Hi Vulture,
I'm using VB.net to talk to my arduino and I would like to give your code a look.
Greetings, EriSan500
You both might find this page http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Main/InterfacingWithSoftware and in particular this link http://www.acraigie.com/programming/firmatavb/default.html useful.
Andrew
@Andrew. I looked at the links you sugested (of course), but I decided to try and build my own code. I enjoy doing it (also for educational purposes), so why not. Another reason I didn't want to use the Firmata solution is that I want to add some functions of my own (like the ones to control the MotorShield) that can be controlled through external .Net code.
I am nearly ready with the initial code so I can test this. When everything works I will post my code here so the comments can flow in... (I'm especially interested in de .Net code to do the serial communication because I thing that needs some finetuning...)
OK, I did some tests today and I think the basics are working. There is still extra work to do in checking wrong input etc. but that's for later.
Here is the Arduino code:
const int dd = 13; // highest digital portnumber
const int aa = 5; // highest analog portnumber
int D[dd]; // define digital enables
int R[dd]; // define digital directions
int T[dd]; // define digital triggers
int V[dd]; // define digital values
int A[aa]; // define analog enables
int S[aa]; // define analog triggers
int W[aa]; // define analog values
int cp = 0; // char pointer
boolean cfound = false; // complete command found
byte stringIn[200]; // commandbuffer
long previousMillis = 0; // intervalcheck for watchdog
long interval = 1000; // interval between watchdogs
int sa;
byte bt;
void setup() {
for (int i=0; i <= dd; i++) {
D[i]=0; // enable digital port (default to 0)
R[i]=0; // direction of digital port (0=output, 1=input) (default to 0)
T[i]=0; // enable digital trigger (default to 0)
V[i]=-1; // value of digital port (default to -1 for first trigger)
}
for (int i=0; i <= aa; i++) {
A[i]=0; // enable analogl port (default to 0)
S[i]=0; // enable analog trigger (default to 0)
W[i]=-1; // value of analog port (default to -1 for first trigger)
}
Serial.begin(9600);
delay(500);
Serial.print("(H)");
}
void loop() {
sa = Serial.available(); // count serial buffer bytes
if (sa > 0) { // if buffer not empty process buffer content
for (int i=0; i <= sa-1; i++){
bt = Serial.read(); // read one byte from the serial buffer
stringIn[cp] = bt;
cp++;
if (int(bt) == 41) { // check for last command char )
cfound = true;
break; // end for loop
}
}
}
if (cfound == true) {
if (int(stringIn[0]) == 40) { //check if first char of command is (
exCommand();
}
cleanstring();
cfound = false;
}
for (int i=0; i 0) { // analog trigger set?
if (((ar - W[i]) > S[i]) || ((W[i] - ar) > S[i])) {
Serial.print("(A");
Serial.print(byte(i));
Serial.print(highByte(ar));
Serial.print(lowByte(ar));
Serial.print(")");
}
}
W[i] = ar; // store value
}
}
}
if (millis() - previousMillis > interval) {
previousMillis = millis();
Serial.print("(H)"); // send watchdog trigger
}
}
void cleanstring(void) {
for (int i=0; i<=200; i++) {
stringIn[i] = 0; // null out string
cp = 0;
}
}
void exCommand(void) {
char c = stringIn[1]; // command type
int n = int(stringIn[2]); // portnumber
int v = int(stringIn[3]); // value
switch (c) {
case 'D': // enable digital pin
if (v == 1) {
D[n] = 1;
}
else {
D[n] = 0;
}
break;
case 'A': // enable analog pin
if (v == 1) {
A[n] = 1;
}
else {
A[n] = 0;
}
break;
case 'R': // set direction of digital pin
switch (v) {
case 0: // input
R[n] = 0;
pinMode(n, INPUT);
case 1: // output digital
R[n] = 1;
pinMode(n, OUTPUT);
break;
case 2: // output analog
R[n] = 2;
pinMode(n, OUTPUT);
break;
}
break;
case 'T': // set trigger on digital pin
if (v == 1) {
T[n] = 1;
}
else {
T[n] = 0;
}
break;
case 'S': // set trigger on analog pin
S[n] = v;
break;
case 'V': // get value of digital pin
V[n] = digitalRead(n);
Serial.print("(D");
Serial.print(byte(n));
Serial.print(byte(V[n]));
Serial.print(")");
break;
case 'W': // get value of analog pin
W[n] = analogRead(n);
Serial.print("(A");
Serial.print(byte(n));
Serial.print(highByte(W[n]));
Serial.print(lowByte(W[n]));
Serial.print(")");
break;
case 'P': // write value to digital port
switch ( R[n]) {
case 1: // digital output
digitalWrite(n, v);
break;
case 2: // PWM output
analogWrite(n, v);
break;
}
break;
}
}
I have to post this in two sets...
