(Resolved) Continue running one part of code while still checking other inputs?

[loudboy]

I'm sure this has come up many times, but I probably wasn't using the right key words when searching

The code inserted below is what I am using to run the lights for my motorcycle. All the lights are functioning just fine by themselves, but I need to get multiple things to happen at once. Specifically, if my blinker is on my brake light cant come on and visa-versa. This makes sense now because of the "while" loops I use to trap the Arduino into constantly checking the status of the blinker/brake switch. How can I get my blinker to respond appropriately while the brake light is on, or any combination of that? Thanks.

Code: [Select]

//A sketch to run the LED lights on the cafe racer.

//Headlight - No code needed to run. Headlight switch will run this like normal,
//with the addition of a self contained blue LED for Hi-Beam indicator. Also use
//as a button to indicate taillight running light status.

//Taillight - Use PWM to run the brakelight at ~1/2 brightness when headlight is on.
//Brakelight on a MOSFET.
//Brake light - Use PWM to run brake light at full brightness when either brake is used.
//Brake light will flash on and off four times in rapid succession before holding at 100%
//Brake lights on a MOSFET.

//Blinkers - Rapidly flash proper blinker light five times before settling into normal blink rate.
//Sets separate buttons for left and right blinker.


const int LeftBlink = 11; //left blinker output
const int RightBlink = 10; //right blinker output
const int BrakeLight = 9; //taillight/brakelight output
const int LeftBlinkSwitch = 8; //right blinker switch input
const int RightBlinkSwitch = 7; //left blinker switch input
const int FrontBrake = 6; //front brake switch input
const int BackBrake = 5; //back brake switch input
const int Headlight = 4; //headlight on/off? input

int i = 0; //used to count the pulse

int LeftBlinkSwitchState = 0;
int RightBlinkSwitchState = 0;
int FrontBrakeState = 0;
int BackBrakeState = 0;
int HeadlightState = 0;

void setup()
{
   pinMode(LeftBlink, OUTPUT); //defines LeftBlink as an output
   pinMode(RightBlink, OUTPUT); //defines RightBlink as an output
   pinMode(BrakeLight, OUTPUT); //defines Tail as an output
   pinMode(LeftBlinkSwitch, INPUT); //defines LeftBlinkSwitch as an input
   pinMode(RightBlinkSwitch, INPUT); //defines RightBlinkSwitch as an input
   pinMode(FrontBrake, INPUT); //defines FontBrake as an input
   pinMode(BackBrake, INPUT); //defines BackBrake as an input
   pinMode(Headlight, INPUT); //defines Headlight as an input
}

void loop()
{
LeftBlinkSwitchState = digitalRead(LeftBlinkSwitch); //reads the switch value
RightBlinkSwitchState = digitalRead(RightBlinkSwitch);
FrontBrakeState = digitalRead(FrontBrake);
BackBrakeState = digitalRead(BackBrake);
HeadlightState = digitalRead(Headlight);

////////Start Left Blinker Code//////
if(LeftBlinkSwitchState == HIGH)  //if the left blinker switch is on, then...
 {
   analogWrite(LeftBlink, 225); //starts initial rapid blink
   delay(50);
   analogWrite(LeftBlink, 0);
   delay(50);
   analogWrite(LeftBlink, 225);
   delay(50);
   analogWrite(LeftBlink, 0);
   delay(50);
   analogWrite(LeftBlink, 225);
   delay(50);
   analogWrite(LeftBlink, 0);
   delay(50);
   analogWrite(LeftBlink, 225);
   delay(50);
   analogWrite(LeftBlink, 0);
   delay(50);
   analogWrite(LeftBlink, 225);
   delay(50);
   analogWrite(LeftBlink, 0);
   delay(50);           //ends initial rapid blink
  }
 
