Posts with «tip & tricks» label

Wi-Fi Body Scale with Arduino

In this post we present the design of a scale that connects to the Internet and automatically sends weight info on a Google Document.

The project is composed of

 

Hardware

Taking a look at the diagram, we can distinguish three sections:

one for handling digital inputs (two buttons and scale’s switch),
the LCD manager
the analog signal acquisition from load cells


You may notice that P1 and P2 buttons are respectively managed by Arduino’s A3 and A4 inputs (configured as digital), while the INT switch reads the A5 signal (digital as well).

The LCD display used in our project belongs to the family of those based on HD44780 chipset, equipped with seven-pin control (RW, D4, D5, D6, D7, RS and Enable). As you can see from the diagram, RW is permanently connected to ground so it’s only operating in writing mode.

D4, D5, D6 and D7 pins are respectively managed by 3, 5, 6 and 7 digital pins of the Arduino Uno; RS is managed by pin 8 and the Enable pin from pin A0 (this configuration will also be specified in the software).

Besides the power supply (a VCC connected to 5V) and the ground (GND), the display requires a level of voltage between 0 and 5 volts to adjust the contrast in the input pin VO (adjustment made through R6 potentiometer).

Finally the display has 2 pin (A and K respectively anode and cathode) for switching on the backlight: feeding the pin with a voltage of 5V, the backlight is turned on, otherwise it is off.

The switching on and off is handled via a push-button switch that connects or disconnects the ground from the cathode.

Finally let’s analyze the part that manages the analog signal from the load cells: this is done by INA125 integrated component, a high precision amplifier developed specifically for measuring tools like scales.


The IC is fitted with two pins (6 and 7) representing the input of the differential amplification stage. These pins are connected to the two ends of the Wheatstone bridge (which in our project correspond to two of the load cell pins).

As you can figure out, the differential signal coming from the bridge has an absolute value of just a few millivolts: our project requires an amplification of about 500 times, obtained with a 120 ohm resistor.

The amplified output is provided at pins 10 and 11 of INA125; these pins are connected to A1 analog of the Arduino board, which therefore will be used for reading the value ADC.

R1: 39 ohm
R2: 1 kohm
R3: 4,7 kohm
R4: 4,7 kohm
R5: 330 ohm
R6: Trimmer 10 kohm
R7: 4,7 kohm

C1: 100 nF 63 VL
C2: 100 µF 25 VL

U1: INA125

P1: Microswitch
P2: Microswitch

LCD: Display LCD 8×2

 

Hacking  the Velleman scale

Our system is designed to be matched to the high-capacity scale produced by Velleman. But you can using any scale usign 4 load cells. The original Velleman electronics and display must be phased out and replaced with our project.

The scale structure is made up of 4 load cells (arranged on the 4 corners), which are configured between them so as to create a single Wheatstone bridge.

To make the connection to our board you must disassemble the lower section of the scale in order to access the electronics.

Referring to Fig A, which shows the structure of the scale viewed from below, with a quick visual analysis is easy to figure out that some blue and red wires are connected to each other while the yellow wires are connected to the switches positioned on the front of the two cells that identify the presence of a person.


To hack the scale follow these steps:


  • unsolder or cut all the red and blue wires, push in short those that were already shorted previously,

  • unsolder or cut the yellow wires coming from the cells numbered 1 and 3, put them in parallel (possibly by welding), extend them and take them to the two terminals on the new INT printed board (Fig.B)

  • unsolder or cut the white wire that is referred to as G3 (Wheatstone bridge mass) on the original printed circuit, extend take it to terminal 1 on the new printed circuit;

  • unsolder or cut the white wire that is referred to as G2 (Wheatstone bridge positive) on the original printed circuit, extend take it to terminal 3 on the new printed circuit;

  • unsolder or cut the white wire that is referred to as G1 and G4 on the original printed circuit, extend take it to terminal 4 and 2 on the new printed circuit (differential signal on the Wheatstone bridge)

 


The Sketch

As for the LCD, Arduino provides a convenient library (<LiquidCrystal.h>) already supporting different kinds of LCD (both 8 and 16 chars for 2 lines) based on the parallel interface chipset HD44780.

After the inclusion of the library, you must initialize the connection to the display, through LiquidCrystal LCDDisplay (8, A0, 3, 5, 6, 7), in this command, the parameters passed to the function and indicate Arduino’s hardware pins used to connect RS, Enable, D4, D5, D6 and D7 pins of the display.

Depending on the Arduino setup could be necessary to execute LCDDisplay.begin (width, height) in which the parameters indicate the physical dimensions of the display: LCDDisplay.begin (8, 2) in this case.

The library makes available instructions:

  • LCDDisplay.setCursor (x, y) to position the cursor in a certain position
  • LCDDisplay.print (String) to print strings


Management of Arduino’s EEPROM is done by the <EEPROM.h> library  that, once included, provides the functions:


  • EEPROM.write (add, date) to write a byte in a particular cell and

  • EEPROM.read (add) that the instead reads a byte from one cell (the add parameter specifies the address of the EEPROM cell).


Wi-Fi network and internet connection are managed thanks to the <WiServer.h> library; you just need to define some variables to configure the network (like IP’s and Network masks).


The adapter to connect and publish data on Google Documents shall operate as a Web Client: this configuration is done in the setup instruction WiServer.init (NULL) in which the NULL parameter specifies client mode.


You must create a function that will receive and handle the response from the server, this is done by the googlePublish.setReturnFunc  (Gestione_Risposte_Web) instruction  in our example. This function must be defined later in the code: in our example is void Gestione_Risposte_Web (char * data, int len) and receives as parameters both a pointer to a string containing the response and the length (in bytes) of the response.


Sending information requires to make a POST request to Google’s servers: WiServer library makes available a POSTrequest just to do this.


You must define the IP address of the server to which you want to connect (Google in our case) and define a structure of the POSTrequest (in our case, the variable is called googlePublish) containing the IP address of the server, the TCP / IP port the server name (spreadsheets.google.com), URL of POST execution and finally a function (SearchQuery in our case) that builds POST request body.

 

/******************************************************
 BilanciaWiFi
 Autori: Ingg. Tommaso Giusto e Ing. Alessandro Giusto
 Email:  tommro@libero.it
******************************************************/

// Inclusione Libreria per Display LCD 8x2
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
// Inclusione Libreria per EEPROM scheda
#include <EEPROM.h>
// Inclusione Libreria per Server Web WiFi
#include <WiServer.h>
// Inclusione Libreria per SD Card
//#include <SD.h>

// Definizione pin INPUT/OUTPUT
const int PinVPeso = A1;         // Ingresso analogico uscita peso
const int PinPulsanteP1 = A3;    // Ingresso pulsante P1 su A3
const int PinPulsanteP2 = A4;    // Ingresso pulsante P2 su A4
const int PinInterruttore = A5;  // Ingresso interruttore su A5

// Definizione/Inizializzazione PIN Display LCD
// LCD RS pin D8
// LCD Enable on pin A0
// LCD D4, D5, D6, D7 on pins D3, D5, D6, D7
// LCD R/W pin a massa
// LCD V0 pin trimmer tra +5V e massa
LiquidCrystal LCDDisplay (8, A0, 3, 5, 6, 7);

/******************************************************
 Definizione struttura EEPROM
******************************************************/

/*****************************************************/
// Byte 0x000        Nome
// ...               Utente
// Byte 0x01F        000 (0x00 Carattere fine stringa)
// ...               
// ...               
// ...               
// Byte 0x120        Nome
// ...               Utente
// Byte 0x13F        009 (0x00 Carattere fine stringa)
/*****************************************************/
#define StartNomiUtentiEEPROMADD          0x0000
#define EndNomiUtentiEEPROMADD            0x013F
#define DimensioneNomeUtenteEEPROMADD     32
#define NumMaxNomiUtenti                  10

/*****************************************************/
// Byte 0x140        Parte Alta Peso Utente 000
// Byte 0x141        Parte Bassa Peso Utente 000
// ...               
// ...               
// ...               
// Byte 0x152        Parte Alta Peso Utente 009
// Byte 0x153        Parte Bassa Peso Utente 009
/*****************************************************/
#define StartPesiUtentiEEPROMADD          0x0140
#define EndPesiUtentiEEPROMADD            0x0153
#define DimensionePesoUtenteEEPROMADD     2

#define PesoMIN                           100
#define PesoMAX                           2000
#define AnalogDifferenzaPesoMAX           15

#define CalibrazioneSensoreMIN            0
#define CalibrazioneSensoreMAX            80

/******************************************************
 Definizione variabili globali
******************************************************/

// Definizione Parametri Rete Wireless
#define WIRELESS_MODE_INFRA	1  // Infrastrutturata (basata su Access Point)
#define WIRELESS_MODE_ADHOC	2  // Ad-hoc (senza Access Point)