Public Class Arduino_Net
Private WithEvents serialPort1 As System.IO.Ports.SerialPort
Private CommandBuffer As String
Private Receiving As Boolean
Private BufferPointer As Integer
Private CBuffer(30) As Byte
Private _ComPort As String = "COM8"
Private _BaudRate As Integer = 9600
'Private WithEvents DataCheckTimer As System.Timers.Timer
Private WithEvents WatchDogTimer As System.Timers.Timer
Public Enum DigitalDirection
Input = 0
DigitalOutput = 1
PWMOutput = 2
End Enum
Public Event DigitalDataReceived(ByVal DPortNr As Integer, ByVal Value As Integer)
Public Event AnalogDataReceived(ByVal APortNr As Integer, ByVal Value As Integer)
Public Event LogMessageReceived(ByVal Message As String, ByVal DebugLevel As Integer)
Public Event WatchdogReceived()
Public Event ConnectionLost()
Public Property ComPort() As String
Get
Return _ComPort
End Get
Set(ByVal value As String)
_ComPort = value
End Set
End Property
Public Property BaudRate() As String
Get
Return _BaudRate
End Get
Set(ByVal value As String)
_BaudRate = value
End Set
End Property
Public Sub New()
'DataCheckTimer = New System.Timers.Timer(50)
'AddHandler DataCheckTimer.Elapsed, AddressOf CheckTimerElapsed
End Sub
Public Sub New(ByVal PortName As String)
Me.ComPort = PortName.Trim
'DataCheckTimer = New System.Timers.Timer(50)
'AddHandler DataCheckTimer.Elapsed, AddressOf CheckTimerElapsed
End Sub
Public Function StartCommunication() As Boolean
Dim _ReturnValue As Boolean = False
Try
Dim components As System.ComponentModel.IContainer = New System.ComponentModel.Container()
serialPort1 = New System.IO.Ports.SerialPort(components)
serialPort1.PortName = _ComPort
serialPort1.BaudRate = _BaudRate
serialPort1.ReceivedBytesThreshold = 1
serialPort1.Open()
If Not serialPort1.IsOpen Then
WriteDebug("Unable to open comport...")
_ReturnValue = False
Exit Function
Else
serialPort1.DtrEnable = True
WriteDebug("Serial port is open")
System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(1000)
Dim Command As Byte() = {40, 0, 0, 0, 41, 0}
'send some empty commands to clear all buffers on Arduino
Me.SendCommand(Command)
Me.SendCommand(Command)
'DataCheckTimer.Enabled = True
'DataCheckTimer.Start()
WatchDogTimer = New System.Timers.Timer(5000)
WatchDogTimer.Enabled = True
WatchDogTimer.Start()
_ReturnValue = True
End If
' callback for text coming back from the arduino
AddHandler serialPort1.DataReceived, AddressOf OnReceived
Catch ex As Exception
WriteDebug("Error opening comport...")
