I've been practicing with Arduino Nano LOT 33 and some LED matrices for a few days. I've learned a lot! I've been able to display different arrays and switch back and forth by changing analogue pin inputs. Having a lot of fun!
However I'm running into an unanticipated issue, which is that for my project I need to read more than one analogue input value at the same time, which may not be possible with nano?
This project is for tail lamps that contain a turn signal, brake lamp, reverse lamp, and "running lamp"
So I'd need to read all four values to determine what to display on the matrix.
Any advice on how to do this with Nano? It's looking to me like I've have to somehow translate the signals to voltages, that all add up to specific values, then run a "renderframe" for each possible value?
paulpaulson:
Hello
did you check the Analog Input example from IDE too?
Yes! Very helpful! And with a lot of other examples and research I got to the point where I can switch via a Analog input. I just can't seem to figure out how, if possible, to read multiple analog inputs at the same time
However I'm running into an unanticipated issue, which is that for my project I need to read more than one analogue input value at the same time, which may not be possible with nano?
At exactly the same time will never be possible. So what is the time frame that you can allow? 1 second? 100 millseconds?
You can read the 4 analog inputs into 4 variabeles first and next process them. It's often advised to do two readings of each analog input and discard the first one. Below example for two inputs.
void loop()
{
int valTurn;
int valBreak;
// read the analogInputs
valTurn = analogRead(A0);
valTurn = analogRead(A0);
valBreak = analogRead(A1);
valBreak = analogRead(A1);
// process the data here
Serial.print("valTurn = "); serial.println(valTurn);
Serial.print("valBreak = "); serial.println(valBreak);
}
hammy:
If you just checking if bulbs are on , you can use digital inputs
Okay! So I do a time delay between the "checks" on each PIN?
So the problem in more detail is I have to check 4 inputs at the same time to determine a state ie:
Brakes only
Brakes with Running lamp
Turn with brake
Turn with Reverse
Reverse with brake
ETC!
So I was assuming now I'd want to assign an integer to each Pin status, then add them up to determine a state? I'll use numbers so that the state is always a unique value for each possible pin status combination?
paulpaulson:
Hello
or you can use a current sensor for each bulb.
I'm not running any bulbs
This is to replace the complete tail lamp with a matrix display.
The signals are 12v on / off which I will bring down to 5v for the analog inputs.
I hope that makes sense
I can’t see this without thinking that the pin ints should could be 1, 2, 4 and 8.
This would also make the bits of the total correspond to the four signals you are monitoring, might come in handy.
Also you can use digital inputs as has been pointed out. Optoisolators would make it safer and easy. Google “optoisolator arduino” for some basic idea about that.
alto777:
I can’t see this without thinking that the pin ints should could be 1, 2, 4 and 8.
This would also make the bits of the total correspond to the four signals you are monitoring, might come in handy.
Also you can use digital inputs as has been pointed out. Optoisolators would make it safer and easy. Google “optoisolator arduino” for some basic idea about that.
a7
Good point
Pin name
Pin number
Pin int
run
A0
1
turn
A1
2
brake
A2
4
reverse
A3
8
Status x1
int total
run
1
turn
2
brake
4
reverse
8
Status x2
run + turn
3
run + brake
5
run + reverse
9
turn + brake
6
turn + reverse
10
brake + reverse
12
Status x3
run + turn + brake
7
run + turn + reverse
11
run + brake + reverse
13
Status x4
run + turn + brake + reverse
15
I ordered a few 4 channel opto isolators just for this
So what the best way to write the value to a integer?
is that a float?
Warning, sloppiness ahead:
void loop()
{
if(sensorValue1 = digitalRead(sensorPin1)== HIGH) // read the value from the sensor1:
float state = + 1;
delay(10);
if(sensorValue2 = digitalRead(sensorPin2)== HIGH) // read the value from the sensor2:
float state = + 2;
delay(10);
if(sensorValue3 = digitalRead(sensorPin3)== HIGH) // read the value from the sensor3:
float state = + 4;
delay(10);
if(sensorValue4 = digitalRead(sensorPin3)== HIGH) // read the value from the sensor4:
float state = + 8;
delay(10);
if(float state = 1)
RenderFrame (ledarray2),
delay(100);
This works kind of. By applying 5v to pins 1-4 it will determine a state, then render a frame for a given state. Great!
I don't know how to get it now to ADD "state" values to get a value besides 1,2,4,8
Thanks again! I'm looking into examples a lot
//tail lamp dev v1
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
#define PIN 3
const int sensorPin1 = A0; // select a input pin for control 1 RUN LAMP
const int sensorPin2 = A1; // select a input pin for control 2 TURN SIGNAL
const int sensorPin3 = A2; // select a input pin for control 3 BRAKE LIGHT
const int sensorPin4 = A3; // select a input pin for control 4 REVERSE
int sensorValue1 = A0; // variable to store the value coming from the sensor
int sensorValue2 = A1; // variable to store the value coming from the sensor
int sensorValue3 = A2; // variable to store the value coming from the sensor
int sensorValue4 = A3; // variable to store the value coming from the sensor
[b](arrays deleted to save space here)[/b]
const int NUM_PIXELS = 256;
Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(NUM_PIXELS, PIN, NEO_GRB);
void setup()
{
strip.begin();
strip.setBrightness(10);
strip.show(); // Initialize all pixels to 'off'
pinMode(A0, OUTPUT);
pinMode(A1, OUTPUT);
pinMode(A2, OUTPUT);
pinMode(A3, OUTPUT);
}
void loop()
{
int state = 0; // initialize state value to zero
if(sensorValue1 = digitalRead(sensorPin1)== HIGH) // read the value from the sensor1:
state = 1;
delay(10);
if(sensorValue2 = digitalRead(sensorPin2)== HIGH) // read the value from the sensor2:
state = 2;
delay(10);
if(sensorValue3 = digitalRead(sensorPin3)== HIGH) // read the value from the sensor3:
state = 4;
delay(10);
if(sensorValue4 = digitalRead(sensorPin4)== HIGH) // read the value from the sensor4:
state = 8;
delay(10);
if(state == 1)
RenderFrame (ledarray2),
delay(100);
if(state == 2)
RenderFrame (ledarray3),
delay(100);
if(state == 4)
RenderFrame (ledarray1),
delay(100);
if(state == 0)
RenderFrame (ledarray),
delay(100);
if(state == 3)
RenderFrame (ledarray3),
delay(100);
}
void RenderFrame(const uint32_t *arr)
{
for (uint16_t t = 0; t < 256; t++)
{
strip.setPixelColor(t, arr[t]);
}
strip.show();
}
