Beginner Need Programming Help.

[Deruty]

I'm using the basis of the $50 Robot and revising it to my own project.
 Currently I'm trying to build a timer of sorts, but I'm having a heck of time doing it.
I tried using a loop of 30 w/ a delay_cycles(65000) in order to make a 2.5 minute timer, but it doesn't appear to work.
Frankly nothing "delay_cycles()" based seems to be working. I may just simply not understand how it is supposed to operate.

Furthermore I tried an alternative method counting the overflow from timer0 but it doesn't appear to be changing from 0 at all.

Code: [Select]

/****************INITIALIZATIONS*******************/
//other stuff Im experimenting with for SoR
//uartInit();  // initialize the UART (serial port)
//uartSetBaudRate(9600);// set the baud rate of the UART for our debug/reporting output
//rprintfInit(uartSendByte);// initialize rprintf system

timerInit(); // initialize the timer system

configure_ports(); // configure which ports are analog, digital, etc.
a2dInit(); // initialize analog to digital converter (ADC)
a2dSetPrescaler(ADC_PRESCALE_DIV32); // configure ADC scaling
a2dSetReference(ADC_REFERENCE_AVCC); // configure ADC reference voltage

//rprintf("Initialization Complete\r\n");
/**************************************************/


/*********ADD YOUR CODE BELOW THIS LINE **********/
LED_on();//turn LED on
Beep_off();

timer0Init();

while(1)
{
timecycles=timer0GetOverflowCount();
if(timecycles>= 1)
{
Beep_on();
}
else
{
delay_cycles(200);
}
}
return 0;
}
I really don't know what I'm doing when it comes to using timer and I swear the delay cycles don't work! I even tried the method demonstrated in the cycles and timing section on the main page (the LED w/ delay cycles between on and off port switching)

So if someone could explain how to do this and clarify how delay_cycles works/what I'm doing wrong w/ it that would be great.

[wil.hamilton]

try including the delay header file

Code: [Select]

#include <delay.h>

then you can use the delay_ms() function. it takes input in milliseconds

exampe, if you wanted to delay 10 seconds:

Code: [Select]

delay_ms(10000);

i found this here: http://www.avrfreaks.net/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=43054
but, i've used delay ms before, you can google for more info about delay_ms and avr

[Deruty]

Ahh thanks. I didn't know there was a difference. That really helped 

[wil.hamilton]

no problem, generally when i can't figure out something programming wise i just type it into google with some keywords

for example, in this case, i would type "avr time delay" or something like that

[Deruty]

Well I did do that, but I had just assumed delay_ms was synonymous w/ delay_cycles and delay_us. Then I searched more and got stuff w/ Timer0, Timer1, and Timer2 <_< made it all more confusing than it really was.

Anyway thanks again. I'll be sure to check everything more indepth than I did this time.

[wil.hamilton]

That's fine, you had a legitimate question and you were confused by the answers you had found online.  We are here to answer you questions, don't mean to deter them

Glad I could help though.

[Deruty]

Could you help w/ 1 more problem  ?

I want to change PORTC pins from the $50 robot tutorial to digital input versus analog input. I know it has something to do w/

Code: [Select]

void configure_ports(void)
{
DDRC = 0x00;  //configure all C ports for input
PORTC = 0x00; //make sure pull-up resistors are turned off
DDRD = 0xFF;  //configure all D ports for output
DDRB = 0xC7;  //configure B ports 0, 1, 2, 6, 7 for output (google search '0b11000111 to hex')

}but frankly I can't make heads or tails of how to alter that. I know I need to make sure the pull-up resistors are turned on, but... I don't know how to alter that command. Also I've seen code like this

Code: [Select]

#define F_CPU 8000000UL         /* 8MHz crystal oscillator */
 
#define BUTTON_PORT PORTD       /* PORTx - register for button output */
#define BUTTON_PIN PIND         /* PINx - register for button input */
#define BUTTON_BIT PD2          /* bit for button input/output */
 
which I can only deduce is a different method of altering the it. The question of the hour now is, how do I turn on the pull-up resistor, can I just comment out the PORTC=0x00 and put PORTC|=_BV(#of pin), albeit I'll have to do that several times. Another way I see is finding the hex number that would do that, but it seems rather ambiguous and I have no idea what to search for that. Also is there a step I'm missing?

Also a link to a tutorial would also be nice, one that specifically deals w/ this since I've found several but they only mention and show how to do it once, w/o much explanation.

EDIT: NVM I think I figured it out, but a nice link to a tutorial site would be nice. A recommended one, since I can't tell which ones are good atm >_>

[wil.hamilton]

if you have any tutorials you looked at you could post them and i could tell you which one i thought was better?

[Deruty]

I've mainly used this guy's tutorial so far. It seems good. http://www.micahcarrick.com/05-15-2006/avr-tutorial-switch-debounce.html

[wil.hamilton]

a quick browse i'd agree with you, he seems to go into detail and thoroughly explain things (which is good for you)