_ReturnValue = False
End Try
Return _ReturnValue
End Function
Public Sub SetDigitalDirection(ByVal Port As Integer, ByVal Direction As DigitalDirection)
'TODO check value and portnumber
Dim Command1 As Byte() = {40, 82, Port, Direction, 41, 0}
Me.SendCommand(Command1)
End Sub
Public Sub SetDigitalValue(ByVal Port As Integer, ByVal Value As Integer)
'TODO check value and portnumber
Dim Command1 As Byte() = {40, 80, Port, Value, 41, 0}
Me.SendCommand(Command1)
End Sub
Public Sub EnableDigitalPort(ByVal Port As Integer, ByVal Enable As Boolean)
'TODO check value and portnumber
If Enable Then
Dim Command1 As Byte() = {40, 68, Port, 1, 41, 0}
Me.SendCommand(Command1)
Else
Dim Command1 As Byte() = {40, 68, Port, 0, 41, 0}
Me.SendCommand(Command1)
End If
End Sub
Public Sub EnableAnalogPort(ByVal Port As Integer, ByVal Enable As Boolean)
'TODO check value and portnumber
If Enable Then
Dim Command1 As Byte() = {40, 65, Port, 1, 41, 0}
Me.SendCommand(Command1)
Else
Dim Command1 As Byte() = {40, 65, Port, 0, 41, 0}
Me.SendCommand(Command1)
End If
End Sub
Public Sub EnableDigitalTrigger(ByVal Port As Integer, ByVal Enable As Boolean)
'TODO check value and portnumber
If Enable Then
Dim Command1 As Byte() = {40, 84, Port, 1, 41, 0}
Me.SendCommand(Command1)
Else
Dim Command1 As Byte() = {40, 84, Port, 0, 41, 0}
Me.SendCommand(Command1)
End If
End Sub
Public Sub EnableAnalogTrigger(ByVal Port As Integer, ByVal Threshold As Integer)
'TODO check value and portnumber
Dim Command1 As Byte() = {40, 83, Port, Threshold, 41, 0}
Me.SendCommand(Command1)
End Sub
Public Sub GetDigitalValue(ByVal Port As Integer)
'TODO check value and portnumber
Dim Command1 As Byte() = {40, 86, Port, 0, 41, 0}
Me.SendCommand(Command1)
End Sub
Public Sub GetAnalogValue(ByVal Port As Integer)
'TODO check value and portnumber
Dim Command1 As Byte() = {40, 87, Port, 0, 41, 0}
Me.SendCommand(Command1)
End Sub
Private Sub SendCommand(ByVal Command As Byte())
Try
If Command.Length > 0 Then
If serialPort1.IsOpen Then
serialPort1.Write(Command, 0, Command.Length - 1)
End If
End If
Catch ex As Exception
End Try
End Sub
Private Sub OnReceived(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.IO.Ports.SerialDataReceivedEventArgs)
If Receiving = False Then
Receiving = True
ProcessSerialData()
Receiving = False
End If
End Sub
Private Sub CheckTimerElapsed(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Timers.ElapsedEventArgs)
If Receiving = False Then
Receiving = True
ProcessSerialData()
Receiving = False
End If
End Sub
Private Sub ProcessSerialData()
Try
Dim BytesRead As Integer
While serialPort1.BytesToRead > 0
BytesRead = serialPort1.Read(CBuffer, BufferPointer, serialPort1.BytesToRead)
BufferPointer += BytesRead
While BufferPointer > 0
'search start of new command in buffer
Dim CommandStart As Integer = -1
For i As Short = 0 To BufferPointer
If CBuffer(i) = CByte(40) Then
CommandStart = i
Exit For
End If
Next
If CommandStart = -1 Then
'no begin of command found. this is no valid situation
ClearCBuffer()
End If
If CommandStart > 0 Then
'begin of command found somewhere in buffer. dismiss al bytes before startcharacter
LeftShiftCBuffer(CommandStart)
End If
'at this point we should have a clean commandbuffer
'search end of command in buffer
Dim Commandend As Integer = 0
For i As Short = 0 To BufferPointer
If CBuffer(i) = CByte(41) Then
Commandend = i
Exit For
End If
Next
If Commandend > 0 Then
'commandend found. there should be a complete command in the buffer
