Completed Operator interface

stamptrol

·Hi folks,

·· A while ago, I was looking for a simple operator interface for some upcoming projects. With the help of Jeff "Unsoundcode", one of the regulars here, we've developed a suitable interface. Well, Jeff developed it and I kept adding things!

·· I thought some of you may have some applications or it may spark yet more ideas. It allows a nice, flexible·interface without physically building anything.

·· My application is using my EnT-2 boards for some remote monitoring and control projects both wired and wireless.

·· Attached is a picture of the control board which will work with the 24-pin Stamps, and a screen shot of the the new "Quicktrol" interface.

·· It allows the display of 4 analog values (using RCTIME or an a/d converter), use of 6 switches which can be selected to be either momentary or toggle on-off, 6 indicators which read 6 outputs on the Stamp by OUTH. The vertical sliders allow sending values to the Stamp to be used as setpoints in controls or calculations.

·· Every device on the screen can have a custom label and the indicators display both 0-100 scaling plus show the actual byte value.

·· Serial activity has a set of indicators onscreen and normal communication is at 4800 baud, but 9600 is available for the faster Stamps. The PC with the interface software and the Stamp talk continuously in an addressed, 6 byte string.

·Cheers,

·Tom Sisk



·

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Tom Sisk

http://www.siskconsult.com


Post Edited (stamptrol) : 6/7/2007 12:10:51 AM GMT

Chris Savage

Tom will the code for the PC side app be available?

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Chris Savage
Parallax Tech Support

stamptrol

Just working out the marketing details at the moment.

Maybe a limted time, forum offer, at a REALLY good price!

Cheers,

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Tom Sisk

http://www.siskconsult.com
·

stamptrol

·· Hello all,

·· For those who wish to see the operator interface software in action, here is the working code. Its been loaded successfully on several laptops and desktop configs including several versions of XP. In testing it has been well behaved and is uninstalled with Add/Remove from the Windows Control Panel. No warranty as to suitability;your experience may vary.

·· Two stamp programs are included; one (MQtest_self.bs2) is a basic program which will operate with only a powered-up stamp connected: no hardware inputs or outputs are needed.

··· The second, MQ4_test.bs2 expects two RCTIME connections on pins·6 and 7; setup R and C so the RCTIME maximum value returned is about 6000. Switches connected to a few inputs and resistor/LED combinations on a few outputs will allow exercising of the system.

··· Pins 0 to 5 are inputs, Pins 8 to 13 are outputs and will turn on in response to the switches on the screen. Load the Stamp program of your choice now.

··· Unzip·the files into a folder of your choice. Run SETUP. PLEASE NOTE---Framework 2.0 and Windows Installer will be automatically loaded onto your computer from the Microsoft site, if not present. Have your internet connection on before running SETUP. These are large files and take a few minutes to load and install, but is only done once. You will be asked to click on the Microsoft user agreement and cautioned about an unrecognized publisher.

··· When everything is loaded, you'll see the startup splash screen, then a config screen will be shown. You can enter the label text of your choice here as well as selecting whether the screen switches operate as maintained-position types (check mark)or spring-return-to-off(no check mark). This screen pops up on every start, so you always can change things. Press DONE.

··· The Communication screen pops up next. Select the COM port that the Stamp is connected to. Set baud to 4800. Workstation Address should be TX# (3 chars) and the Stamp address is &(one char). Press "Open Port", then DONE.

··· The main, one and only, screen should pop up. After a delay of 5 or 6 seconds, you'll see the comm indicators at the lower left of the screen operate. Click on one or more switches and in a few seconds, the indicators will change state. Click on a slider and the associated gauge will be updated after a couple of seconds. Note that an icon is in your tray area and you can hide the program and pop it up by clicking the icon.

··· The second program is designed to let the stamp interact with the real world. Two pots are read from pins·6 and·7 and displayed on the first two gauges. An input on the stamp turns on the indicator on the screen. A switch causes the stamp output to turn on. The sliders can be used to send a byte value to the stamp for further processing.

·· This program has been tested with the Parallax USB-serial adapter and works well with it. Have it plugged in when Quicktrol starts and the serial port will be reported correctly.

·· Cheers,

Edited June 23, 2007: Updated version uploaded

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Tom Sisk

http://www.siskconsult.com


Post Edited (stamptrol) : 7/3/2007 2:45:19 PM GMT

stamptrol

·Hello all,

·· A few folks have asked for a connection diagram in order to actually turn outputs on and off and to have live data on the dials of the Quicktrol panel.

·· Attached is a sketch of the connections to do that.

·Cheers,

·Tom

·>>>>>> edit Jul 23,2007 - updated schematic <<<<<<<<<<<


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Tom Sisk

http://www.siskconsult.com


Post Edited (stamptrol) : 7/23/2007 4:46:49 PM GMT

Unsoundcode

Hello to all, for those of you that have downloaded the Quicktrol program I would like to point out that Tom has uploaded a newer version that addresses two problems of the previous version which were difficulty connecting at 9600(Bs2px only) and the serial data exchange losing synch after a period of time. There are some differences in the Stamps serial formatting too that are contained in the selftest BS2 file I have attached. The changes make for smoother response and at 9600 the feedback with the selftest program is practically instantaneous.

For those of you that have not downloaded and are interested in learning and seeing the capabilities of the Basic Stamp and how it can be used to automate control in an industrial or commercial environment via a human/machine interface I highly recommend you download this program and work through Tom's excellent example of digital I/O and analog input using RC time.

Jeff T.