While loop hangs

Projects Programming
1

Hi

I'm new to the forum and relatively new to Arduino. I'm attempting to get a sketch running on the SparkFun Redboard, but probably trying to run before I can walk. I have the basics working but have been disabling parts of the script to diagnose problems. Rather than go into the sketch as a whole right now, I'm posting something which I'm stumbling on, that to me should be pretty basic, so I think I'm stumbling on some of the bare fundamentals, despite hours of surfing for solutions online in forums and tutorials.

My sketch ultimately is to run a model railway signal, so is based on fading LEDs in and out based on digital inputs being HIGH (built in pull up) or LOW and also depending on whether the value from a light sensor on the track falls below a value selected manually by an analog pot.

I've included all the setup code below but only left in a tiny bit of code plus the functions it uses at the bottom.

It's the while command I have a problem with at a very basic level. It will enter the loop, but not exit when the value from the photoresistor rises. I've tried monitoring the values from the LIGHTSENSE and LIGHTPOT values on the serial monitor. They look fine until the while loops executes, but then the values freeze and so does the sketch. Could this be the source of my problems?

Many thanks for any help in advance!

const int R = 9;
const int Y = 10;
const int G = 11;
const int RI = 6;
const int Rs = 3;
const int Gs = 5;

const int REDTRIG = 2;
const int RITRIG = 4;
const int RIPRIOR = 12;

const int STARTERTRIG = 7;


 
unsigned long start_time;
unsigned long current_time;
unsigned long elapsed_time;
 
 
void setup() 
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
pinMode (R, OUTPUT);
pinMode (Y, OUTPUT);
pinMode (G, OUTPUT);
pinMode (RI, OUTPUT);

pinMode (Rs, OUTPUT);
pinMode (Gs, OUTPUT);

pinMode( REDTRIG,INPUT);
pinMode( RITRIG, INPUT);
pinMode( RIPRIOR, INPUT);

pinMode( STARTERTRIG, INPUT);

digitalWrite( REDTRIG,HIGH);
digitalWrite(RITRIG,HIGH);
digitalWrite(RIPRIOR, HIGH);

digitalWrite(STARTERTRIG,HIGH);

digitalWrite(R,HIGH);
digitalWrite(Rs,HIGH);
delay(2000);
}
 
void loop() 
{
  int  LIGHTSENSE;
LIGHTSENSE = analogRead(A0);
int LIGHTPOT;
LIGHTPOT = analogRead(A1);
int TIMEPOT ;
TIMEPOT = analogRead(A2);
 
LIGHTSENSE = map(LIGHTSENSE,0,1023,0,255);
LIGHTPOT = map(LIGHTPOT,0,1023,1,255);
TIMEPOT = map(TIMEPOT,0,1023,5000,30000);
Serial.println(TIMEPOT);
delay(50);





 
 while(LIGHTSENSE < LIGHTPOT)
 {
RED();
 }

GREEN();


 
void RED()
{
if ((digitalRead(Y) == HIGH) && (digitalRead(RI) == LOW)) 
{
int index;
  for (index = 255; index >=0 ; index--)
  {
    analogWrite(Y, index);
    delay(1);
    }
 
    
  for(index = 0; index <= 255; index++)
  {
    analogWrite(R,index);
    delay(1);
  }
}
if (digitalRead(G) == HIGH)
{
int index;
  for (index = 255; index >=0 ; index--)
  {
    analogWrite(G, index);
    delay(1);
    }

  for(index = 0; index <= 255; index++)
  {
    analogWrite(R,index);
    delay(1);
  }
}
if (digitalRead(RI) == HIGH)
{
  
int index;
  for (index = 255; index >=0 ; index--)
  {
    analogWrite(RI, index);
analogWrite(Y, index);
    delay(1);
    }

  for(index = 0; index <= 255; index++)
  {
    analogWrite(R,index);
    delay(1);
  }
  
  ///digitalWrite(R,HIGH);
///digitalWrite (Y,LOW);
///digitalWrite(RI,LOW);
}
}


 
void GREEN()
 
{
if (digitalRead(R) == HIGH) 
{
int index;
  for (index = 255; index >=0 ; index--)
  {
    analogWrite(R, index);
    delay(1);
    }
 

  for(index = 0; index <= 255; index++)
  {
    analogWrite(G,index);
    delay(1);
  }
}

if ((digitalRead(Y) == HIGH) && (digitalRead(RI) == LOW))
{
  
int index;
  for (index = 255; index >=0 ; index--)
  {
    analogWrite(Y, index);
    delay(1);
    }

  for(index = 0; index <= 255; index++)
  {
    analogWrite(G,index);
    delay(1);
  }
  }
  
if (digitalRead(RI) == HIGH)
{
int index;
  for (index = 255; index >=0 ; index--)
  {
    analogWrite(RI, index);
analogWrite(Y, index);
    delay(1);
    }

  for(index = 0; index <= 255; index++)
  {
    analogWrite(G,index);
    delay(1);
  }
}
}
2

They look fine until the while loops executes, but then the values freeze and so does the sketch. Could this be the source of my problems?

This while loop?

 while(LIGHTSENSE < LIGHTPOT)
 {
RED();
 }

Once that loop starts, there is nothing to make it stop. Inside the loop, the values of LIGHTSENSE and LIGHTPOT never change.

By the way, the convention is that all capital letter names are reserved for constants. Constants never appear on the left side of an equal sign.

Tools + Auto Format is your friend. Use it. Your code is sloppy. Neaten it up!

3 
while(LIGHTSENSE < LIGHTPOT)
 {
RED();
 }

If the condition is TRUE it will remain TRUE until either LIGHTSENSE or LIGHTPOT changes. You have to re-read the analog pins to see if the inputs have changed.

Try this:

while(LIGHTSENSE < LIGHTPOT) {
RED();
LIGHTSENSE = map(analogRead(A0),0,1023,0,255);
LIGHTPOT = map(analogRead(A1),0,1023,1,255);
 }

or this:

while(map(analogRead(A0),0,1023,0,255) < map(analogRead(A1),0,1023,1,255))
 {RED(); }

Hint: you probably don't need the map() calls if all you are doing is comparing the two values:

while(analogRead(A0) < analogRead(A1))
 {RED();}
4

Many thanks guys, that solves that one!

Paul, I wasn't even aware of auto format, let alone the guidelines on using capitals. I'll correct as necessary.

John you're right, I can't remember why I wanted to translate those values - a little less code to include I guess!