Dim CommandBytes(Commandend) As Byte
For i As Integer = 0 To Commandend
CommandBytes(i) = CBuffer(i)
Next
'execute command
ProcessCommand(CommandBytes)
'reset pointer
LeftShiftCBuffer(Commandend + 1)
Else
Exit While
End If
End While
End While
Catch ex As Exception
End Try
End Sub
Private Sub ClearCBuffer()
For i As Integer = 0 To CBuffer.Length - 1
CBuffer(i) = 0
Next
BufferPointer = 0
End Sub
Private Sub LeftShiftCBuffer(ByVal NrOfPlaces As Integer)
For i As Integer = NrOfPlaces To CBuffer.Length - 1
CBuffer(i - NrOfPlaces) = CBuffer(i)
Next
For i As Integer = CBuffer.Length - NrOfPlaces To CBuffer.Length - 1
CBuffer(i) = 0
Next
BufferPointer -= NrOfPlaces
End Sub
Part 2:
Private Sub ProcessCommand(ByVal CommandBytes As Byte())
Try
If ((CommandBytes(0) = CByte(40)) And (CommandBytes(CommandBytes.Length - 1) = CByte(41))) Then
Dim PType As Char = ChrW(CommandBytes(1))
Dim PNumber As Integer
Dim Value As Integer
Dim CFound As Boolean = False
Select Case PType
Case "D"
PNumber = CInt(CommandBytes(2))
Value = CInt(CommandBytes(3))
RaiseEvent DigitalDataReceived(PNumber, Value)
Case "A"
PNumber = CInt(CommandBytes(2))
Value = (CInt(CommandBytes(3)) * 255) + CInt(CommandBytes(4))
RaiseEvent AnalogDataReceived(PNumber, Value)
Case "H"
PNumber = 0
Value = 0
RaiseEvent WatchdogReceived()
If Not IsNothing(WatchDogTimer) Then
WatchDogTimer.Stop()
WatchDogTimer.Dispose()
End If
WatchDogTimer = New System.Timers.Timer(5000)
WatchDogTimer.Enabled = True
WatchDogTimer.Start()
Case "Q"
Dim CommandString As String = String.Empty
For i As Integer = 0 To CommandBytes.Length - 1
CommandString += CommandBytes(i).ToString + " "
Next
WriteDebug("Arduino Q msg: " + CommandString)
Case Else
Dim CommandString As String = String.Empty
For i As Integer = 0 To CommandBytes.Length - 1
CommandString += CommandBytes(i).ToString + " "
Next
WriteDebug("Arduino msg: " + CommandString)
End Select
Else
Dim CommandString As String = String.Empty
For i As Integer = 1 To CommandBytes.Length - 1
CommandString += CommandBytes(i).ToString
Next
WriteDebug("Error:bad commandformat received: " + CommandString)
End If
Catch ex As Exception
WriteDebug("Error:bad commandformat received")
End Try
End Sub
Private Sub WatchdogTimerElaped(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Timers.ElapsedEventArgs) Handles WatchDogTimer.Elapsed
RaiseEvent ConnectionLost()
If Not IsNothing(WatchDogTimer) Then
WatchDogTimer.Stop()
WatchDogTimer.Dispose()
End If
End Sub
Private Sub WriteDebug(ByVal Message As String, Optional ByVal Level As Integer = 0)
RaiseEvent LogMessageReceived(Message, Level)
End Sub
End Class
I left out most of the comment lines because otherwise it didn't even fit in two posts...
I'm realy interested in the communication part between the Arduino and the .Net Class. Perhaps there is a more robust way (on the .Net Class side as well as on the Arduino side). I'm also making a testapplication to demonstrate all the functions of the class and some documentation.
Any comments are welcome.
You set dd to 13, which results in allocating arrays that can hold 13 values, with indices from 0 to 12. Then, you proceed, in setup, to initialize all 14 values.
You do the same with aa, except that you set it to 5. There are 6 analog ports in each of my Arduinos. Do you have a cheap clone that's missing an analog port?
for (int i=0; i <= sa-1; i++)
This would make more sense as:
for (int i=0; i < sa; i++)
Why is bt a global variable? sa?