// Parametri di rete
unsigned char local_ip[] = {192, 168, 0, 89};      // Indirizzo IP
unsigned char gateway_ip[] = {192, 168, 0, 254};	    // Indirizzo gateway IP
unsigned char subnet_mask[] = {255, 255, 255, 0};   // Subnet Mask
const prog_char ssid[] PROGMEM = {"FlashMob"};	    // SSID access point

// Selezione tipo di cifratura rete Wireless
unsigned char security_type = 0;  // 0 -> nessuna cifratura
                                  // 1 -> cifratura WEP
                                  // 2 -> cifratura WPA
                                  // 3 -> cifratura WPA2

// Password cifratura per WPA/WPA2 (max. 64 cratteri)
const prog_char security_passphrase[] PROGMEM = {"12345678"};

// Password cifratura per WEP 128-bit keys
prog_uchar wep_keys[] PROGMEM = {0x01, 0x02, 0x03, 0x04, 0x05, 0x06, 0x07, 0x08, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
				 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
				 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
				 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00};

// Selezione tipo di rete Wireless infrastrutturata
unsigned char wireless_mode = WIRELESS_MODE_INFRA;

// Variabili per lunghezza SSID e password di cifratura
unsigned char ssid_len;
unsigned char security_passphrase_len;

// Definizione Parametri Pubblicazione Google
// Indirizzo IP per server www.google.it
uint8 google_ip[] = {209, 85, 229, 101};

// Richiesta POST verso GOOGLE
POSTrequest googlePublish (google_ip, 80, "spreadsheets.google.com", "", searchQuery);

// Stringa per eseguire pubblicazione
char newURL[] = {"/formResponse?formkey=dDFPcWhxNlZxMEpnUnhNdE5fT1lDcWc6MQ&ifq&entry.0.single=++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++&entry.1.single=999,9&submit=Submit"};

// This function generates the body of our POST request
void searchQuery() {
}

// Indica presenza SD Card
//boolean presenzaSDCard;

// Inizializzazione Scheda
void setup() {
  // Inizializzo dimensioni LCD (8x2)
  LCDDisplay.begin (8, 2);

  // Inizializzo pin usati come INPUT/OUTPUT
  pinMode (PinInterruttore, INPUT);  
  pinMode (PinPulsanteP1, INPUT);
  pinMode (PinPulsanteP2, INPUT);

  // Se all'accensione rilevati tutti e 2 i pulsanti premuti
  if ((PulsantePremuto (PinPulsanteP1) == 1) &&
      (PulsantePremuto (PinPulsanteP2) == 1)) {
    // Segnalo inizializzazione in corso
    LCDDisplay.setCursor (0, 0);
    LCDDisplay.print ("Init EEP");
    LCDDisplay.setCursor (0, 1);
    LCDDisplay.print ("in corso");

    // Inizializzo EEPROM scheda
    InizializzaEEPROM();
    // Attesa
    delay (500);
  }
  // Inizializzo porta seriale
  Serial.begin (9600);  
  Serial.println ("Bilancia WiFi");
  Serial.println ("By Ingg. Tommaso e Alessandro Giusto");
  // Invio stato utenti
  InviaProgrammazioneUtenti();

  // Segnalo Avvio Web
  LCDDisplay.setCursor (0, 0);
  LCDDisplay.print ("  Init  ");
  LCDDisplay.setCursor (0, 1);
  LCDDisplay.print ("  web   ");  

  // Inizializzo WiServer
  WiServer.init (NULL);
  WiServer.enableVerboseMode (false);

  // Inizializzazione richiesta POST (parametro indica funzione a cui verra' passata la risposta)
  googlePublish.setReturnFunc (Gestione_Risposte_Web);    

/*
  // Inizializzo SD Card
  pinMode(10, OUTPUT);  
  presenzaSDCard = SD.begin (4);
  // Se inizializzazione SD fallita  
  if (presenzaSDCard == false)
    Serial.println ("Init SD FAULT!");
  // Se inizializzazione SD riuscita
  else
    Serial.println ("Init SD OK!");
*/
}

// Programma Principale
void loop() {
  // Ciclo infinito di esecuzione
  for (;;) {
    // Gestione Peso
    GestionePeso();

    // Per circa 1 sec
    for (byte tmp = 0; tmp < 250; tmp++) {
      // Gestione programmazione seriale
      GestioneSeriale();
      // Gestione WiServer
      GestioneWiServer();
      // Attesa
      delay (4);
    }    // Chiusura ciclo for per circa 1 sec
  }    // Chiusura ciclo infinito di esecuzione
}

/******************************************************
 Definizione funzioni
******************************************************/

// Funzione Gestione Peso
void GestionePeso() {
  // Indice utente selezionato
  //    0,..,(NumMaxNomiUtenti-1) -> selezionato utente 1,..,NumMaxNomiUtenti
  //    0xFF -> nessun utente selezionato
  static int IndiceUtenteSelezionato = 0xFF;
  // Indica l'indice carattere visualizzato  
  static int IndiceCarattere = 0;
  String NomeUtenteSelezionato;
  int PesoUtenteSelezionato;
  int LunghezzaNomeUtenteSelezionato;
  int ValoreSensorePeso1, ValoreSensorePeso2;
  int ValoreSensorePesoTMP1, ValoreSensorePesoTMP2, ValoreSensorePesoTMP3, ValoreSensorePesoTMP4;
  static int CalibrazioneSensore;
  int CalibrazioneSensoreTMP;
  int PesoCalcolato;
  int tmp;

  // Se non premuto interruttore (utente non salito)
  if (PulsantePremuto (PinInterruttore) == 0) {
    // Leggo valore sensore per calibrazione
    CalibrazioneSensoreTMP = analogRead (PinVPeso);
    // Se valore sensore per calibrazione valido
    if ((CalibrazioneSensoreTMP >= (int) (CalibrazioneSensoreMIN)) &&
      (CalibrazioneSensoreTMP <= (int) (CalibrazioneSensoreMAX)))
      // Aggiorno valore sensore per calibrazione
      CalibrazioneSensore = CalibrazioneSensoreTMP;
  }    // Chiusura if non premuto interruttore (utente non salito)

  // Se premuto tasto 1
  if (PulsantePremuto (PinPulsanteP1) == 1) {
    // Azzero indice carattere visualizzato
    IndiceCarattere = 0;

    // Verifico tutte le posizioni utente
    for (tmp = 0; tmp < NumMaxNomiUtenti; tmp++) {
      // Seleziono utente selezionato
      switch (IndiceUtenteSelezionato) {
        // Se selezionato ultimo utente/nessun utente selezionato
        case (NumMaxNomiUtenti - 1): case 0xFF:
          // Seleziono primo utente
          IndiceUtenteSelezionato = 0;
          break;    // Chiusura case selezionato ultimo utente/nessun utente selezionato

        // Se selezionato altro utente
        default:
          // Seleziono prossimo utente
          IndiceUtenteSelezionato++;
          break;    // Chiusura case nessun utente selezionato
      }    // Chiusura switch seleziono utente selezionato

      // Se trovato utente con nome non nullo
      if (LeggiNomeUtente (IndiceUtenteSelezionato).length() != 0x00)
        // Blocco ciclo for verifico tutte le posizioni utente
        break;
    }    // Chiusura ciclo for verifico tutte le posizioni utente

    // Se non trovato utente con nome non nullo
    if (tmp == NumMaxNomiUtenti)
      // Seleziono nessun utente
      IndiceUtenteSelezionato = 0xFF;
  }    // Chiusura if premuto tasto 1

  // Se utente selezionato
  if (IndiceUtenteSelezionato != 0xFF) {
    // Leggo nome/peso utente
    NomeUtenteSelezionato = LeggiNomeUtente (IndiceUtenteSelezionato);
    PesoUtenteSelezionato = LeggiPesoUtente (IndiceUtenteSelezionato);
    // Calcolo lunghezza nome utente    
    LunghezzaNomeUtenteSelezionato = NomeUtenteSelezionato.length();
    // Seleziono lunghezza nome utente
    switch (LunghezzaNomeUtenteSelezionato) {
      case 0:
        // Indico nessun utente selezionato
        IndiceUtenteSelezionato = 0xFF;
        break;
      case 1: case 2: case 3: case 4: case 5: case 6: case 7:
        LCDDisplay.clear();
        LCDDisplay.setCursor ((8 - LunghezzaNomeUtenteSelezionato) / 2, 0);
        LCDDisplay.print (NomeUtenteSelezionato);
        break;
      case 8:
        LCDDisplay.setCursor (0, 0);
        LCDDisplay.print (NomeUtenteSelezionato);
        break;
      default:
        if ((IndiceCarattere + 8) > LunghezzaNomeUtenteSelezionato)
          IndiceCarattere = 0;

        LCDDisplay.setCursor (0, 0);
        LCDDisplay.print (&NomeUtenteSelezionato[IndiceCarattere]);

