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Serial connection

posted in Crawling with ideas
Published March 16, 2012
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Today I continued hacking on the Arduino. After setting up the LCD display, I was roaring to do something 'useful' with it. Or at least something cool. I decided on creating a tool that will display amount of free space on hard drives.

I started from the end - made routine on Arduino that takes ints ( or rather longs ) , and displays the data on the LCD. Lots of typing, lots of zeroes and ones ( or highs and lows ), but nothing really challenging. Then I took the 'Serial Monitor' tool that comes with Arduino IDE and started playing around with the Serial routines. That was easy enough and couple minutes later I had a soft that takes incoming bytes and outputs them on the screen. Finally, I've installed VS 11 ( well, the Beta is out and I have formatted my HD recently ), and wrote a tiny console program in C# that takes the first drive and sends the amount of free space on it to COM3 ( which the USB connects as ).

Here's the server code for those of you curious:

using System;
using System.IO;
using System.IO.Ports;
class Info
{
public static void Main()
{
DriveInfo[] drives = DriveInfo.GetDrives();
// write amount of free space on Drive C:
long freeSpace = drives[0].TotalFreeSpace / 1024 / 1024;
SerialPort port = new SerialPort("COM3");
port.BaudRate = 9600;
Console.WriteLine(@"Establishing connection");
port.Open();
Console.WriteLine(@"Sending data");
port.WriteLine(freeSpace.ToString());
Console.WriteLine(@"Closing connection");
port.Close();
}
}

Neither this nor Arduino code have any kind of error checking, but I don't give a damn right now. I want to LEARN ohmy.png

Right, the Arduino code:


/*
Blink
Turns on an LED on for one second, then off for one second, repeatedly.

This example code is in the public domain.
*/

int LED_PIN = 13;
int RS = 2;
int EN = 4;
int D0 = 5;
int D1 = 6;
int D2 = 7;
int D3 = 8;
int D4 = 9;
int D5 = 10;
int D6 = 11;
int D7 = 12;

long hd_free = 0;
void clear_number()
{
// MOVE TO FIRST DISPLAY
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 0);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 0);
digitalWrite(D5, 0);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 1);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);

digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 0);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 0);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 0);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 0);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 0);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 0);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 0);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 0);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);

// MOVE TO FIRST DISPLAY
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 0);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 0);
digitalWrite(D5, 0);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 1);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);
}
void display_text()
{
// MOVE CURSOR TO RIGHTMOST POSITION
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 0);

digitalWrite(D0, 1);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 0);
digitalWrite(D5, 0);
digitalWrite(D6, 1);
digitalWrite(D7, 1);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);

// 'M'
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 1);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 1);
digitalWrite(D3, 1);
digitalWrite(D4, 0);
digitalWrite(D5, 0);
digitalWrite(D6, 1);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);

// 'B'
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 1);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 0);
digitalWrite(D5, 0);
digitalWrite(D6, 1);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);

// ' '
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 0);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);
// 'F'
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 1);
digitalWrite(D2, 1);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 0);
digitalWrite(D5, 0);
digitalWrite(D6, 1);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);

// 'R'
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 1);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 1);
digitalWrite(D5, 0);
digitalWrite(D6, 1);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);

// 'E'
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 1);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 1);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 0);
digitalWrite(D5, 0);
digitalWrite(D6, 1);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);


// 'E'
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 1);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 1);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 0);
digitalWrite(D5, 0);
digitalWrite(D6, 1);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);

// MOVE TO FIRST DISPLAY
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 0);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 0);
digitalWrite(D5, 0);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 1);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);
}
void print_memory()
{

}
void setup()
{
pinMode(LED_PIN, OUTPUT);
pinMode(RS, OUTPUT);
pinMode(EN, OUTPUT);
pinMode(D0, OUTPUT);
pinMode(D1, OUTPUT);
pinMode(D2, OUTPUT);
pinMode(D3, OUTPUT);
pinMode(D4, OUTPUT);
pinMode(D5, OUTPUT);
pinMode(D6, OUTPUT);
pinMode(D7, OUTPUT);
// 8 BIT LCD INIT
delay(20);
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 0);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 1);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);
delay(5);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 1);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);
delay(2);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 1);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);
delay(2);

// SET INTERFACE
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 0);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 1);
digitalWrite(D4, 1);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);


// ENABLE DISPLAY/CURSOR
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 0);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 1);
digitalWrite(D3, 1);
digitalWrite(D4, 0);
digitalWrite(D5, 0);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);

