ViSi-Genie: Displaying Temperature Values from an Arduino

Description

This application note explains how to use a 4D display module in displaying temperature values received from a host controller. The host is an ATmega328 Microcontroller Based Arduino Uno board, to which an LM35 temperature sensor is connected. The host can also be an Arduino Mega 2560 or Due. Ideally, the applications described in this document should work with any Arduino board with at least one UART serial port. See the specifications of Arduino boards here.

This application note requires:

• a PICASO, DIABLO or PIXXI display module which is supported by the ViSi-Genie environment.

  Visit 4D Systems website to see the latest display module products that use the required processor.

  The display module used in this application note is the uLCD-32PTU, which is a PICASO display. This application note applies to DIABLO-16 display modules as well. - a programming module/adaptor for the target display module. The latest 4D programmer is the 4D-UPA alternatively, the following can also be used:

  • gen4-PA
  • 4D Programming Cable
  • uUSB-PA5/uUSB-PA5-II

  Depending on the display and programmer you are using, the following may also be required:

  • gen4-IB (for gen4 modules when using uUSB-PA5/uUSB-PA5-II or 4D Programming Cable)
  • 30-way FFC cable (for gen4 modules)
  • 5-way jumper cable (for uLCD modules or any module programmable using the 5-way programming interface)
  • 4D Arduino Adaptor Shield (optional) or connecting wires
  • Any Arduino board with a UART serial port
  • microSD (uSD)
  • Workshop4 IDE
  • Arduino IDE

Downloadable Resources

The following are the sample project files for Arduino and Genie Project:

Arduino Project Genie Project

Application Overview

First, the temperature is converted to an electrical signal (voltage to be exact) by an LM35 temperature sensor. The LM35 temperature sensor used in this application has a scale factor of 10mV per degree Celsius. It is configured to sense temperature values from 2 to 150 degrees Celsius. Users who intend to read temperature values outside this range may need to consult the datasheet for more information.

Next, the voltage output of the LM35 temperature sensor is sampled by pin A0 of the Arduino Uno. A0 is one of the six pins of the Arduino Uno capable of performing analog to digital signal level conversion - or ADC. Given the scale factor, the voltage level output of the LM35 temperature sensor can now be converted back to a temperature reading - both in degrees Celsius and degrees Fahrenheit. These temperature values are now sent to the display module.

The Arduino host is programmed in the Arduino IDE to perform ADC, convert digital signal levels to temperature readings, and send the temperature readings to the display module. The display module, on the other hand, is programmed in the Workshop ViSi-Genie environment to display the temperature readings.

Setup Procedure

For instructions on how to launch Workshop 4, how to open a ViSi-Genie project, and how to change the target display, kindly refer to the section Setup Procedure of the application note:

• ViSi-Genie: Getting Started with PICASO Displays
• ViSi-Genie: Getting Started with DIABLO-16 Displays

Create a New Project

For instructions on how to create a new ViSi-Genie project, please refer to the section Create a New Project of the application note

• ViSi-Genie: Getting Started with PICASO Displays
• ViSi-Genie: Getting Started with DIABLO-16 Displays

Design the Application

Everything is now ready to start designing the project. Workshop 4 displays an empty screen, called Form0. A form is like a page on the screen. The form can contain widgets or objects, like sliders, displays or keyboards. Below is an empty form.

At the end of this section, the user will be able to create a form with four objects: 2 LED Digits and 2 StaticText

Create a LED Digits Object

The LED digits object will display values received from the Arduino host. To add a LED digits object, go to the Digits pane and select the first icon.

Click on the WYSIWYG (What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get) screen to place a LED digits object. The WYSIWYG screen simulates the actual appearance of the display module screen.

The object can be dragged to any desired location and resized to the desired dimensions. The Object Inspector on the right part of the screen displays all the properties of the newly created LED digits object named Leddigits0.

Feel free to experiment with the different properties.

To know more about digital display objects, refer to ViSi-Genie: Digital Displays.

Now set the following properties as indicated below.

The WYSIWYG screen is updated. The user can also set the preferred height and width of the object.