        // Messaggio scorrevole
        IndiceCarattere++;
        if ((IndiceCarattere + 8) > LunghezzaNomeUtenteSelezionato)
          IndiceCarattere = 0;
        break;
    }    // Chiusura switch seleziono lunghezza nome utente
    LCDDisplay.setCursor (0, 1);
    LCDDisplay.print (PesoUtenteSelezionato / 1000);
    LCDDisplay.print ((PesoUtenteSelezionato % 1000) / 100);
    LCDDisplay.print ((PesoUtenteSelezionato % 100) / 10);
    LCDDisplay.print (".");
    LCDDisplay.print (PesoUtenteSelezionato % 10);    
    LCDDisplay.print (" Kg");

    // Se premuto interruttore (utente salito)
    if (PulsantePremuto (PinInterruttore) == 1) {
      LCDDisplay.setCursor (0, 1);
      LCDDisplay.print ("..... Kg");

      // Leggo valore analogico peso
      for (;;) {
        // Attesa
        delay (500);
        // Eseguo prima lettura peso
        ValoreSensorePesoTMP1 = analogRead (PinVPeso);
        delay (125);
        ValoreSensorePesoTMP2 = analogRead (PinVPeso);
        delay (125);
        ValoreSensorePesoTMP3 = analogRead (PinVPeso);
        delay (125);
        ValoreSensorePesoTMP4 = analogRead (PinVPeso);
        delay (125);
        ValoreSensorePeso1 = ((ValoreSensorePesoTMP1 + ValoreSensorePesoTMP2 + ValoreSensorePesoTMP3 + ValoreSensorePesoTMP4) / 4);

        // Attesa
        delay (500);
        // Eseguo seconda lettura peso
        ValoreSensorePesoTMP1 = analogRead (PinVPeso);
        delay (125);
        ValoreSensorePesoTMP2 = analogRead (PinVPeso);
        delay (125);
        ValoreSensorePesoTMP3 = analogRead (PinVPeso);
        delay (125);
        ValoreSensorePesoTMP4 = analogRead (PinVPeso);
        delay (125);
        ValoreSensorePeso2 = ((ValoreSensorePesoTMP1 + ValoreSensorePesoTMP2 + ValoreSensorePesoTMP3 + ValoreSensorePesoTMP4) / 4);

        // Se peso stabilizzato
        if ((ValoreSensorePeso1 <= ValoreSensorePeso2) && ((ValoreSensorePeso2 - ValoreSensorePeso1) < (int) (AnalogDifferenzaPesoMAX)) ||
            (ValoreSensorePeso1 > ValoreSensorePeso2) && ((ValoreSensorePeso1 - ValoreSensorePeso2) < (int) (AnalogDifferenzaPesoMAX)))
          // Blocco ciclo for leggo valore analogico peso
          break;
      }    // Chiusura ciclo for leggo valore analogico peso

      // Calcolo peso utente
      PesoCalcolato = (int) (ValoreSensorePeso2 - CalibrazioneSensore);
      PesoCalcolato = (PesoCalcolato + (((int) (PesoCalcolato * (int) (10))) / (int) (62)));

//    68.1 KG
//    642   con calibrazione: 62 -> Veff = 580

      // Se peso valido
      if ((PesoCalcolato >= (int) (PesoMIN)) && (PesoCalcolato <= (int) (PesoMAX))) {
        // Memorizzo peso utente
        ScriviPesoUtente (IndiceUtenteSelezionato, PesoCalcolato);

        // Visualizzo peso calcolato
        LCDDisplay.setCursor (0, 1);
        LCDDisplay.print (PesoCalcolato / 1000);
        LCDDisplay.print ((PesoCalcolato % 1000) / 100);
        LCDDisplay.print ((PesoCalcolato % 100) / 10);
        LCDDisplay.print (".");
        LCDDisplay.print (PesoCalcolato % 10);    
        LCDDisplay.print (" Kg");

        // Richiedo pubblicazione        
        LCDDisplay.setCursor (0, 0);
        LCDDisplay.print ("Pubblic?");

        // Per massimo 5 secondi attendo pressione tasto 2
        for (tmp = 0; tmp < 10; tmp++) {
          // Se premuto tasto 2
          if (PulsantePremuto (PinPulsanteP2) == 1) {
            // Indico pubblicazione in corso     
            LCDDisplay.setCursor (0, 0);
            LCDDisplay.print ("Pubblic.");
            LCDDisplay.setCursor (0, 1);
            LCDDisplay.print ("  wait  ");

            // Eseguo pubblicazione
            for (tmp = 0; tmp < NomeUtenteSelezionato.length(); tmp++) {
              newURL[76 + tmp] = NomeUtenteSelezionato.charAt(tmp);
              if (newURL[76 + tmp] == ' ')
                newURL[76 + tmp] = '+';
            }
            newURL[124] = ((PesoCalcolato / 1000) + 0x30);
            newURL[125] = (((PesoCalcolato % 1000) / 100) + 0x30);      
            newURL[126] = (((PesoCalcolato % 100) / 10) + 0x30);      
            newURL[128] = ((PesoCalcolato % 10) + 0x30);      
            googlePublish.setURL(newURL);
            googlePublish.submit();    
            delay (500);
            // Blocco ciclo for
            break;
          }
          delay (500);          
        }    // Chiusura ciclo for per massimo 5 secondi attendo pressione tasto 2
/*
        // Se SD rilevata
        if (presenzaSDCard == true) {
          // Verifico/Creo directory BilanciaWiFi
          if (!(SD.exists ("BilanciaWiFi")))
            SD.mkdir ("BilanciaWiFi");

          // Memorizzo il peso su file
          File filePeso;
          // Apro il file in scrittura
          char nomeFilePeso[50] = {"BilanciaWiFi/"};
          for (tmp = 0; tmp < NomeUtenteSelezionato.length(); tmp++) {
            charTmp[0] = NomeUtenteSelezionato.charAt(tmp);
            strcat (nomeFilePeso, charTmp);
          }
          strcat (nomeFilePeso, ".txt");          
          filePeso = SD.open (nomeFilePeso, FILE_WRITE);

          // Se apertura file OK
          if (filePeso) {
            // Memorizzo il peso
            filePeso.print ((PesoCalcolato / 1000) + 0x30);
            filePeso.print (((PesoCalcolato % 1000) / 100) + 0x30);
            filePeso.print (((PesoCalcolato % 100) / 10) + 0x30);
            filePeso.print (".");
            filePeso.print ((PesoCalcolato % 10) + 0x30);
            filePeso.print (" Kg");
            // Chiudo il file:
            filePeso.close();
          }
        }
*/

        LCDDisplay.setCursor (0, 0);
        LCDDisplay.print ("  Step  ");
        LCDDisplay.setCursor (0, 1);
        LCDDisplay.print ("  off   ");

        // Attendo utente scende dalla bilancia
        for (;;) {
          // Se non premuto interruttore (utente non salito)
          if (PulsantePremuto (PinInterruttore) == 0)
            break;
        }
      }    // Chiusura if peso valido
    }    // Chiusura if premuto interruttore (utente salito)
  }    // Chiusura if utente selezionato

  // Se nessun utente selezionato
  else {
    LCDDisplay.setCursor (0, 0);
    LCDDisplay.print (" Chose  ");
    LCDDisplay.setCursor (0, 1);
    LCDDisplay.print (" user   ");
  }    // Chiusura if nessun utente selezionato
}

// Funzione Gestione Seriale
void GestioneSeriale() {
  String comandoRicevutoString = "";
  int numeroUtenteRicevuto;
  String nomeUtenteRicevuto = "";

  // Se ricevuti dati dalla porta seriale
  if (Serial.available()) {
    // Attendo tutti i dati
    delay (250);

    // Ricevo i dati
    while (Serial.available())
      comandoRicevutoString += (char) (Serial.read());

    // Invio comando ricevuto    
    Serial.println (comandoRicevutoString);

    // Se ricevuti almeno 15 caratteri
    if (comandoRicevutoString.length() >= 15) {
      // Se ricevuto comando programmazione nome utente (NOME_UTENTE_xx=)USER_NAME_01=Boris
      if ((comandoRicevutoString.substring (0, 12).equals("P_USER_NAME_")) &&
          (isdigit(comandoRicevutoString.charAt (12))) &&
          (isdigit(comandoRicevutoString.charAt (13)))) {
        // Estraggo numero utente ricevuto
        numeroUtenteRicevuto = (((comandoRicevutoString.charAt (12) - 0x30) * 10) +
                                (comandoRicevutoString.charAt (13) - 0x30));
        // Se ricevuto numero utente corretto
        if ((numeroUtenteRicevuto >= 1) && (numeroUtenteRicevuto <= NumMaxNomiUtenti)) {
          // Estraggo nome utente
          nomeUtenteRicevuto = comandoRicevutoString.substring (15);
          // Se nome troppo lungo
          if (nomeUtenteRicevuto.length() > DimensioneNomeUtenteEEPROMADD)
            // Tronco il nome
            nomeUtenteRicevuto = nomeUtenteRicevuto.substring (0, DimensioneNomeUtenteEEPROMADD);

