multi rotary encoders via shiftIn

Projects Programming
1

Hello guys,

Got a program that's not working :wink:
What I'm trying to do is read a couple of rotary encoders, than calculate if the encoder was turned CW (+1) or CCW (-1).
When reading the encoders I put the values in a Byte, this gives me (when turning encoder 1 CW):
01111111
11111111
00111111
11111111
10111111
11111111
11111111
11111111
01111111
11111111
I decided to ignore the 11111111, so that means:
Sequence CW rotation:
00
10
11
01
Sequence CCW rotation:
00
01
11
10

So what is not working:
the values are all over the place. when turning CW I get -1 or 1, the same when I turn in the opposite direction.
the 4th value of int encoders1[3] is 280?? Well, that's what's on the display...

Here is the code:

//define where your pins are
int latchPin = 8;
int dataPin = 11;
int clockPin = 12;

//Define variables to hold the data 
//for each shift register.
byte switchVar1; 
byte OLDswitchVar1;

int encoders1[3];

// include the library code:
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>

// initialize the library with the numbers of the interface pins
LiquidCrystal lcd(7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2);

////------------------------------------------------start setup
void setup() {
  // set up the LCD's number of columns and rows: 
  lcd.begin(16, 2);
  // Print a message to the LCD.
  lcd.print("hello, world!");
  //define pin modes
  pinMode(latchPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(clockPin, OUTPUT); 
  pinMode(dataPin, INPUT);
}
//------------------------------------------------end setup

////------------------------------------------------start main loop
void loop() {
  digitalWrite(latchPin, LOW);
  delayMicroseconds(5);
  digitalWrite(latchPin, HIGH);

  switchVar1 = shiftIn(dataPin, clockPin);
    
    for (int k = 0; k <= 3; k++) 
    {
      int j = (2*k)+1;
      int i = j-1;
      int a = bitRead(switchVar1, i);
      int b = bitRead(switchVar1, j);
      int OLDa = bitRead(OLDswitchVar1, i);
      int OLDb = bitRead(OLDswitchVar1, j);
      if ((a == 1) && (b == 1))
      {
      }   
      if ((OLDa == 1) && (a == 0)) 
      {
        if (b == 1)
        {
          encoders1[k]=1;
        }
        else
        {
          encoders1[k]=-1;
        }
       bitWrite(OLDswitchVar1, i, a);
       bitWrite(OLDswitchVar1, j, b);
      }
      if ((OLDa == 0) && (a == 0)) 
      {
        if (b == 0)
        {
          encoders1[k]=1;
        }
        else
        {
          encoders1[k]=-1;
        }
       bitWrite(OLDswitchVar1, i, a);
       bitWrite(OLDswitchVar1, j, b);
      }
      if ((a == 1) && (b == 0)) 
      {
        if (OLDb == 0)
        {
          encoders1[k]=1;
        }
        else
        {
          encoders1[k]=-1;
        }
       bitWrite(OLDswitchVar1, i, a);
       bitWrite(OLDswitchVar1, j, b);
      }
      }
     lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
     lcd.print(encoders1[0]);
     lcd.setCursor(4, 1);
     lcd.print(encoders1[1]);
     lcd.setCursor(8, 1);
     lcd.print(encoders1[2]);
     lcd.setCursor(12, 1);
     lcd.print(encoders1[3]); 
     delay (50);
}
//------------------------------------------------end main loop

////// ----------------------------------------start shiftIn function

byte shiftIn(int myDataPin, int myClockPin) { 
  int i;
  int temp = 0;
  int pinState;
  byte myDataIn = 0;

  pinMode(myClockPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(myDataPin, INPUT);

  for (i=7; i>=0; i--)
  {
    digitalWrite(myClockPin, 0);
    delayMicroseconds(2);
    temp = digitalRead(myDataPin);
    if (temp) {
      pinState = 1;
      myDataIn = myDataIn | (1 << i);
    }
    digitalWrite(myClockPin, 1);
  }
  return myDataIn;
}
//------------------------------------------------end shiftIn function

Eventually, I want to use this in a bigger sketch that will send sysex strings to a JD-990. This is just the start to get the interface (knobs, pots and LCD) working.
Any pointers are appreciated!
Cheers,
ToAd