I just purchased an Arduino UNO, jumpers for prototyping and a protoshield/breadboard.
I am trying to create a prototype. Its main function is to replicate a few inputs. For example, a button would be pushed (learn button) then you would send X number of inputs (3.3vdc) to digital pin #1, then X number of inputs (3.3vdc) to digital pin #2. Then the same button would be pushed again and the the inputs would be replicated back out if the digital pins they came in on.
Does this make sense; seem possible?
I am awaiting my Arduino Basics book but in the mean time, a little help would be greatly appreciated.
ShiftyVTEC:
For example, a button would be pushed (learn button) then you would send X number of inputs (3.3vdc) to digital pin #1, then X number of inputs (3.3vdc) to digital pin #2. Then the same button would be pushed again and the the inputs would be replicated back out if the digital pins they came in on.
So pushes of the button alternate between 'start counting inputs' and 'start playing outputs'? What does an 'input' consist of? It is a rising edge (count each time the signal goes HIGH)? A pulse (count the times the signal goes HIGH and then LOW)? Are the outputs to be played with the same timing as the inputs?
These are the kings of questions you will have to make up an answer for before you can write the code but once you have made those decision the code should be fairly easy.
After some research it looks like I can use the raw 12-14VDC from the vehicles electrical system if I protect the Arduino with a optoisolator on each input.
Yes, there will be one monetary button to initiate the "learn" sequence, then when the button is pressed a second time, it will output what it has "learned" out of the same pins the inputs were sent to.
So for example: I press the momentary button (high signal to pin #13) to start the "learn" function, and then send a momentary input (high) to pin #1, then two second later I send another momentary input to pin #2 (high)... Then once the momentary button I used to initiate the "learn feature" is pressed again (pin #13), it will wait for 10 seconds before repeating the sequence it learned indefinitely, until the "learn" button is pressed again (waiting for new inputs).
ShiftyVTEC:
So for example: I press the momentary button (high signal to pin #13) to start the "learn" function, and then send a momentary input (high) to pin #1, then two second later I send another momentary input to pin #2 (high)... Then once the momentary button I used to initiate the "learn feature" is pressed again (pin #13), it will wait for 10 seconds before repeating the sequence it learned indefinitely, until the "learn" button is pressed again (waiting for new inputs).
That's fairly easy. I'd have two parallel arrays: one of bytes for pin number and state and one of unsigned longs for time values (milliseconds). Each time one of the input pins changes, note the pin, state, and time. Then the button is pressed again, change the pins to outputs, wait ten seconds and start playing back the state changes. Since the changes are all in chronological order you just run through them repeatedly, resetting to index 0 when you reach the end of the lists.
Thanks, when I get my book I will have some outline to follow. I have already started playing with the onboard LED and other functions like voltage readout, etc. Interesting stuff for a twenty dollar bill.