          // Memorizzo il nome
          ScriviNomeUtente (numeroUtenteRicevuto - 1, nomeUtenteRicevuto);
          // Azzero il relativo peso
          AzzeraPesoUtente (numeroUtenteRicevuto - 1);
          // Indico OK
          Serial.println ("OK");
          // Invio su  porta seriale lo stato utenti
          InviaProgrammazioneUtenti();
          // Termino funzione
          return;
        }
      }
    }  

    // Indico errore
    Serial.println ("FAULT");
    // Termino funzione
    return;
  }
}

// Invia su  porta seriale lo stato utenti
void InviaProgrammazioneUtenti() {
  for (int numeroUtente = 0; numeroUtente < NumMaxNomiUtenti; numeroUtente++) {
    Serial.print ("Us. ");
    Serial.print ((numeroUtente + 1) / 10);
    Serial.print ((numeroUtente + 1) % 10);
    Serial.print (": ");
    Serial.println (LeggiNomeUtente (numeroUtente));
  }
}

// Funzione Gestione WiServer
void GestioneWiServer() {
  // Gestione WiServer
  WiServer.server_task();
}

// Gestione diverse risposte provenienti dal WEB
void Gestione_Risposte_Web (char* data, int len) {

  // Print the data returned by the server
  // Note that the data is not null-terminated, may be broken up into smaller packets, and 
  // includes the HTTP header. 
  while (len-- > 0) {
    Serial.print(*(data++));
  } 

}

// Scrive il nome di un utente
// INPUT:   Posizione utente (0,..,9)
//          Nome utente in formato stringa
// OUTPUT:  -
// Note:    -
void ScriviNomeUtente (int NomePosition, String NomeUtente) {
  // Azzero nome utente selezionato
  AzzeraNomeUtente (NomePosition);

  // Scrivo i caratteri nome utente selezionato
  for (int tmp = 0; tmp < NomeUtente.length(); tmp++)
    EEPROM.write (StartNomiUtentiEEPROMADD + tmp +
                  (NomePosition * DimensioneNomeUtenteEEPROMADD), NomeUtente.charAt(tmp));
}

// Legge il nome di un utente
// INPUT:   Posizione utente (0,..,9)
// OUTPUT:  Nome utente in formato stringa
// Note:    -
String LeggiNomeUtente (int NomePosition) {
  String NomeUtente = "";
  char NomeUtenteChar;

  // Leggo i caratteri nome utente selezionato
  for (int tmp = 0; tmp < DimensioneNomeUtenteEEPROMADD; tmp++) {
    // Leggo singolo carattere
    NomeUtenteChar = EEPROM.read (StartNomiUtentiEEPROMADD + tmp +
                                  (NomePosition * DimensioneNomeUtenteEEPROMADD));

    // Se trovato carattere fine nome
    if (NomeUtenteChar == 0x00)
      // Blocco ciclo for leggo i caratteri nome utente selezionato
      break;

    // Accodo carattere letto
    NomeUtente = NomeUtente + NomeUtenteChar;
  }

  // Ritorno il nome
  return (NomeUtente);
}

// Azzera il nome di un utente
// INPUT:   Posizione utente (0,..,9)
// OUTPUT:  -
// Note:    -
void AzzeraNomeUtente (int NomePosition) {
  // Azzero caratteri nome utente selezionato
  for (int tmp = 0; tmp < DimensioneNomeUtenteEEPROMADD; tmp++)
    EEPROM.write (StartNomiUtentiEEPROMADD + tmp +
                  (NomePosition * DimensioneNomeUtenteEEPROMADD), 0); 
}

// Scrive il peso di un utente
// INPUT:   Posizione utente (0,..,9)
//          Peso utente
// OUTPUT:  -
// Note:    -
void ScriviPesoUtente (int PesoPosition, int PesoUtente) {
  // Memorizzo peso nome utente
  EEPROM.write (StartPesiUtentiEEPROMADD + 
                (PesoPosition * DimensionePesoUtenteEEPROMADD), (byte) (PesoUtente >> 8));
  EEPROM.write (StartPesiUtentiEEPROMADD + 1 +
                (PesoPosition * DimensionePesoUtenteEEPROMADD), (byte) (PesoUtente & 0x00FF));
}

// Legge il peso di un utente
// INPUT:   Posizione utente (0,..,9)
// OUTPUT:  Peso utente
// Note:    -
int LeggiPesoUtente (int PesoPosition) {
  // Ritorno il peso
  return (((int) (EEPROM.read (StartPesiUtentiEEPROMADD +
                               (PesoPosition * DimensionePesoUtenteEEPROMADD))) << 8) +
           (int) (EEPROM.read (StartPesiUtentiEEPROMADD + 1 +
                               (PesoPosition * DimensionePesoUtenteEEPROMADD))));
}

// Azzera il peso di un utente
// INPUT:   Posizione utente (0,..,9)
// OUTPUT:  -
// Note:    -
void AzzeraPesoUtente (int PesoPosition) {
  // Azzero peso nome utente
  ScriviPesoUtente (PesoPosition, 0);
}

// Inizializza EEPROM scheda
// INPUT:   -
// OUTPUT:  -
// Note:    -
void InizializzaEEPROM() {
  // Azzero i nomi/pesi di tutti gli utenti
  for (int tmp = 0; tmp < NumMaxNomiUtenti; tmp++) {
    AzzeraNomeUtente (tmp);
    AzzeraPesoUtente (tmp);
  }    
}

// Verifica lo stato di un pulsante
// INPUT:   Pin pulsante
// OUTPUT:  Stato pulsante    0 -> pulsante non premuto
//                            1 -> pulsante premuto
// Note:    -
int PulsantePremuto (int PinPulsante) {
  if (digitalRead (PinPulsante) == LOW)
    return (1);
  else
    return (0);
}

 

Install the WiShield libraries


To work properly, the Wifi shield requires specific libraries that must be installed in the Arduino IDE used to compile the sources so you’ll need to put these libraries in the Arduino libraries path.


The library supports multiple operating modes (APP_WEBSERVER, APP_WEBCLIENT, APP_SOCKAPP, APP_UDPAPP and APP_WISERVER).

The default value is APP_WEBSERVER, which runs on most Arduino systems but has several limitations. The main limitation is that it can’t function both as a client and server simultaneously.


It is therefore recommended the APP_WISERVER (in the library named “WiServer.h“) which allows the Arduino shield equipped with Wi-Fi to be configured and operated either as a Web Server as a Web Client.


In the first case, you can serve connection requests from external web clients and send HTML pages in response, in the second it will be possible to connect to a web server and send GET or POST requests.


To configure the WiShield library as APP_WISERVER you must open the apps-conf.h file, comment the “#define“ APP_WEBSERVER row and uncomment the “#define” of APP_WISERVER row.


Something like:


/ / # define APP_WEBSERVER

/ / # define APP_WEBCLIENT

/ / # define APP_SOCKAPP

/ / # define APP_UDPAPP

# defineAPP_WISERVER


Configuring publishing

Performing data publication on Google Documents requires three distinct steps:


  1. Configuring Wi-Fi network access;
  2. Creating a Google Docs form module: each module is characterized by an identifying 34 characters string – FormKey) and each field is characterized by an identification number (called Entry).
  3. Inserting the FormKey / Entry in the Arduino software.



Configuring network parameters

First you must configure and update the IP address, Subnet Mask, Gateway IP and Network SSID, then select the encryption mode and change password information for your network. Save all, compile and run the upload Software tab.

Creating the Google  module doc

Create a form on Google Docs, modify the form with two fields (username and weight, both of type string) and save the job. (the result is something like the one shown in Figure). In our case, we left the default file name and called the two fields “User Name” and “User weight”

take note of this key string because then it will be inserted in the Arduino software: as you can see from the picture, the link shows the form key assigned to the module (in this example, the link is: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDFPcWhxNlZxMEpnUnhNdE5fT1lDcWc6MQ which implies that the form assigned key is “dDFPcWhxNlZxMEpnUnhNdE5fT1lDcWc6MQ”);

 

Clicking on the link will open a new page that shows the data entry form: within this form text fields are marked with “entry.0.single“, “entry.1.single“, etc … (basically with an integer id)

 To see which number has been assigned to our fields you need to display the HTML source of the form (the result is something like the one shown in this Figure).

You can easily find the ID numbers assigned to different fields (in our example “entry.0.single” is the “Name” and “entry.1.single” is the “weight“).

Take note of this information because it will be included in the source Arduino as well.