Naming of Objects

Naming is important to differentiate between objects of the same kind. For instance, suppose the user adds another LED digits object to the WYSIWYG screen. This object will be given the name Leddigits1 -- it is the second LED digit object in the program. The third LED digits object will be given the name Leddigits2, and so on. An object's name, therefore, identifies the object's kind and unique index number. It has an ID (or type) and an index.

It is important to take note of an object's ID and index. When programming in the Arduino IDE, an object's status can be polled or changed if its ID and index are known. The process of doing this will be shown later.

Add a Static Text

Static text objects are useful for labeling purposes. As the name implies, the status of these objects cannot be changed when the program runs. To add a static text, go to the Labels pane and click on the static text icon.

Click on the WYSIWYG screen to place the object.

In the Object Inspector, change the caption to degrees Celsius, and increase the font size.

When done, the WYSIWYG screen should look similar to the one shown below.

Repeat the process described above to create the LED digits and static text objects for the temperature readings in degrees Fahrenheit.

Build and Upload the Project

For instructions on how to build and upload a ViSi-Genie project to the target display, please refer to the section Build and Upload the Project of the application note

• ViSi-Genie: Getting Started with PICASO Displays
• ViSi-Genie: Getting Started with DIABLO-16 Displays

The uLCD-32PTU and/or the uLCD-35DT display modules are commonly used as examples, but the procedure is the same for other displays.

Writing the Host Code

A thorough understanding of the application note ViSi-Genie: Connecting a 4D Display to an Arduino Host is required before attempting to proceed further beyond this point. ViSi-Genie: Connecting a 4D Display to an Arduino Host provides all the basic information that a user needs to be able to get started with ViSi-Genie and Arduino. The following is a list of the topics discussed in ViSi-Genie: Connecting a 4D Display to an Arduino Host.

• How to download and install the ViSi-Genie-Arduino library
• How to open a serial port for communicating with the display and how to set the baud rate
• The genieAttachEventHandler() function
• How to reset the host and the display
• How to set the screen contrast
• How to send a text string
• The main loop
• Receiving data from the display
• The use of a non-blocking delay in the main loop
• How to change the status of an object
• How to know the status of an object
• The user's event handler

Discussion of any of these topics is avoided in other ViSi-Genie-Arduino application notes unless necessary. Users are encouraged to read ViSi-Genie: Connecting a 4D Display to an Arduino Host first.

The Main Loop - Writing Data to the Display

In the Arduino project file, the line below

tempC = ((5.0 * analogRead(sensorPin) * 100.0) / 1024) + 2;

takes a digital signal-level sample from sensorPin (A0) and converts it to a temperature reading. The line performs the conversion shown below.

An additional 2 degrees Celsius is added

to account for the fact that the LM35 temperature sensor used in this example has a voltage output starting at 0 mV and increasing at 10 mV per degree from 2 to 150 degrees Celsius. Consult the datasheet for your LM35 temperature sensor for more information.

The lines

genie.WriteObject(GENIE_OBJ_LED_DIGITS, 0x00, tempC);

and

genie.WriteObject(GENIE_OBJ_LED_DIGITS, 0x01, tempF);

sends the temperature values to the display module.

Set Up the Project

Refer to the section Connect the Display Module to the Arduino Host of the application note ViSi-Genie Connecting a 4D Display to an Arduino Host for the following topics:

• Using the New 4D Arduino Adaptor Shield (Rev 2.00)
  • Definition of Jumpers and Headers
  • Default Jumper Settings
  • Change the Arduino Host Serial Port
  • Power the Arduino Host and the Display Separately
• Using the Old 4D Arduino Adaptor Shield (Rev 1)
• Connection Using Jumper Wires
• Changing the Serial port of the Genie Program
• Changing the Maximum String Length

Connect the LM35 Temperature Sensor to the Arduino

Refer to the datasheet for detailed information.

The Complete Project

At room temperature:

The uUSB-PA5 is used only to power the display.

The temperature of a warm cup of water:

The LM35 temperature sensor is removed from the breadboard and connected to the Arduino Uno using a three-way cable.

The temperature of a cold bottle of water: