Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
LightMeter.bs2 — Parallax Forums

LightMeter.bs2

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2004-01-19 21:30 in General Discussion
Hi,

I'm new to these forums, this wonderful technology and a recent
purchaser of the HomeWork board. In the text, "What's a
Microcontroller?", chapter 7, pg 207, refers to code that is supposed
to turn on the segments, (A-F) of a display one at a time at the
speed set for the amount of light at the photocell.

When I run the program, the individual segments come on only once;
segA, then just segB, etc., until segF. They then remain off but the
program is still running because if a place a "DEBUG ? index" into
the Update_Display subroutine, the index cycles between 0 and 6,
repeatedly. The strange thing is: the seven segment display does
what its supposed to do, but only if a DEBUG statement is within the
code.

Please HELP as I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS??

Jon

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-01-19 13:48
    You're using a laptop computer, aren't you? If yes, the problem --
    believe it or not -- is your serial port. It is shutting off and
    resetting the Stamp (we've seen this before). DEBUG keeps the port open
    and active so the PC doesn't shut it down. You can usually fix the
    problem by setting the port FIFO buffers to there minimum values.

    -- Jon Williams
    -- Applications Engineer, Parallax
    -- Dallas Office


    Original Message
    From: jdahpuser2004 [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=uEo8w6mPQwzYahEhbxktuqWwVls-sT5xYbr3joHgecQw9OwDyMvCIoPMqNGWgZTlp9twqoKituPPE9-TIrI]jda.hpuser@v...[/url
    Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2004 3:17 PM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] LightMeter.bs2


    Hi,

    I'm new to these forums, this wonderful technology and a recent
    purchaser of the HomeWork board. In the text, "What's a
    Microcontroller?", chapter 7, pg 207, refers to code that is supposed
    to turn on the segments, (A-F) of a display one at a time at the
    speed set for the amount of light at the photocell.

    When I run the program, the individual segments come on only once;
    segA, then just segB, etc., until segF. They then remain off but the
    program is still running because if a place a "DEBUG ? index" into
    the Update_Display subroutine, the index cycles between 0 and 6,
    repeatedly. The strange thing is: the seven segment display does
    what its supposed to do, but only if a DEBUG statement is within the
    code.

    Please HELP as I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS??

    Jon



    To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject
    and Body of the message will be ignored.


    Yahoo! Groups Links

    To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/basicstamps/

    To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

    Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/




    This message has been scanned by WebShield. Please report SPAM to
    abuse@p....
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-01-19 19:16
    YES I am!

    I am thinking that I could use a USB to SerialPort adapter, (as I use
    a FaxModem), will I run into the same problems with USB?

    Jon

    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Jon Williams" <jwilliams@p...>
    wrote:
    > You're using a laptop computer, aren't you? If yes, the problem --
    > believe it or not -- is your serial port. It is shutting off and
    > resetting the Stamp (we've seen this before). DEBUG keeps the port
    open
    > and active so the PC doesn't shut it down. You can usually fix the
    > problem by setting the port FIFO buffers to there minimum values.
    >
    > -- Jon Williams
    > -- Applications Engineer, Parallax
    > -- Dallas Office
    >
    >
    >
    Original Message
    > From: jdahpuser2004 [noparse][[/noparse]mailto:jda.hpuser@v...]
    > Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2004 3:17 PM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] LightMeter.bs2
    >
    >
    > Hi,
    >
    > I'm new to these forums, this wonderful technology and a recent
    > purchaser of the HomeWork board. In the text, "What's a
    > Microcontroller?", chapter 7, pg 207, refers to code that is
    supposed
    > to turn on the segments, (A-F) of a display one at a time at the
    > speed set for the amount of light at the photocell.
    >
    > When I run the program, the individual segments come on only once;
    > segA, then just segB, etc., until segF. They then remain off but
    the
    > program is still running because if a place a "DEBUG ? index" into
    > the Update_Display subroutine, the index cycles between 0 and 6,
    > repeatedly. The strange thing is: the seven segment display does
    > what its supposed to do, but only if a DEBUG statement is within
    the
    > code.
    >
    > Please HELP as I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS??
    >
    > Jon
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    Subject
    > and Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Yahoo! Groups Links
    >
    > To visit your group on the web, go to:
    > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/basicstamps/
    >
    > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > This message has been scanned by WebShield. Please report SPAM to
    > abuse@p...
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-01-19 20:40
    You should not run into the same problems with the USB adaptor -- but
    not all are create equal (as we are so painfully coming to learn). The
    Bafo unit we sell (or you can pick up locally) works well.