Formkey / entry

Once you have created the form, the Arduino source will be configured so that it is compatible with the form you created.

A variable is defined in Arduino source named newURL[]: the variable is initialized with a standard format then modified to perform publication (refer to Figure 11 to identify it in the code).


Replace the default values with those obtained at the time of the creation of the form, compile and download it to the Arduino board.

 

 

 

How to program user names

The configuration of user names can be made via serial port and Serial Monitor. To program it, connect to the board (via USB cable) and open the Arduino Serial Monitor. As a first step the card sends a summary of the current configuration.


To program a new user name you must send a string in the format “P_USER_NAME_xx = User Name” with xx between 01 and 10 ID (put an empty string to delete the selected user.) If all the posted information is correct, this is confirmed by the message “Ok” otherwise “Fault”.

 

Using the scale


The scale software is able to distinguish up to 10 users (each identified by its name) and, for each one, it stores the last measured weight.


If you want to clear the memory (which we recommend at first use) is sufficient to hold down either of the two buttons (the display indicates the operation with “EEP init in progress”).

Later, you can configure names following the procedure described in the “Programming user names” section.


As the next step the Web management interface will start and the system will enter its normal operation. The user selection is done by pressing button P1.


Going over the scale starts the weighing procedure (lasting several seconds): weight is displayed and stored and the scale asks for publishing on the web: by pressing P2 the operation is performed.

IKEA SMS lamp with GSM shield

-->-->-->-->

 

 

 

We create a lamp controlled by SMS using a GSM shield, a RGB shield and a Arduino UNO.
Due to the simplicity of these boards, simply plug one over the other and connect a strip led to have a lighting effect.
Then sending normal text messages from any phone, you can turn on and choose the color to set.

The scketch check the text of the received message, if the SMS contains a character, it follows on the corresponding color.
It ‘also provided a fader functions can be called with the character F

This is the list commands:
R to set RED
G to set GREEN
B to set BLUE
Y to set YELLOW
O to set ORANGE
P to set PURPLE
W to set WHITE
F to set the fader function

This is just an example of the possible applications of the GSM / GPRS shield.
You can for example control the home lighting with a simple text message, or receive an SMS in case of alarm.
In addition, the SIM900 has the capacity to also decode DTMF tones, so you can call this in the sim GSM shield and switch loads directly from the telephone keypad.

The complete library it contains many other functions through which you can make calls, connect to the Internet, send and receive SMS.

This is the simple firmware in Arduino.

 

//GSM Shield for Arduino
//www.open-electronics.org
//this code is based on the example of Arduino Labs

#include "SIM900.h"
#include "sms.h"
#include "SoftwareSerial.h"
#include "sms.h"
SMSGSM sms;
int red = 10;    // RED LED connected to PWM pin 3
int green = 5;    // GREEN LED connected to PWM pin 5
int blue = 6;    // BLUE LED connected to PWM pin 6
int r=50; int g=100; int b=150;
int rup; int gup; int bup;

boolean started=false;
char smsbuffer[160];
char n[20];
int fader=1;
int inc=10;

void setup() 
{
  //Serial connection.
  Serial.begin(9600);
  Serial.println("GSM Shield testing.");
  //Start configuration of shield with baudrate.
  if (gsm.begin(2400)){
    Serial.println("\nstatus=READY");
    started=true;  
  }
  else Serial.println("\nstatus=IDLE");
  if(started){
    delsms();
  }

};

void loop() 
{
  int pos=0;
  //Serial.println("Loop");
  if(started){
    pos=sms.IsSMSPresent(SMS_ALL);
    if(pos){
      Serial.println("IsSMSPresent at pos ");
      Serial.println(pos); 
      sms.GetSMS(pos,n,smsbuffer,100);
        Serial.println(n);
        Serial.println(smsbuffer);
        if(!strcmp(smsbuffer,"R")){
          Serial.println("RED");
          r=255;
          g=0;
          b=0;
        }      
        if(!strcmp(smsbuffer,"G")){
          Serial.println("GREEN");
          r=0;
          g=255;
          b=0;
        }    
        if(!strcmp(smsbuffer,"B")){
          Serial.println("BLUE");
          r=0;
          g=0;
          b=255;
        }  
        if(!strcmp(smsbuffer,"P")){
          Serial.println("PURPLE");
          r=255;
          g=0;
          b=255;
        }  
        if(!strcmp(smsbuffer,"Y")){
          Serial.println("YELLOW");
          r=255;
          g=255;
          b=0;
        }  
        if(!strcmp(smsbuffer,"O")){
          Serial.println("ORANGE");
          r=255;
          g=165;
          b=0;
        }  
        if(!strcmp(smsbuffer,"W")){
          Serial.println("WHITE");
          r=255;
          g=255;
          b=255;
        }  
        if(!strcmp(smsbuffer,"F")){
          Serial.println("FADER");
          fader=1;
          r=50; g=100; b=150;
        }
        else
        {
          fader=0;
        }  
        rgb(r, g, b);
        delsms();

    }
    if(fader){
      funcfader();
    }

  }
};

void delsms(){
  Serial.println("delsms");
  for (int i=0; i<10; i++){  //do it max 10 times
      int pos=sms.IsSMSPresent(SMS_ALL);
      if (pos!=0){
        Serial.print("\nFind SMS at the pos ");
        Serial.println(pos); 
        if (sms.DeleteSMS(pos)==1){    
          Serial.print("\nDeleted SMS at the pos ");
          Serial.println(pos);      
        }
        else
        {
          Serial.print("\nCant del SMS at the pos ");
          Serial.println(pos);         
        }
      }
    }

}

void funcfader(){
    if (rup==1){r+=1;}
    else{r-=1;}
    if (r>=255){rup=0;}
    if (r<=0){rup=1;}

    if (gup==1){g+=1;}
    else{g-=1;}
    if (g>=255){gup=0;}
    if (g<=0){gup=1;}

    if (bup==1){b+=1;}
    else{b-=1;}
    if (b>=255){bup=0;}
    if (b<=0){bup=1;}  
    rgb(r, g, b);
}

void rgb(int r, int g, int b)
{
  if (r>255) r=255;
  if (g>255) g=255;
  if (b>255) b=255;
  if (r<0) r=0;
  if (g<0) g=0;
  if (b<0) b=0;

  analogWrite(red, r); 
  analogWrite(green, g); 
  analogWrite(blue, b);   
}
-->-->-->-->-->-->
-->-->

Arduino Full Memory: upgrade to the last ATMEL Toolchain version

This short report is aimed to the most “advanced” users of Arduino boards, especially to the users of the “Mega” flavors of the family, but also users of standard versions of the board, like Arduino UNO and Arduino Duemilanove, can take advantage of the following notes.

The story starts with the TiDiGino, one of the recent projects based on the ATmega2560, a very well performing mcu with 256kByte of flash memory on board, that is also the core of of the Arduino Mega 2560 board.

The TiDiGino project software has been developed under a contest.

Some out of the participants have been developed high level solutions that took advantage of almost all of the many hardware features of the TiDiGino board.

During development tests they had to notice crashes and malfunctioning that appeared mysterious and very tricky to debug and fix.

After a series of further deep tests and investigation on the support site of ATMEL we have discovered that the main source of our problems was the compiler included in the versions 0022/0023 of the IDE as like as in the current version 1.0.

The compiler program, named “avr-gcc-4.3.2.exe” is not able to compile correctly sketches that require data areas larger than 64kWord, i.e. 128kByte of flash memory.

In simple words the reason is related in the wrong translation of jump instructions beyond 64k.

The compiler we are talking on is the one (version 4.3.2) included in WinAVR package dated from 2008, when the ATMEL microcontroller had on board less than 64kB of memory.

The WinAVR project has been updated on January 2010 with the version “WinAVR-20100110” containing a new version of the compiler, named “avr-gcc-4.3.3.exe”; we tried out this new version too, without success.

The major negative outcome of this issue is that it affects also the Arduino Mega boards both 1280 and 2560 versions, with the effect of limiting the use of data areas larger than 64kWord in sketches. In order to get access to data beyond that limit it is necessary to use the functions of the PROGMEM library, that allow the use of 24bit pointers.

The issue affects only the dimension of data areas, one program that occupies 60kB of data end 60kB of program would run without problem also in the current situation.

After many investigations and tries we find out the solution to this issue, that is to integrate the last version of the ATMEL Toolchain into the Arduino IDE package.

The ATMEL Toolchain is a set of software programs and libraries (tools) that transforms a source code into an executable by a sort of “virtual assembly line”; the output processed by one tool is the input for the following tool in the chain, an so on.

Of course the most important tool in the Toolchain is the compiler, whose last version is currently the “avr-gcc-4.5.1.exe”.

 

This version is an important enhancement in respect of the one included in the Arduino IDE and offers many advantages:

  1. - supports all the 8bit ATMEL microcontrollers families;
  2. - overcame the 128kB limit and compiles correctly sketches up to 256kB;
  3. - includes best and newest libraries;
  4. - outputs a most compact and efficient compiled object code.