In the block to read the serial data, cp should be initialized before the for loop that populates the stringIn array.
There is no reason to cast the byte bt to an int before comparing it to 41.
What is the significance of 41? Will you remember 6 months from now? Magic numbers, like 41, are to be avoided. Use a #define statement at the top of the program to give a meaningful name to the number, and use that name, instead, throughout the program.
#define EOD 41
if(bt == EOD)
{
}
(Change EOD to whatever 41 really means).
if (cfound == true)
This is redundant. All you need is:
if (cfound)
The expression in the parentheses is evaluated. If the evaluation results in true, the following block is executed. The cfound variable is a boolean, so it, by itself, is either true or false.
Other than these things (some major, some nit-picky), the code looks good. The C# side of things should be interesting, too.
The C# side of things should be interesting, too.
Small correction, Vulture posted VB.Net code. ;)
Greetings, EriSan500
@EriSan500
Those other 2 posts came in while I was hunting and pecking...
@PaulS:
Thanks, that's what I was looking for. Some solid syntax advice.
As I said, C is new to me, so I'm learning as I go along. I implemented all of your sugestions (code below) except for one. You said cp isn't initialized, but it is, namely at the start of the code. So that should be no problem.
You are right about the arrays. I'm used to VB.Net and when you define an array there with 14, the array really has 15 values (0-14). But I read the reference information on arrays and you are absolutely right (duh -> GODMember).
And yes, the PC part is in VB.Net and not C#. I don't think that should be a problem. These classes are completely compatible.
When I have some webspace I will post the complete sketch and .Net project so it's more easy to read/use. The real VB.Net code has more comment lines, so using this class is realy straight forward.
anyone more comments, on the VB.Net code perhaps?
thanks.
New code with sugested changes:
const int dd = 14; // number of digital ports
const int aa = 6; // number of analog ports
int D[dd]; // define digital enables
int R[dd]; // define digital directions
int T[dd]; // define digital triggers
int V[dd]; // define digital values
int A[aa]; // define analog enables
int S[aa]; // define analog triggers
int W[aa]; // define analog values
int cp = 0; // char pointer
boolean cfound = false; // complete command found
byte stringIn[200]; // commandbuffer
long previousMillis = 0; // intervalcheck for watchdog
long interval = 1000; // interval between watchdogs
#define SOC 40
#define EOC 41
void setup() {
for (int i=0; i < dd; i++) {
D[i]=0; // enable digital port (default to 0)
R[i]=0; // direction of digital port (0=output, 1=input) (default to 0)
T[i]=0; // enable digital trigger (default to 0)
V[i]=-1; // value of digital port (default to -1 for first trigger)
}
for (int i=0; i < aa; i++) {
A[i]=0; // enable analogl port (default to 0)
S[i]=0; // enable analog trigger (default to 0)
W[i]=-1; // value of analog port (default to -1 for first trigger)
}
Serial.begin(9600);
delay(500);
Serial.print("(H)");
}
void loop() {
int sa;
byte bt;
sa = Serial.available(); // count serial buffer bytes
if (sa > 0) { // if buffer not empty process buffer content
for (int i=0; i < sa; i++){
bt = Serial.read(); // read one byte from the serial buffer
stringIn[cp] = bt;
cp++;
if (bt == EOC) { // check for last command char )
cfound = true;
break; // end for loop
}
}
}
if (cfound) {
if (int(stringIn[0]) == SOC) { //check if first char of command is (
exCommand();
}
cleanstring();
cfound = false;
}
for (int i=0; i 0) { // analog trigger set?
