Blynk Virtual Pin Input Can't Interrupt While Loop with Time Condition

[dannokiddo]

Hey all,

Im having issues with Blynk Virtual Pins as an input from user. I wanted to make the virtual button to break the while loop but I cant seem to make the Blynk virtual pin inputting data reliably.

Board : Nano 33 IoT
IDE : Arduino IDE 2.0
Blynk Server

Here is my code (a simple replication code, cuz Im trying to integrate it into a bigger code):

#define BLYNK_TEMPLATE_ID "TMPLcs7W8DPD"
#define BLYNK_DEVICE_NAME "Virtual Pin"
#define BLYNK_AUTH_TOKEN "qjLKuRCsBbX105veJMmLc_b4Md5hnHOJ"

#include <SPI.h>
#include <WiFiNINA.h> 
#include <WiFiUdp.h>
#include <RTCZero.h>
#include <BlynkSimpleWiFiNINA.h>

// WiFi Credentials (edit as required)
char ssid[] = "";      // Wifi SSID
char pass[] = "";       // Wifi password

// Object for Real Time Clock
RTCZero rtc;

int status = WL_IDLE_STATUS;

const int GMT = +8; // Time zone constant

int btnV5;
int btn;

void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
  Serial.begin(9600);

  // Print connection status
  WiFiConnect();
  printWiFiStatus();
  
  // Start Real Time Clock
  rtc.begin();
  
  // Variable to represent epoch
  unsigned long epoch;
 
 // Variable for number of tries to NTP service
  int numberOfTries = 0, maxTries = 6;

 // Get epoch
  do {
    epoch = WiFi.getTime();
    numberOfTries++;
  }

  while ((epoch == 0) && (numberOfTries < maxTries));

    if (numberOfTries == maxTries) {
    Serial.print("NTP unreachable!!");
    while (1);
    }

    else {
    Serial.print("Epoch received: ");
    Serial.println(epoch);
    rtc.setEpoch(epoch);
    Serial.println();
    }

    Blynk.begin(BLYNK_AUTH_TOKEN, ssid, pass);
}
//**********************************************************************************
void loop() {
  Blynk.run();
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
  btn = btnV5;
  printTime();
  delay(1000);

  //now = rtc.getHours() + GMT; //get hour now
  int now = rtc.getSeconds();

  while (now >= 30 && btnV5 != 1 && btn != 1) {
    now = rtc.getSeconds();
    BLYNK_WRITE(V5);

    Serial.println("while loop");
    delay(2000);

    Serial.println("btnV5 :" + String(btnV5));
    Serial.println("btn   :" + String(btn));

    int btn = digitalRead(12);
    if (btnV5 == 1) break;
    else if (btn == 1) break;
  }*/
}

//##################################################################################
void WiFiConnect() {
  // Check if the WiFi module works
  if (WiFi.status() == WL_NO_SHIELD) {
    // Wait until WiFi ready
    Serial.println("WiFi adapter not ready");
    while (true);

  }

      // Establish a WiFi connection
  while ( status != WL_CONNECTED) {

    Serial.print("Attempting to connect to SSID: ");
    Serial.println(ssid);
    status = WiFi.begin(ssid, pass);

    // Wait 10 seconds for connection:
    delay(10000);

  }
}

void printWiFiStatus() {

  // Print the network SSID
  Serial.print("SSID: ");
  Serial.println(WiFi.SSID());
  
  // Print the IP address
  IPAddress ip = WiFi.localIP();
  Serial.print("IP Address: ");
  Serial.println(ip);
  
  // Print the received signal strength
  long rssi = WiFi.RSSI();
  Serial.print("signal strength (RSSI):");
  Serial.print(rssi);
  Serial.println(" dBm");
}

void print2digits(int number) {

  if (number < 10) {
    Serial.print("0");
  }
  Serial.print(number);
}

void printTime()
{

  print2digits(rtc.getHours() + GMT);
  Serial.print(":");
  
  print2digits(rtc.getMinutes());
  Serial.print(":");
  
  print2digits(rtc.getSeconds());
  Serial.println();
}

BLYNK_WRITE(V5)
{
  int btnV5 = param.asInt();
  Serial.println("blynk:" + String(btnV5));
}

I printed out the output, but when it was in the while loop, Blynk virtual button doesn't relay into the loop. It only works outside of the loop.

Here is the output when it is not in the while loop. (Underlined)
& at the bottom (boxed) is when it is inside the loop. The virtual button can't send the input data here.

My objective is to get the while loop to break when there is an input via the virtual button.

-Danial.

[alto777]

@dannokiddo

BLYNK_WRITE(V5)
{
int btnV5 = param.asInt();
Serial.println("blynk:" + String(btnV5));
}

That int makes a local variable and it is not the same btnV5 you use elsewhere.

a7

[blh64]

why do you have that while() loop in the first place? the loop() function is perfectly good at doing what it is designed to do - loop, so let it do it. Each time through loop, you can check the states of your buttons and how many seconds there are and act accordingly. You might want to also check out the blink without delay example (File->examples->02.digital->Blink Without Delay) to see how to track elapsed time without the blocking delay function.

[dannokiddo]

I was trying to make a delay between a certain amount of time until it runs the next command, but i dont want to simply put delay(t) because i still want it to receive any inputs/interrupts by user - if that make any sense . Im scared that when i put delay(t) it would not receive any inputs.

For context, my project it would turn on the AC at x time(ex. 4PM) & set it to 1 hour timer. Then it would turn the AC off & proceed to turn on the fan. I plan to use while within the timer delay (1 hour), so that it still could receive any inputs. Or is it still wrong or we have another different option to do so?

Thank you for your respond.
-Danial.

[blh64]

@dannokiddo

Or is it still wrong

still wrong

Let loop() keep running and keep track of how long you have been in your current state, and if it is time, transition to the next state and reset your state start time. Every time through loop(), you can check for input and process Blynk. so you don't miss a thing.