As a completion of this preliminary notes we would focus on the avrdude.exe and avrdude.conf files.

Avrdude.exe is a service program included in the IDE and it is located in the “MyPath\arduino-0022\hardware\tools\avr\bin” folder. The Avrdude.exe version in the Arduino IDE has been modified, respect the AVR original version, in order to support the Arduino bootloaders.

Avrdude.conf is the configuration file that contains the configuration data and settings for each ATMEL microcontroller managed by the IDE, the most advanced users could have been modified this file with the additions of new models of microcontrollers.

Avrdude.conf is located in the “MyPath\arduino-0022\hardware\tools\avr\etc”.

The reason we have mentioned these two files is that they are not involved in the operation of upgrading the Arduino IDE with the compiler in the Toolchain, and have to be carefully saved in a safe place before beginning the upgrading, especially in the step where we will proceed to delete all the contents in the “MyPath\arduino-0022\hardware\tools\avr” folder.

At this point it is possible to describe all the actions needed to execute the upgrading of the IDE.

Our suggestion is to follow the instructions described below, step by step in the provided order and without modification.

The process has been tested many times in order to guarantee the achievement of the result.

Upgrading Arduino IDE process

The process described below is applicable to the Arduino IDE versions 0022, 0023, 1.0, 1.0.1-rc1; the last one listed is the candidate release of IDE 1.0, that is a sort of beta release, still under test; we have processed it too with good results.

Below are the steps to follow:

  1. Copy the whole original IDE folder in a new folder as a backup, in order to maintain the original installation and save the possibility to downgrade the process in case of problem.

  2. Rename the new folder  i.e. arduino-0022-tcnew:


The original folder of the IDE and its copy


  1. In the new folder delete the sub-directory “avr” in “MyPath\arduino-0022-tcnew\hardware\tools”:

The “avr” directory that has to be deleted

  1. Download the last version of the ATMEL Toolchain for Windows, from the link http://www.atmel.com/tools/ATMELAVRTOOLCHAIN3_2_3FORWINDOWS.aspx; to get access to the download section you must fill an on-line registration form; you will receive an e-mail containing the link to the actual download address:

Download section inside the ATMEL site

  1. Install on your PC in the usual way the downloaded file “avr-toolchain-installer-3.2.3.579-win32.win32.x86.exe”. Take a note of the installation path, in order to easily retrieve the folder in a subsequent moment. If you have a copy of the AVR Studio already installed on your PC, the installation wizard will prompt you with the existing path, in order to get your application upgraded;
  2. Copy from the new installation the directory “AVR Toolchain” and paste it into the folder “MyPath\arduino-0022-tcnew\hardware\tools”; at the end rename the “AVR Toolchain” directory as “avr”. In this way you will get again the original path: “MyPath\arduino-0022-tcnew\hardware\tools\avr”;
  3. Enter the new folder “avr” and delete the sub-directory “avr32”:

The sub-directory “avr32” to be deleted

  1. Copy the file avrdude.exe from the original directory “MyPath\arduino-0022\hardware\tools\avr\bin” and paste it into the folder “MyPath\arduino-0022-tcnew\hardware\tools\avr\bin”. Say “YES” at the warning prompt to overwrite the file;
  2. Copy the whole original directory tree “MyPath\arduino-0022\hardware\tools\avr\etc” and paste it in the folder “MyPath\arduino-0022-tcnew\hardware\tools\avr\;
  3. Delete the sub-directory “include” in ” MyPath\arduino-0022-tcnew\hardware\tools\avr\avr“. Pay attention at the double “avr” directory; there is actually an “avr” subdirectory inside an other “avr” sub-directory as shown in this figure. In place of the deleted sub-directory paste the directory that you can download from our site.

The “include” sub-directory that has to be deleted and substituted with the one downloaded from our site

  1. Now enter the directory “MyPath\arduino-0022-tcnew\examples\”, delete the sub-directory ArduinoISP and the sketch contained in it and add the folder “ArduinoISP101”, that is the new version of that sketch, included in the IDE 1.0.1-rc1. You can download this folder too from here. At the beginning of the process we suggested to you to make a copy of the whole folder of the Arduino IDE; subsequently we drove you in the process of upgrading the copy of the IDE itself. That in order to hold one original version of the IDE that is anyhow useful in case you would get in trouble with the new version. Anyway the original version will always be good to compile applications having a data area smaller than 64kB. Please note that the sketch “ArduinoISP101” has the extension .pde that is correct for the IDE versions 0022 e 0023; in case you are using the version 1.0 you must rename the sketch extension in “.ino” (the new standard adopted by IDE 1.0);

One more warning about the last step: the sketch, that is of interest for all the users running Arduino as an ISP Programmer, works correctly at a BAUD rate of 19200 with the IDE version 0022, 0023; at 9600 BAUD with the version 1.0.1-rc1, and doesn’t work at all with the version 1.0.

According to IDE version that you are using could be needed to change the line Serial.begin(19200);” in “Serial.begin(9600);”.

For the users of version 1.0 of the IDE we have posted in the download section a further version of ArduinoISP, named “ArduinoISP101LM” that is a version of the 1.0.1 patched by two experienced programmers whose names are in the credits list of the sketch.

Be aware that this last version is not an official version and will work with the IDE 1.0 too, at a BAUDRATE of 19200.

In IDE 1.0.1-rc1 environment won’t be mandatory to set the BAUDRATE at 9600 BAUD because the sketch automatically detects the IDE version and sets the port speed accordingly.

As previously described the sketch folder should be placed in the “MyPath\arduino-0022-tcnew\examples\” folder.

Although the sketch is not an official release we can assure that it works quite better than the 101 original, especially in the case you should program MCUs with large memories.

For a better explanation give a glance at the contents of the Table:

Comparison table of the two version of ArduinoISP

As a final note we would warn all the users of the ATtiny family of microcontrollers with the IDE versions 1.0 or 1.0.1 that in same conditions our upgrade could fault the compiling task.

The solution, quite simple, is to add the line “#include <math.h>” as the first instruction in the wiring.h file of the tiny “core”

This solve the problem of the correct priority in the loading of the library chain because math.h has to be loaded as the first library of the chain and not as a dependence of other libraries.

It is time to test this upgrade; if you don’t have at hand one sketch bigger enough to overcame the memory limits described in this article, ever in the download section of our site you could download the sketch “test_80k” that will provide to you the opportunity to proof that the Arduino Mega is now able to run correctly sketches with data areas bigger than 64kB.

The story ends with the test of the software on our TiDiGino project than now run happily.

We will keep you up to date with further news about our tests and investigations on the topic.

Download

Include folder

ArduinoISP101

ArduinoISP101LM

Test 80K

[Thanks to Prof. Michele Menniti & Ing. Marco d’Ambrosio]

Arduino ISP (In System Programming) and stand-alone circuits

We use an Arduino to program other ATmega without bootloader . This technique allows you to use all flash memory for code and make boards using new ATmega, cheaper than those with bootloader.

The qualities that have made the success of Arduino are undoubtedly the open-source software, many libraries, a good hardware and a virtually infinite Reference that explains each possible use of the platform.

But if we use Arduino for a specific use, we can integrate it into a specific circuit and program the micro in a way that performs a single firmware. We may so remove the bootloader and leave to the firmware the entire program memory.

The ATmega328 has 32 Kbytes of flash, that when the chip is mounted on Arduino are not all available, as a portion is reserved to the bootloader, the purpose of which is to communicate with the IDE Arduino to load programs (sketch) to be performed. The same bootloader, on each power on or reset of Arduino, verifies the presence of a sketch in flash memory and executes it. The bootloader occupies a space of 512 bytes, in the case of Arduino UNO.

Well, in a stand-alone application the bootloader no longer needed.

The configuration of the micro ATmega328P needs, in addition to the power (+5 VDC to pins 7 and 20, GND to pins 8 and 22), a 16-MHz crystal between pins 9 and 10, two 22 pF ceramic capacitors from between these pins and GND, a 10 k Ω resistor between pin 1 and +5 VDC for pull-up the reset line.

 

Programming ATMEGA in stand-alone

Anyone knows that it is necessary program Arduino uploading a sketch via USB, using the software called IDE and the operation is quite simple.

We can see a screenshot of the IDE with an Arduino sketch loaded and UNO during the receipt of the sketch (notice the yellow LED on).

The technique will test allows the use of a board Arduino as ISP Programmer.

We start with the list of required materials:

•               Arduino UNO / Duemilanove (will be used as a programmer);

•               ATmega328P chip (chip to be programmed);

•               Breadboard and jumper;

•               a crystal of 16 MHz, two ceramic capacitors from 22 pF, a resistance of 10 K Ω 1/4 W, a resistance of 560 Ω 1/4 W LED 3 or 5 mm;

•               seven male-male jumper wires.