// CLEAR AND HOME
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 0);

digitalWrite(D0, 1);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 0);
digitalWrite(D5, 0);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);


// SET CURSOR MOVE DIRECTION
digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 0);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 1);
digitalWrite(D2, 1);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 0);
digitalWrite(D5, 0);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);

display_text();
clear_number();

Serial.begin(9600);
}
void loop()
{

digitalWrite(LED_PIN, HIGH); // set the LED on
delay(100);
digitalWrite(LED_PIN, LOW); // set the LED on
delay(100);
int incoming = 0;
int power = 0;
hd_free = 0;
if ( Serial.available() > 0 )
{
clear_number();
while ( Serial.available() > 0 )
{
incoming = Serial.read();
if ( incoming >= 0x30 && incoming <= 0x39 )
{
if ( incoming == 0x30 )
{
hd_free = hd_free * pow(10,power) + 0;

digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 1);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);
}
else if ( incoming == 0x31 )
{
hd_free = hd_free * pow(10,power) + 1;

digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 1);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 1);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);
}
else if ( incoming == 0x32 )
{
hd_free = hd_free * pow(10,power) + 2;

digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 1);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 1);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);
}
else if ( incoming == 0x33 )
{
hd_free = hd_free * pow(10,power) + 3;

digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 1);
digitalWrite(D1, 1);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 1);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);
}
else if ( incoming == 0x34 )
{
hd_free = hd_free * pow(10,power) + 4;

digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 1);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 1);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);
}
else if ( incoming == 0x35 )
{
hd_free = hd_free * pow(10,power) + 5;

digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 1);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 1);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 1);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);
}
else if ( incoming == 0x36 )
{
hd_free = hd_free * pow(10,power) + 6;

digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 1);
digitalWrite(D2, 1);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 1);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);
}
else if ( incoming == 0x37 )
{
hd_free = hd_free * pow(10,power) + 7;

digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 1);
digitalWrite(D1, 1);
digitalWrite(D2, 1);
digitalWrite(D3, 0);
digitalWrite(D4, 1);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);
}
else if ( incoming == 0x38 )
{
hd_free = hd_free * pow(10,power) + 8;

digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 0);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 1);
digitalWrite(D4, 1);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);
}
else if ( incoming == 0x39 )
{
hd_free = hd_free * pow(10,power) + 9;

digitalWrite(EN, LOW);
digitalWrite(RS, 1);

digitalWrite(D0, 1);
digitalWrite(D1, 0);
digitalWrite(D2, 0);
digitalWrite(D3, 1);
digitalWrite(D4, 1);
digitalWrite(D5, 1);
digitalWrite(D6, 0);
digitalWrite(D7, 0);

digitalWrite(EN, HIGH);
delay(1);
digitalWrite(EN,LOW);
delay(5);
}
power=1;
}
}
Serial.print(hd_free, DEC);
Serial.println("");


}
}

And here's how it looks running on my machine:

gallery_66033_407_16602.jpg

It has enough space for up to 99 TB of free space ;). Theoretically I could have the text scrolling for WAYYYYYY more space ( LCD takes up to 80 characters ). Anyways, now that I made that prototype on Arduino board, I think I'll actually make AtMega8 - based PCB with that capability, just for kicks. A friend from Hackerspace will show me how to make a PCB, and that seems as good project as any to have for my first device.

See you around!
Previous Entry Arduino hacks
Next Entry PWM Receiver
0 likes 5 comments

Comments

benryves
Nice work, but those digitalWrites give me the fear! Try [url="http://arduino.cc/en/Reference/PortManipulation"]http://arduino.cc/en/Reference/PortManipulation[/url] :-)
March 16, 2012 09:44 PM
ManTis
Hmm, is there any inherent danger to using digitalWrites? I understand that direct manipulation of port registers is more elegant and faster, but is there anything I should be wary of?
March 16, 2012 10:26 PM
benryves
There's no inherent danger other than extremely inefficient code. ;-)
March 16, 2012 11:38 PM
jjd
Looking awesome! BTW, I came across a video the other day from pycon that I thought you might like, [url="http://pyvideo.org/video/674/militarizing-your-backyard-with-python-computer"]http://pyvideo.org/video/674/militarizing-your-backyard-with-python-computer[/url]
March 18, 2012 02:38 PM
ManTis
jjd, that's really cool, thanks! :D
March 26, 2012 01:59 AM
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