Hi all,
Aim of the project
I am currently working on a GPS-based clock existing of a NEO-6M module and 4 Russian IV-6 vacuüm tubes. My goal is to multiplex the 4 tubes, giving me 4 digits: hours and minutes.
Status quo
At this moment of time the project is still in the breadboard phase to determine the feasibility of the concept. I have wired up a single tube to see if the GPS provides me with a digit derived from the GPS time data.
Problem description
As a mechanical engineer, my programming skills leave to be desired, but I'm trying. I am using the TinyGPS++ library as a basis and have written a sketch that has a single tube glowing and providing me a digit, horay! The problem is however that the tube flickers back to '0' for a split moment everytime the GPS module updates.
Possible solution
I have been tinkering with the code for quite some time now, but I can't seem to find out why the code delays for that split moment. I think there has to be a rearrangement of the code somehow.
Another solution that came to mind is to write a conditional value to the display tube that changes as soon as the GPS-read value changes. I am however quite unsure on how to rewrite my code to achieve this. That's why I would like to reach out to you guys for sume guidance.
#include <TinyGPS++.h>
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
#include <SegmentDisplay_CD4511B.h>
// Choose two Arduino pins to use for software serial
int RXPin = 2;
int TXPin = 3;
int GPSBaud = 9600;
//int hourTens;
//int hourUnits;
//int minuteTens;
//int minuteUnits;
// Create a TinyGPS++ object
TinyGPSPlus gps;
// Create a software serial port called "gpsSerial"
SoftwareSerial gpsSerial(RXPin, TXPin);
SegmentDisplay_CD4511B displayDriver(8, 5, 6, 7, 2);
/*------------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
void setup()
{
// Start the Arduino hardware serial port at 9600 baud
Serial.begin(9600);
// Start the software serial port at the GPS's default baud
gpsSerial.begin(GPSBaud);
}
void loop()
{
while (gpsSerial.available() > 0)
{
if (gps.encode(gpsSerial.read()))
{
displayInfo();
}
// If 5000 milliseconds pass and there are no characters coming in
// over the software serial port, show a "No GPS detected" error
if (millis() > 5000 && gps.charsProcessed() < 10)
{
Serial.println("No GPS detected");
while (true);
}
}
}
/*------------------------------DEBUG------------------------------------------*/
void displayInfo()
{
if (gps.time.isValid())
{
Serial.println(); //Enter tussen de regels
Serial.print("Hour tens");
Serial.print(" = ");
Serial.println((gps.time.hour() + 1) / 10 % 10);
Serial.print("Hour units");
Serial.print(" = ");
Serial.print((gps.time.hour() + 1) % 10);
Serial.println(); //Enter tussen de regels
Serial.print("Minute tens");
Serial.print(" = ");
Serial.println(gps.time.minute() / 10 % 10);
Serial.print("Minute units");
Serial.print(" = ");
Serial.println(gps.time.minute() % 10);
Serial.println(); //Enter tussen de regels
/*------------------------------SPLITS GETALLEN---------------------------------*/
int hourTens = ((gps.time.hour() + 1) / 10 % 10);
int hourUnits = ((gps.time.hour() + 1) % 10);
int minuteTens = (gps.time.minute() / 10 % 10);
int minuteUnits = (gps.time.minute() % 10);
/*---------------------------------CD4511B-------------------------------------*/
//displayDriver.showNumber(hourTens);
//delay(5);
//displayDriver.showNumber(hourUnits);
//delay(5);
//displayDriver.showNumber(minuteTens);
//delay(5);
displayDriver.showNumber(minuteUnits);
//delay(5);
/*------------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
}
else
{
Serial.println("Not Available");
}
//delay(1000);
}