A resistance of 120 Ω 1/4 of watts, and an electrolytic capacitor or tantalum from 10 uF 10 ÷ 16 volts.


Now we prepare our target circuit and first of all insert the chip on the Breadboard, these are the connections to make:

•               through the jumper to be Breadboard connect pins 7 and 20 of the chip to the positive supply line (+5 volts);

•               in the same way we connect the pins 8 and 22 of the chip to the ground line supply (GND);

•               connect pin 1 of the chip to the +5 V line through the resistor of 10 k Ω;

•               insert the crystal to the pins 9 and 10 of the chip;

•               insert the two 22 pF ceramic capacitors; both must have a leg connected to GND, while the other will serve to connect a capacitor to pin 9 and the other to pin 10 of the chip;

•               insert one end of resistor 560 Ω at the pin 19 and the other end into an empty spot on the breadboard, and to this end we connect the anode LED(the longer pin) , whose other end (cathode) goes to GND;

 

At this point we can connect to the Arduino Breadboard using jumper cables under the following matches:

•               Arduino pin 10 goes to pin 1 of the chip;

•               Arduino pin 11 goes to pin 17 of the chip;

•               pin 12 of Arduino is connected to pin 18 of the chip;

•               pin 13 to Arduino pin 19 goes on the chip;

•               the +5 V pins of Arduino goes to the positive supply line of the breadboard;

•               any of the three GND pin of Arduino goes to the ground line of the breadboard.

 

Now look the software to reveal the “trick” that sends a sketch, using the IDE, to the chip on the Breadboard, bypassing Arduino that will play the role of Programmer ISP.

What we need to do is create a virtual board, starting from the original (corresponding to the model we are using Arduino) and making some simple but essential changes. We must first locate the file that is boards.txt containing all information relating to the various boards that the IDE shows us when we execute the command Tools->Board. Typically this file is located in the folder of the IDE software, the path X: \ mypath \ arduino-xxx \ hardware \ arduino, where X is the letter that indicates the logical drive and myPath the folder or location containing the program (xxx indicates the version of the program).

Now open the file with Notepad and see a long series of lines arranged in groups separated by a line consisting of a repetition of the symbol ”#”,each group representing a different board. The lines are identified by the initial code, the same for all, but different for the board, the name that will appear in the submenu Tools->Board is inserted in the first row in the group.

The code is represented by the word “uno” which is at the beginning of each line.

The line containing the word “name” (usually the first) is followed by “=” and then the name that the board will have in the IDE.

Other information that concern us are:

uno.upload.maximum_size = 32256: Sets the maximum capacity of flash memory that we can use in practice from 32 Kbytes of Flash which has the total ATmega328P we must subtract the space occupied by the bootloader, for the Arduino UNO is 512 byte;

uno.bootloader.low_fuses = 0xffuno.bootloader.high_fuses = 0xdeuno.bootloader.extended_fuses = 0×05; these three lines are the “fuse”, are used to set the behavior of the chip and are expressed with hexadecimal values;

uno.build.f_cpu = 16000000L: This line must correspond to the clock frequency for which the chip has been set, by means of the fused, expressed in Hz, 1 Hz 6,000,000 correspond to 16 MHz, precisely the frequency of the quartz or, more precisely, the present external oscillator to Arduino UNO; this value is used as a reference for timing controls of the software, such as delay () and millis ().

 

And now we create our own virtual board, writing these lines of code:

 

atmsa16.name=ATmega in Stand Alone (w/ Arduino as ISP)
atmsa16.upload.protocol=stk500
atmsa16.upload.maximum_size=32768
atmsa16.upload.speed=115200
atmsa16.upload.using=arduino:arduinoisp
atmsa16.bootloader.low_fuses=0xff
atmsa16.bootloader.high_fuses=0xdf
atmsa16.bootloader.extended_fuses=0x05
#### atmsa16.bootloader.extended_fuses=0x07
atmsa16.bootloader.path=optiboot
atmsa16.bootloader.file=optiboot_atmega328.hex
atmsa16.bootloader.unlock_bits=0x3F
atmsa16.bootloader.lock_bits=0x0F
atmsa16.build.mcu=atmega328p
atmsa16.build.f_cpu=16000000L
atmsa16.build.core=arduino

 

Following the approach of the file will separate this group of lines to those of other boards, inserting a line of ”#”.The end result should be:

We note that are varied: the code (atmsa16 instead of uno), the maximum_size (brought to its maximum capabilities of Flash, since we do not reserve space for the bootloader), then there a new line (atmsa16.upload.using = arduino: arduinoisp) that allows us to understand the IDE that will program the chip in stand-alone and not on the Arduino. Another new line is preceded by some “# # # #” that disables it, the reason is easily explained: the extended_fuses is set to 0×05, and in some special cases, during the transfer of the sketch could be an error bound the setting of this value.As we shall see later, simply change the following two lines of code:

 <em># # # # Atmsa16.bootloader.extended_fuses = 0x05</em>
<em>atmsa16.bootloader.extended_fuses = 0x0</em>7

thus activating the value 0×07 instead of 0×05, it will work out. Of course, this change should not be made before, but only if you get the error.

 

Program the micro

At this point we are ready for the final step: send our sketches to the chip mounted on the breadboard and then will test the operation separating it from Arduino.


To read the new board in the file, the IDE must be restarted, so if this program was open, when editing the file boards.txt must close it and restart it. To verify that our modification is successful, it is sufficient now run the command Tools->Board and check if there is now our “stand-alone” board, otherwise we should close the IDE and check the file boards.txt, because certainly we made ​​a mistake.

The technique used to send the sketch to the chip in stand-alone mode is very simple: First select the Arduino board that we are using as a programmer (eg Arduino Duemilanove or UNO) , just as we do for normal use of Arduino. Then select the Arduino serial port (the COM for Windows users) and recall from the IDE the sketch ArduinoISP, execute this command by clicking the Upload button on the IDE. After several seconds of the three flashing LEDs and Arduino to the breadboard of course (at the moment is physically connected to pin 13 of Arduino that, as we know, check out one of the three LEDs on the board) on the IDE will come the message “done uploading “.

Arduino is ready to play the role of Programmer ISP, select, now, our board IDE “ATmega Stand Alone (w / Arduino as ISP)“, without changing the COM.

We load the sketch “blink” and execute it again by clicking the Upload button on the IDE: LEDs and Arduino breadboard flash again, this time for a much shorter period, after which the IDE will show the message again “Done uploading”.

So our ATmega328P chip was programmed without having to physically fit on Arduino and now lives its own life. It is then ready to be mounted in the circuit which it is intended.

Of course, the chip can be reprogrammed at will with any kind of sketch.

 

Troubleshooting

At this point we have to solve three types of problem that may occur when we send the sketch to the chip stand-alone. The problems of’extended_fuses and of autoreset may occur on either Arduino Duemilanove or Arduino UNO, without that you can establish a certain rule.We must also emphasize that the remedies that will illustrate to 100% solve the problems, but must be applied only if the problem occurs.

We start from the situation that may occur if we use a blank chip, the Atmel set the fuse to make the chip work at 1 MHz with the internal oscillator. If we send a sketch directly, happens that the chip in stand-alone ignores the external crystal and times will be staggered: for example, the LED blink with the sketch will last about 16 seconds instead of 1 second. Simply, we set the fuse, the operation can be done easily by loading the bootloader on the chip before sending the sketch.

Before explaining this simple maneuver quickly clarify two points: the bootloader is sent once a chip virgin and will only serve to set the fuse, then it will become useless and the sketch overwrite it, if we had to first load the sketch, noticing the error, and then load the bootloader, no problem: the chip is set and we just have to resubmit the sketch. The simple steps that are going to describe will return very useful for cases where we wanted to prepare a blank chip to work directly on Arduino; is a good idea to have in the house a spare chip with bootloader of our board, so if you were unfortunately damaged the original, a simple substitution solves this problem immediately.

Here are the steps to follow:

•               prepare and connect the Breadboard Arduino as discussed previously;

•               We open the IDE and select the model we are using Arduino and port to which it is connected;

•               upload the sketch ArduinoISP to Arduino;

•               now execute the command Tools->Burn Bootloader w / Arduino as ISP;

•               After about a minute we loaded into the stand-alone chip the bootloader of Arduino boards (you may have noticed that in the IDE we’ve set our Arduino board).

 

As mentioned, the chip can be quickly mounted to receive the Arduino sketch, or leave it on the breadboard and repeat/execute the operation of sending the sketch stand-alone, this time the Blink will work perfectly.

Of course, other errors may occur, do not worry, keep reading this section and of course everything will be resolved.