if (((ar - W[i]) > S[i]) || ((W[i] - ar) > S[i])) {
Serial.print("(A");
Serial.print(byte(i));
Serial.print(highByte(ar));
Serial.print(lowByte(ar));
Serial.print(")");
}
}
W[i] = ar; // store value
}
}
}
if (millis() - previousMillis > interval) {
previousMillis = millis();
Serial.print("(H)"); // send watchdog trigger
}
}
void cleanstring(void) {
for (int i=0; i<=200; i++) {
stringIn[i] = 0; // null out string
cp = 0;
}
}
void exCommand(void) {
char c = stringIn[1]; // command type
int n = int(stringIn[2]); // portnumber
int v = int(stringIn[3]); // value
switch (c) {
case 'D': // enable digital pin
if (v == 1) {
D[n] = 1;
}
else {
D[n] = 0;
}
break;
case 'A': // enable analog pin
if (v == 1) {
A[n] = 1;
}
else {
A[n] = 0;
}
break;
case 'R': // set direction of digital pin
switch (v) {
case 0: // input
R[n] = 0;
pinMode(n, INPUT);
case 1: // output digital
R[n] = 1;
pinMode(n, OUTPUT);
break;
case 2: // output analog
R[n] = 2;
pinMode(n, OUTPUT);
break;
}
break;
case 'T': // set trigger on digital pin
if (v == 1) {
T[n] = 1;
}
else {
T[n] = 0;
}
break;
case 'S': // set trigger on analog pin
S[n] = v;
break;
case 'V': // get value of digital pin
V[n] = digitalRead(n);
Serial.print("(D");
Serial.print(byte(n));
Serial.print(byte(V[n]));
Serial.print(")");
break;
case 'W': // get value of analog pin
W[n] = analogRead(n);
Serial.print("(A");
Serial.print(byte(n));
Serial.print(highByte(W[n]));
Serial.print(lowByte(W[n]));
Serial.print(")");
break;
case 'P': // write value to digital port
switch ( R[n]) {
case 1: // digital output
digitalWrite(n, v);
break;
case 2: // PWM output
analogWrite(n, v);
break;
}
break;
}
}
I was thinking that cp is initialized once, and then incremented in loop. I see that it is reset in clearstring.
The clearstring function isn't really needed. If you changed this:
sa = Serial.available(); // count serial buffer bytes
if (sa > 0) { // if buffer not empty process buffer content
for (int i=0; i < sa; i++){
bt = Serial.read(); // read one byte from the serial buffer
stringIn[cp] = bt;
cp++;
if (bt == EOC) { // check for last command char )
cfound = true;
break; // end for loop
}
}
}
to this:
sa = Serial.available(); // count serial buffer bytes
if (sa > 0) { // if buffer not empty process buffer content
[glow]cp = 0;[/glow]
for (int i=0; i < sa; i++){
bt = Serial.read(); // read one byte from the serial buffer
stringIn[cp] = bt;
cp++;
[glow]stringIn[cp] = '\0'; // Add a null at the end[/glow]
if (bt == EOC) { // check for last command char )
cfound = true;
break; // end for loop
}
}
}
you could get rid of the clearstring function and all calls to it.
I'm not current on VB.net, so I won't comment on that code. That's why I was looking forward to seeing your C# code (after all, that's the topic title). I am conversant with C#.
The thing with god members is something I do not like. The title is conferred on anyone that makes 500 posts - relevant or not, right or not.
I've made some mistakes in some of my posts.
@PaulS: the function of the cp variable is to point at the last character in the serial received buffer. I'm not realy familiair with it's workings, but in VB.Net the event for receiving serial data is no guarantee that all data is received. So to anticipate on the fact that when serial data is received there might come more for the same command, I created this 'pointer' to keep track of the last received byte. The clearstring function is called after a complete command is found and not after the serial buffer is read. I can try your sugestions (everything that can be stripped from this code is in favour of the speed...) and let you know. This will depend on the way VB.Net is sending its serial data.
I'm sorry I let you down with the VB.Net ;-) The title mentioned 'VB.Net/C#' because these are completely compatible. I will create a seperate dll from this class and that's useable by VB.Net and C# without changes. (Perhaps someone is interested in a COM registered dll so it's also compatible with for instance vbscript...) There are some websites that do VB.Net to C# conversions. Perhaps you can use them if you want the code in C#. I started programming in VB.Net some time ago and it's hard to switch to another language after that. But since the .Net eara VB is a mature language again, so there is really no need for me to switch...
