Arduino Diecimila and Chromoflex

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) Hardware Interfacing
1

Hi, I'm very new to all of this and I started working on something which I can't seem to get to work.

I'm trying to send serial data to a chromoflex through the tx-out on the arduino-board. The chromoflex uses a serial protocol with 8 to 12 bytes in length depending on what you want to do.
They have a windows editor from which i got the standard reset code which is:

CA 00 00 00 00 00 FE 8C F0

I've tried to send that with the arduino and this is my code:

int reset[] = {0xCA, 0x00,0x00,0x00,0x00,0x00,0xFE,0x8C,0xF0};

void setup()
{
Serial.begin(9600);
delay(500);
}

void loop()
{
for(int i = 0; i < 9; i++){
Serial.print(reset*,BYTE);*
}

delay(5000);
}
I know it keeps sending resets every 5 seconds that was just part of my test. Anyway, it just doesnt work, when I connect the chromoflex directly to my pc it does work so I know its working correctly. The weird thing is that when I look at the serial monitor is shows the correct sequence, but still nothing happens. I even tried to connect the arduino-tx digital-tx to another com-port to check if anything is beeing send.
Can anyone help me out?
Thanks in advance

2

I am also interested in interfacing the Chromoflex controller with the Arduino board. Is there any progress???

3

when I connect the chromoflex directly to my pc it does work

The PC serial connection is RS232, this means the serial voltages are +/- 12v. The serial output from the Arduino is 0 to 5V. Therefore if it works on the PC you need to put the serial signal from the Arduino through a RS232 voltage converter like a MAX232.

4

The PC serial connection is RS232, this means the serial voltages are +/- 12v. The serial output from the Arduino is 0 to 5V. Therefore if it works on the PC you need to put the serial signal from the Arduino through a RS232 voltage converter like a MAX232.

Yeah, i've already found that out myself. I even got it all working with some research. The real problem was dealing with the crc-code the chromoflex needs. In case anyone wants to try it out themself I'll post a test program that I've written:

The only things you really need to make something yourself is:

  • reset_chromo/overnemen to put the chromo in the user-mode
  • bereken_crc16 to calculate the crc-bits
  • dec_to_hex the chromoflex only accepts hex send through
    serials for some reason

int pinnummer = 0;
int positie = 0;
int resetcode[] = {202,0,0,0,0,0,254,140,240};
int userprog[] = {202,0,0,0,0,2,126,18,1,149,136};
int kleurcode[] = {202,0,0,0,0,5,126,4,255,0,0,100};
int vorige_positie =0;
int kleur_rood = 0;
int kleur_blauw = 0;
int kleur_groen = 0;
unsigned int tussen = 0;
unsigned int crc = 65535;
unsigned int test = 65535;
unsigned int crc16 = 0;
unsigned int crc16_1 = 0;
unsigned int crc16_2 = 0;

void setup(){
Serial.begin(9600);
reset_chromo();
delay(2000);
}

void loop(){
positie = analogRead(pinnummer);

if(positie<(vorige_positie-6) || positie>(vorige_positie+6)){
int h = positie%7;
int g = (positie - h) / 7;

if(g>=0 && g<25){kleur_rood = 127+(5*g);}
if(g>=25 && g<75){kleur_rood = 255-((g-25)*5);}
if(g>=125){kleur_rood = (g-125)*5;}

if(g>=25 && g<75){kleur_blauw = (g-25) * 5;}
if(g>=75 && g<125){kleur_blauw = 255-((g-75)*5);}

if(g>=0 && g<25){kleur_groen = 127-(5*g);}
if(g>=75 && g<125){kleur_groen = (g-75)*5;}
if(g>=125){kleur_groen = 255 - ((125-g)*5);}
kleurcode[7] = 4;
kleurcode[8] = kleur_rood;
kleurcode[9] = kleur_groen;
kleurcode[10] = kleur_blauw;

overnemen();

bereken_crc16();
dec_to_hex();

kleurcode[7] = 0;

bereken_crc16();
dec_to_hex();

vorige_positie = positie;
}
bereken_crc16();
}

void bereken_crc16(){
crc = 65535;
for(int i=0;i<(sizeof(kleurcode)/2);i++){

tussen = kleurcode*^crc;*

  • crc = tussen;*

  • for(int z=0;z<8;z++){*

  • if((crc&1)==1){*

  • int a = crc >> 1;*

  • crc = a^40961;*

  • } else {*

  • tussen = crc;*

  • crc = tussen >> 1;*

  • }*

  • }*

  • }*
    }
    void dec_to_hex(){

  • int hexarray[4] = {0,0,0,0};*

  • int b = 3;*

  • while(crc>16){*

  • unsigned int c = crc%16;*

  • unsigned int d = crc - c;*
    _ hexarray = c;_
    ** crc = d / 16;**
    ** b--;**
    ** }**
    __ hexarray = crc;__
    crc16_1 = hexarray[0]*16 + hexarray[1];
    crc16_2 = hexarray[2]*16 + hexarray[3];

** for( int q=0;q<(sizeof(kleurcode)/2);q++){**
** Serial.print(kleurcode[q],BYTE);**
** }**
** Serial.print(crc16_1,BYTE);
Serial.print(crc16_2,BYTE);
__}
void reset_chromo(){
 for( int p=0;p<(sizeof(resetcode)/2);p++){
 Serial.print(resetcode[p],BYTE);
 }
 delay(1000);
 overnemen();
}
void overnemen(){
 for( int p=0;p<(sizeof(userprog)/2);p++){
 Serial.print(userprog[p],BYTE);
 }
}**
If you have any questions regarding my code, just ask__