So let the problem of ’extended_fuses: the rows of our virtual board we expected a double value for this cast, because it can happen (even though it is quite rare) that some boards do not succeed in this program merged with the value 0×05. During the upload of the sketch on the chip with stand-alone mode, the IDE will display an error message (written in red on a black background) that will indicate the need to use the value 0×07, if it appears that in practice warning means that we must close the IDE, open the file boards.txt and activate the relevant line, simultaneously disabling the other (with 0×05), as explained above. At this point we can repeat the test. We clarify that if the error occurs on a given board will always occur on this board, so the variation of the files should be done only once and permanently.

And now we see the problem, more frequent, about autoreset. When the serial chip (FT232RL on Duemilanove or ATmega8U2 of UNO) receives a signal from the USB port, sends the reset pulse to ATmega328, who then prepares itself to receive Data. This operation corresponds to the one you make every time you press the button “RESET” on the Arduino.

If the data do not arrive or if the reset was made manually, the sketches in flash memory chip ATmega328 is executed. When Arduino is used as ISP Programmer can happen that, if the autoreset is sent too early, the upload operation fails. In this case the IDE returns the following error: ”avrdude:stk500_getsync (): not in sync: resp = 0×15“.

The problem is solved by blocking the Autoreset. The 120 ohm resistance must be connected between the RESET pin of Arduino and +5 V, while the 10µF capacitor is connected with the positive pole to the RESET of Arduino and negative to GND.

With a jumper cable connect on Breadboard the RESET signal of Arduino.

The methods described should be used only if absolutely necessary.

Important note: the need to connect these components only when needed, is dictated by the fact that to load a sketch on the Arduino should autoreset, otherwise the upload will fail and we will get the error avrdude: stk500_getsync (): not in sync: resp = 0×00 – avrdude: stk500_disable (): protocol error, expect = 0×14, resp = 0×51, so if you see this error, know that you just have to “liberate” the pin “RESET” Arduino from the link with the Anti- autoreset.

[Thanks to Michele Menniti]

Lighted plexiglass Christmas ornaments (Arduino version)

In the previous post we showed you how to make small Christmas shapes using an RGB LED and a small circuit based on PIC.
The designs were obtained working with the CNC some acrylic sheets.
But our CNC can do much more … Therefore we decided to make the greatest figure and design a new driver that mounts more LEDs.

Just because we do not like things simple we recreated all using a system based on Arduino.
This allows you to create an open source system easy to modify.
The microcontroller is an Atmega328 preprogrammed with the bootloader of Arduino UNO. The programming can be done via a USB / TTL (eg FTDI5V of SparkFun).
The circuit operation is very similar to that of the smallest model: here we find the photocell that allows to verify the amount of light present in the environment, but in this case, you can adjust the sensitivity of the circuit by a trimmer.

BOM

R1: 10 kohm
R2: 820 ohm
R3: 820 ohm
R4: 1 kohm
R5: 820 ohm
R6: 820 ohm
R7: 1 kohm
R8: 820 ohm
R9: 820 ohm
R10: 1 kohm
R11: 820 ohm
R12: 820 ohm
R13: 1 kohm
R14: 820 ohm
R15: 820 ohm
R16: 1 kohm
R17: 820 ohm
R18: 820 ohm
R19: 1 kohm
R20: 820 ohm
R21: 820 ohm
R22: 1 kohm
R23: 820 ohm
R24: 820 ohm
R25: 1 kohm
R26: 820 ohm
R27: 820 ohm
R28: 1 kohm
R29: 10 kohm
R30: 4,7 kohm
R31: 10 kohm
R32: 4,7 kohm
R33: 4,7 kohm
R34: 10 kohm
R35: 4,7 kohm
R36: 10 kohm
R37: 4,7 kohm
R38: 10 kohm
R39: Trimmer 4,7 kohm MV

C1: 100 nF
C2: 470 µF 25 VL
C3: 470 µF 25 VL
C4: 100 nF
C5: 15 pF
C6: 15 pF
C7: 100 nF
C8: 100 µF 25 VL

T1: BC547
T2: BC547
T3: BC547

LD1: LED 5 mm RGB c.a.
LD2: LED 5 mm RGB c.a.
LD3: LED 5 mm RGB c.a.
LD4: LED 5 mm RGB c.a.
LD5: LED 5 mm RGB c.a.
LD6: LED 5 mm RGB c.a.
LD7: LED 5 mm RGB c.a.
LD8: LED 5 mm RGB c.a.
LD9: LED 5 mm RGB c.a.

U1: 7805
U2: ATMEGA328P-PU (with bootloader)

Q1: 16 MHz

LDR1: photoresistor 2÷20 kohm

- Terminal 2 via (3 pz.)
- Socket 14+14
- Battery 12V/2A
- Strip male 6 via
- Plug
- Switch

Comparing the value read from the A/D converter connected to the photoresistor with that connected to trimmer R39, the micro decides whether to start the sequence of fading, or whether turn off the LEDs. RGB LEDs are driven by the transistor; this choice permit to control with a single line of microcontroller, more LEDs in order to create large luminous figures.

As you can see, we use a line dell’ATmega for each of the primary colors of red, green and blue, so it is clear that all the diodes will do the same play of light. Of course isn’t required to mount all the LEDs provided in the circuit: you mount those who need to obtain a good visual effect on the size of the pattern in the Plexiglass. Note that there are three terminals on the PCB: one to connect the power switch (ON / OFF) a second (BATT) to apply to the circuit power supply and a third (CHARGE) for a possible battery charger lead or a small 12-volt solar panel, which already incorporates the charging circuit. These solutions allow you to use the figures lack the power grid. In this regard, an analog input of the microcontroller is dedicated to control the battery voltage: when it drops below 10 V, the circuit will emit flashes to warn that the energy is about to end.

This circuit is evidently intended to be used externally (provided it is properly isolated) and will turn on and off independently, thanks to the ambient light sensor, which will illuminate the figures in the evening to let off in the morning. In short, is a solution to decorate the garden or backyard.

Building shapes
The materials chosen for this application are clear polycarbonate (or methacrylate) or Plexiglas, which can give the shape you want. Then we need to affect, deep enough (half or two thirds the thickness of the plate) the drawing or writing that you want to appear bright.

The Sketch

//****************************************************************
//*  Name    : RGB controller for common anode led               *
//*  Author  : Landoni Boris                                     *
//*  www.open-electronics.org                                    *
//*  blog.elettronicain.it                                       *
//*  www.futurashop.it                                           *
//****************************************************************

int red = 9;    // RED LED connected to PWM pin 3
int green = 10;    // GREEN LED connected to PWM pin 5
int blue = 11;    // BLUE LED connected to PWM pin 6
int photo = A4;    // BLUE LED connected to PWM pin 6
int trim = A5;    // BLUE LED connected to PWM pin 6
int volt = A2;    // BLUE LED connected to PWM pin 6
int r=50; int g=100; int b=150;
int rup; int gup; int bup;
int fader=1;
int inc=10;
void setup()
{
      Serial.begin(9600);
      Serial.println("Serial READY");
      rgb(r, g, b);
      r = random(0,255);
      g = random(0,255);
      b = random(0,255);

} 

void loop()  {

  Serial.print("trim  ");
  Serial.println(analogRead(trim)*2);  

  Serial.print("photo ");
  Serial.println(analogRead(photo)); 

  Serial.print("volt ");
  Serial.println(analogRead(volt));
  if (analogRead(volt)<600){
      Serial.println("low battery");
      rgb(0, 0, 0);
      delay(500);
      rgb(255, 255, 255);
  }

  if ((analogRead(trim)*2)>analogRead(photo)){
      Serial.println("trim > photo  -  off");
      rgb(0, 0, 0);
      fader=0;
  }
  else
  {
    if (fader==0){
      r = random(0,255);
      g = random(0,255);
      b = random(0,255);
    }
    fader=1;

  }
  //delay(2000);

  if (fader==1){
    funcfader();
  }
}

void funcfader(){
    Serial.println("fader");
    if (rup==1){r+=1;}
    else{r-=1;}
    if (r>=255){rup=0;}
    if (r<=0){rup=1;}

    if (gup==1){g+=1;}
    else{g-=1;}
    if (g>=255){gup=0;}
    if (g<=0){gup=1;}

    if (bup==1){b+=1;}
    else{b-=1;}
    if (b>=255){bup=0;}
    if (b<=0){bup=1;}

    delay(inc*2);
    rgb(r, g, b);
}

void rgb(int r, int g, int b)
{
  Serial.print("RGB: ");
  Serial.print(r);
  Serial.print(" ");
  Serial.print(g);
  Serial.print(" ");
  Serial.println(b);
  if (r>255) r=255;
  if (g>255) g=255;
  if (b>255) b=255;
  if (r<0) r=0;
  if (g<0) g=0;
  if (b<0) b=0;
  analogWrite(red, r);
  analogWrite(green, g);
  analogWrite(blue, b);
}

 

Star
Reindeer
Santa Claus
Tree