OK. That makes sense, and is a perfectly reasonable way to do things.
I've got C# code that talks to my Arduino, already, so I wasn't looking for any. But, I was interested in whether you were doing anything different. I'm not really sure it's possible, considering how simple the serial class is in C#.
I didn't use the serial class before in .net. Usage is easy but it has some 'strange' behaviour that I had to understand.
btw a good resource is this link: http://blogs.msdn.com/bclteam/archive/2006/10/10/Top-5-SerialPort-Tips-_5b00_Kim-Hamilton_5D00_.aspx
I think a good discussion about the 'efficiency' of code is always desirable, so all input is welcome.
When my webspace is ready I will post a compiled dll to use with some documentation.
OK, I finally got some webspace and copied the compiled dll and arduino sketch. No further info on the website yet. I want to add some documentation and perhaps some examples.... (In due time...)
link to the dll: http://www.gyps.nl/arduino/Arduino_Net.dll
link to the arduino code: http://www.gyps.nl/arduino/Arduino_net.pde
The rest will follow.
Would you also be so kind to put the Visual Studio solution/project there in a zip file?
Greetings, EriSan500
Although it's just work in progress I uploaded the complete VB.Net 2005 project here:
http://www.gyps.nl/arduino/Arduino_Net.zip
This project is not a finished and polished one. There is one test application in there that I used to test the inputs and outputs. The application works and I included a small text file with the Arduino connections I used. All the functions in the class are documented, so using the class shouldn't be difficult.
Some explanation here:
To use the digital ports, you have to set the direction of the port (input, output or pwm), enable the port and optionally set a trigger. When the trigger is set on a digital port, the class fires an event every time the value of that port is changed. To read a button, attach that button to a digital port, set the direction to input, enable the port and enable the trigger. When you push the button, an event is fired from the class, saying that the value is changed to 1 and when you release the button, an event is fired saying that the value has changed to 0. It's also possible to read the current value of a digital port. This function will not give the current value in return, instead it fires the same event as if the trigger was used. This value-read function can be used with or without the use of the trigger. For an analog port there's only input, so no direction to set here. Just enable the analog port and read the value. There is also a 'trigger' on the analog port called threshold. This will fire an event when the value of the analog input is changed by more than the set threshold. This will eliminate the slight changes that occur on the analog input. Reading the value of the analog input works the same as on the digital input. Just use the GetAnalogValue command and wait for the event.
I know it would be more easy if the value reading functions would return a value but this conflict with the working of the Arduino code. I'm working on that.
Keep in mind that this is no finished product. There are no real checks on the input values and portnumbers. These are all to be implemented in the .Net class.
current commands:
StartCommunication() As Boolean SetDigitalDirection(ByVal Port As Integer, ByVal Direction As DigitalDirection) SetDigitalValue(ByVal Port As Integer, ByVal Value As Integer) EnableDigitalPort(ByVal Port As Integer, ByVal Enable As Boolean) EnableAnalogPort(ByVal Port As Integer, ByVal Enable As Boolean) EnableDigitalTrigger(ByVal Port As Integer, ByVal Enable As Boolean) EnableAnalogTrigger(ByVal Port As Integer, ByVal Threshold As Integer) GetDigitalValue(ByVal Port As Integer) GetAnalogValue(ByVal Port As Integer)
current events:
DigitalDataReceived(ByVal DPortNr As Integer, ByVal Value As Integer) AnalogDataReceived(ByVal APortNr As Integer, ByVal Value As Integer) LogMessageReceived(ByVal Message As String, ByVal DebugLevel As Integer) WatchdogReceived() ConnectionLost()
comments are welcome as always.
For anyone that's interested, I made a simple page for my code:
In due time I will update this page to something decent, but for now it's just a simple page to keep track of the revisions and changes to the code.
I found out that there was a problem with the links on my website. I fixed them for the interested people.
I'm also working on a way to add servo support into it. I am using the Adafruit motorshield, so I'm planning to add all functionality of that to the Arduino_Net project.