits meaning bits 0-7 of the int or bits 8-15 of the int? either is kind of useless as what I think one would want is to transfer the 8 most significant bits on the 10 bit A/D value (bits 2 to 9 of the returned int) into bits 0 to 7 of  PORTD? I don't think the standard C casting rules will do that?

Lefty

[Reply #6 on:]

either is kind of useless

I don't think it matters for the particular application it's being used for, which is essentially just showing random bars of colour on the screen, which change frequently. It gives a random-ish output, which is all they want, so the fact that some bits are being lost isn't a problem.

[Reply #7 on:]

I don't think it matters for the particular application

After looking at the posted videos I can see what you mean, just cause changes and in that case it probably accomblish the desired effect.
Still I think it may be a bad example and not a good programming example. C casting rules are hard enough to understand and master to have examples like this to try and learn from.  

Lefty

[Reply #8 on:]

hello!

i've been trying the same thing using little scales former blog entry:

http://little-scale.blogspot.com/2008/02/hacking-vga-lines-with-arduino.html

and its overall documentation photo


can't make everything out in detail on the picture (and i'm unsure with the diagram), therefore:

arduino digital pin -> right POT terminal (?)
female VGA pin -> middle POT terminal (?)
arduino ground -> left POT terminal (here i'm confused, for arduino duemilanove has exactly 3 GND pins (plain luck?!) - and in this case they seem to "leave" the POT to some place else)


cheers in advance..!

-jonas

[Reply #9 on:]

(here i'm confused, for arduino duemilanove has exactly 3 GND pins (just luck?!)

You can edit your post now and put a real link in, 1st post can't as a spam filter.

I can answer this one. You can use any of the Arduino ground pins, they are all the same.

Lefty

[Reply #10 on:]

hej lefty!

thanks for your help. it's just, that the background of the photo gets a bit blurry.

i'm not that familiar with breadboards yet. little scale seems to connect the left terminal from the poti to the bus strip. but i can't make out any connection between this bus strip and the arduino ground pin(s).

can anybody help me out? (too bad i don't have a bird's eye view on this one...)


cheers!

-jonas