Timer functions?

[asdabbi]

Hello community

I am a complete newbie at this. I am wondering about the timers on the Arduino uno.

Can the timers interpret how long a button has been pressed or can the timer tell when a sensor was activated and then deactivated?

I am trying to create a device that has two functions. If the button (or sensor) is held down for 3 or more seconds then one audio file is played from the sd card. If the button is held down for 3 minutes or more, a different audio is played from the sd card.

Eventually, I would like to be able to play random tracks from each group.

Is this possible with an Arduino or is this more of a job for a raspberry?

I really hope it is possible with an Arduino because I am just learning programming and python is out of my league right now😉

Thank you,
Greg

[Hutkikz]

Arduino's are very good at this sort of thing.
Setting up the actual timers is a bit advanced for someone just starting out, but fortunately Arduino provides 2 function's that make it easy and they called the millis() and micros() functions.
millis() keeps track of the number of milliseconds since power up. micros() does the same for microseconds.

The "Blink Without Delay" example sketch gives a basic introduction to using the millis() function and here is a more in depth look: Part 1 Multi-tasking the Arduino

[asdabbi]

Thank you for the guidance.

[lastchancename]

I’m guessing that if you are really using your FINGER , you won’t be able to hold the button pressed for three MINUTES reliably.

[asdabbi]

That is true, that is why someone will be sitting on the sensor/button..

[PerryBebbington]

This is an introduction to reading buttons:

Buttons and other electro-mechanical inputs (introduction)

Intended audience This tutorial is intended for people who have mastered the basics of electronics and C/C++ programming. If you are a beginner and find the concepts difficult, please review the basic examples in the Arduino IDE. In this tutorial BUTTON will be a generic term for any kind of switch or other input device with mechanical contacts. Introduction A common requirement in many projects is to have push buttons, switches or other electro-mechanical devices connected as inputs to an A…

And this has more advanced examples, including doing different things depending on how long a button is pressed for:

Buttons and other electro-mechanical inputs (advanced)

Introduction This tutorial follows on from Buttons and other electro-mechanical inputs (introduction) and should be read when you are comfortable with the concepts explained in that tutorial. If you have not reviewed the tutorial 'Buttons and electro-mechanical inputs (introduction)' please do so. In this tutorial more examples are offered covering things you can do with buttons as inputs to an Arduino. Examples are in order of increasing functionality and associated difficulty. Examples pre…

[asdabbi]

Thank you for the very useful information. So.. using the output when pressed and output when released: I can start a timer when the button is pressed…this would be my first output. the Arduino can track the time until the button is released and then the second output can be an “if” statement that determines if the amount of time equals decision A or decision B?

Hope that makes sense

[LarryD]

@asdabbi

Hope that makes sense

Make a bulleted list of exactly what needs to happen.

• switch1 goes from open to closed
• TIMER1 is started
• switch1 goes from closed to open

[drmpf]

How to write Timers and Delays in Arduino has an example of
Delay execution until condition has been true for X secs

For buttons see also Debouncing Switches in Arduino

With both these structuring you code as tasks is an advantage
Multi-tasking in Arduino

[asdabbi]

This community is awesome!!

[asdabbi]

Alright everyone,

Please correct me if I am wrong;

All I need to do is use the repeating millisdelay.

I just set my delay or for the light to stay on for four minutes or 240000 mills.

Then have the Arduino check if the light is on or not. If it is, then it plays the designated audio track from the sd card. If the light is off, then it plays the other designated track.

#include <millisDelay.h>

int led = 13;
// Pin 13 has an LED connected on most Arduino boards.
bool ledOn = false; // keep track of the led state

millisDelay ledDelay;

void setup() {
// initialize the digital pin as an output.
pinMode(led, OUTPUT); // initialize the digital pin as an output.
digitalWrite(led, LOW); // turn led off
ledOn = false;

// start delay
ledDelay.start(1500);
}

void checkToggleLed() { // led task
// check if delay has timed out
if (ledDelay.justFinished()) {
ledDelay.repeat(); // start delay again without drift
// toggle the led
ledOn = !ledOn;
if (ledOn) {
digitalWrite(led, HIGH); // turn led on
} else {
digitalWrite(led, LOW); // turn led off
}
}
}
void loop() {
checkToggleLed(); // check if should toggle led based on timer
}

Is this the right track? I understand that I haven’t changed any of the commands from the original code yet.

I just got the parts in for making the wav file reader so I can use the sd card. Now I need to program that in there… back into studying I go🤗

[paulpaulson]

Hello and good morning
Take view into the IDE example BWOD to learn and how to build your own timer.

Blink Without Delay