 else
  {
   analogWrite(LeftBlink, 0);
  }
 
 while(LeftBlinkSwitchState == HIGH)  //if the left blinker switch is on, then...
  //start pulse
    {
      for (i = 0; i < 255;i++) //loop from 0 to 254(fade in)
       {
        analogWrite(LeftBlink, i); //set the brightness
        delay(1.5); //Wait because analogWrite is instantaneous and we would not see a change      
       }
       
      for (i = 255; i > 0; i--)  //loop from 255 to 1 (fade out)
       {
        analogWrite(LeftBlink, i); //set the brightness
        delay(1.5);
       }
       
     delay(1); //stay full off
       
     //end pulse
     
     LeftBlinkSwitchState= digitalRead(LeftBlinkSwitch); //checks to see if blinker switch is still on
    }
////////End Left Blinker Code///////////////
////////Start Right Blinker Code//////
if(RightBlinkSwitchState == HIGH)  //if the right blinker switch is on, then...
 {
   analogWrite(RightBlink, 225); //starts initial rapid blink
   delay(50);
   analogWrite(RightBlink, 0);
   delay(50);
   analogWrite(RightBlink, 225);
   delay(50);
   analogWrite(RightBlink, 0);
   delay(50);
   analogWrite(RightBlink, 225);
   delay(50);
   analogWrite(RightBlink, 0);
   delay(50);
   analogWrite(RightBlink, 225);
   delay(50);
   analogWrite(RightBlink, 0);
   delay(50);
   analogWrite(RightBlink, 225);
   delay(50);
   analogWrite(RightBlink, 0);
   delay(50);           //ends initial rapid blink
  }
 
 else
  {
   analogWrite(RightBlink, 0);
  }
 
 while(RightBlinkSwitchState == HIGH)  //if the right blinker switch is on, then...
  //start pulse
    {
      for (i = 0; i < 255;i++) //loop from 0 to 254(fade in)
       {
        analogWrite(RightBlink, i); //set the brightness
        delay(1); //Wait because analogWrite is instantaneous and we would not see a change      
       }
       
      for (i = 255; i > 0; i--)  //loop from 255 to 1 (fade out)
       {
        analogWrite(RightBlink, i); //set the brightness
        delay(1);
       }
       
     delay(1); //stay full off
       
     //end pulse
   
     RightBlinkSwitchState= digitalRead(RightBlinkSwitch); //checks to see if blinker switch is still on
    }
////////End Right Blinker Code///////////////
////////Start Brake Light Code///////////////
 if (FrontBrakeState == HIGH || BackBrakeState == HIGH)  //if either brake is on, then...
   {
     analogWrite(BrakeLight, 225); //starts initial rapid blink
     delay(45);
     analogWrite(BrakeLight, 0);
     delay(45);
     analogWrite(BrakeLight, 225);
     delay(45);
     analogWrite(BrakeLight, 0);
     delay(45);
     analogWrite(BrakeLight, 225);
     delay(45);
     analogWrite(BrakeLight, 0);
     delay(45);
     analogWrite(BrakeLight, 225);
     delay(45);
     analogWrite(BrakeLight, 0);
     delay(45);
     analogWrite(BrakeLight, 225);
     delay(45);
     analogWrite(BrakeLight, 0);
     delay(45);           //ends initial rapid blink
    }
 
 else if(HeadlightState == HIGH)
  {
   analogWrite(BrakeLight, 112); //if the headlight is on, run the brakelight at 1/2 bright
  }
 else
 {
   analogWrite(BrakeLight, 0); //if the headlight isnt on and no brake is on, turn the braikelight off
 }
 while((FrontBrakeState == HIGH || BackBrakeState == HIGH))
   {
     digitalWrite(BrakeLight, HIGH);
     FrontBrakeState= digitalRead(FrontBrake);
     BackBrakeState= digitalRead(BackBrake);
   }
}


[bubulindo]

With a timed interrupt?
Including the checks inside your while loops?