    -- Jon Williams
    -- Applications Engineer, Parallax
    -- Dallas Office


    Original Message
    From: jdahpuser2004 [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=Xq9QhZQzHWWgnQdbbr3flbOYtL-HrfWsfVPZFHKvOc-d-KfUb7F6bOXz7pwPTF6nibkaY0AlymPnuETtuQ]jda.hpuser@v...[/url
    Sent: Monday, January 19, 2004 1:16 PM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: LightMeter.bs2


    YES I am!

    I am thinking that I could use a USB to SerialPort adapter, (as I use
    a FaxModem), will I run into the same problems with USB?

    Jon

    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Jon Williams" <jwilliams@p...>
    wrote:
    > You're using a laptop computer, aren't you? If yes, the problem --
    > believe it or not -- is your serial port. It is shutting off and
    > resetting the Stamp (we've seen this before). DEBUG keeps the port
    open
    > and active so the PC doesn't shut it down. You can usually fix the
    > problem by setting the port FIFO buffers to there minimum values.
    >
    > -- Jon Williams
    > -- Applications Engineer, Parallax
    > -- Dallas Office
    >
    >
    >
    Original Message
    > From: jdahpuser2004 [noparse][[/noparse]mailto:jda.hpuser@v...]
    > Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2004 3:17 PM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] LightMeter.bs2
    >
    >
    > Hi,
    >
    > I'm new to these forums, this wonderful technology and a recent
    > purchaser of the HomeWork board. In the text, "What's a
    > Microcontroller?", chapter 7, pg 207, refers to code that is
    supposed
    > to turn on the segments, (A-F) of a display one at a time at the
    > speed set for the amount of light at the photocell.
    >
    > When I run the program, the individual segments come on only once;
    > segA, then just segB, etc., until segF. They then remain off but
    the
    > program is still running because if a place a "DEBUG ? index" into
    > the Update_Display subroutine, the index cycles between 0 and 6,
    > repeatedly. The strange thing is: the seven segment display does
    > what its supposed to do, but only if a DEBUG statement is within
    the
    > code.
    >
    > Please HELP as I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS??
    >
    > Jon
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-01-19 21:30
    USB adapters: If the adapter is not
    intended only for PDA's, then it should
    work. The problem with USB adapters is they
    need to support the RS232 'handshake' signals
    to properly program the BS2.

    The 'BAFO' unit sold by Parallax works well,
    as do the KeySpan. I've had problems with
    older (2002) Belkin adapters, so be warned.

    Give it a try, and see what happens if you
    already have one on hand.

    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "jdahpuser2004" <jda.hpuser@v...>
    wrote:
    > YES I am!
    >
    > I am thinking that I could use a USB to SerialPort adapter, (as I
    use
    > a FaxModem), will I run into the same problems with USB?
    >
    > Jon
    >
    > --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Jon Williams" <jwilliams@p...>
    > wrote:
    > > You're using a laptop computer, aren't you? If yes, the problem -
    -
    > > believe it or not -- is your serial port. It is shutting off and
    > > resetting the Stamp (we've seen this before). DEBUG keeps the
    port
    > open
    > > and active so the PC doesn't shut it down. You can usually fix
    the
    > > problem by setting the port FIFO buffers to there minimum values.
    > >
    > > -- Jon Williams
    > > -- Applications Engineer, Parallax
    > > -- Dallas Office
    > >
    > >
    > >
    Original Message
    > > From: jdahpuser2004 [noparse][[/noparse]mailto:jda.hpuser@v...]
    > > Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2004 3:17 PM
    > > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] LightMeter.bs2
    > >
    > >
    > > Hi,
    > >
    > > I'm new to these forums, this wonderful technology and a recent
    > > purchaser of the HomeWork board. In the text, "What's a
    > > Microcontroller?", chapter 7, pg 207, refers to code that is
    > supposed
    > > to turn on the segments, (A-F) of a display one at a time at the
    > > speed set for the amount of light at the photocell.
    > >
    > > When I run the program, the individual segments come on only
    once;
    > > segA, then just segB, etc., until segF. They then remain off but
    > the
    > > program is still running because if a place a "DEBUG ? index"
    into
    > > the Update_Display subroutine, the index cycles between 0 and 6,
    > > repeatedly. The strange thing is: the seven segment display does
    > > what its supposed to do, but only if a DEBUG statement is within
    > the
    > > code.
    > >
    > > Please HELP as I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS??
    > >
    > > Jon
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    > Subject
    > > and Body of the message will be ignored.
    > >
    > >
    > > Yahoo! Groups Links
    > >
    > > To visit your group on the web, go to:
    > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/basicstamps/
    > >
    > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > >
    > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > This message has been scanned by WebShield. Please report SPAM to
    > > abuse@p...
Sign In or Register to comment.