[loudboy]

Not necessarily. If you know of another way that would work, I'm all ears.

All I want is an end result that behaves like any car brakelight and blinker, with the addition of the flash sequences.

Learning to code better is the ongoing goal of course, and if there is a trick to having Adruino perform one function while checking on others I would love to learn it.

Thanks.

[frank26080115]

bubulindo's two ideas are both good, I think you mis-understood his suggestions as questions.

[WillR]

Use of the interrupts is a good suggestion...

Maybe you can edit your post and put the code inside the Cross-hatch marks (#). The third-from-the-right button above the smilies.

[AWOL]

but I need to get multiple things to happen at once

Let us all intone the mantra:

Check the "Blink without Delay" example, without delay.

Ommmmm

[WillR]

but I need to get multiple things to happen at once

Let us all intone the mantra:

Check the "Blink without Delay" example, without delay.

Ommmmm

Ommmmm!

[loudboy]

Edited my post, and I'll check on the "Blink without Delay" method when I get home from work.

oommmmmmmmmmmmmm!!

[TeslaFan]

Blink without delay is a great start but it can get really confusing after you add in a bunch of different events. I use this simple event manager in all my stuff:

http://roboticcore.com/?p=14

[nickgammon]

I seem to recall there was a question recently about handling multiple interrupts in a sketch. And I also recall that Crossroads pointed out that by judicious use of diodes you can connect multiple switches to a single interrupt pin (eg, pin 2), in addition to being wired to their own unique pins.

That way, with minimal effort you first get an interrupt (as all switches are connected to the interrupt pin), and then you just check by reading the other pins which one must have changed. The diodes stop cross-talking between the switches.

[CrossRoads]

The Diode AND is for reading switch inputs, which would be good to get things started.

Sounds like the solution requested was for things that were running in which case a solution more like checking the on/off state of the ligts every 10mS or something & turn of/off as needed would be better.
Record the time something started, check if the end time to turn if off has been reached.
I do the same with a fencing scoring machine, but testing every 100uS. So 10mS for some lights would not be a stretch of a performance.

[nickgammon]

He's testing switches:

Code: [Select]

LeftBlinkSwitchState = digitalRead(LeftBlinkSwitch); //reads the switch value

...

////////Start Left Blinker Code//////
if(LeftBlinkSwitchState == HIGH)  //if the left blinker switch is on, then...
  {
    analogWrite(LeftBlink, 225); //starts initial rapid blink


Here's my tentative solution... Use the Crossroads-diode solution for the switches. Have interrupts to determine switch-state changes. In the interrupt routine turn on/off flags indicating which switches are currently down. Have a main loop that blinks things. In the main loop, where you blink/unblink just turn on the things whose corresponding switches are on, and leave off the others. That way they all blink (the ones that are supposed to) and not only that, they blink together (unlike some gadgets I have here).

[loudboy]

Okay, I'll have to do some research on this diode gate stuff, I'm still pretty new at all this.

The event manager seems promising, thanks for the link TeslaFan.

Reading through these suggestions I don't know if I can keep the initial rapid flash followed by pulse (blinker), or followed by steady-on (brake light). If I'm just going to use these interrupts and  diodes and whatnot just to come back to plain old blinking, I'll just keep things simple and use the stock equipment. Can I keep my original flashing idea AND use these work-arounds?

I'd really like to keep the rapid flash since it is such a great attention getter (read: life saver).

[nickgammon]

Absolutely. It's not that complicated. You really have two things you need to do:

• Detect switch changes (on/off)


• Flash lights - how many depends on which switches are on (and the rate might depend on how recently the switch was pushed)

So the interrupts detect the switch up/downs, and the main loop just flashes stuff.

[CrossRoads]

"rapid flash" rapid is all relative. On/of 5 times a second vs 1 times a second is hardly rapid electronically.
Yet visually it may seem a world of difference, and depending on the viewing distance may blur into always on even.