Easiest way to program buttons/knobs

[ep user]

I want to set up my first programmable buttons/knobs (or small display) for electronic control. What is the easiest way to get started if I have not set up anything before?

Moderators note : removed color to improve contrast

 

[Harald Kapp]

Look up "Arduino", for example.

 

[[email protected]]

1. Buttons (Digital Input)​

Required Components:​

• Push button
• 10kΩ resistor (for pull-down, or use Arduino's internal pull-up)
• Arduino (Uno, Nano, etc.)

Wiring (Internal Pull-Up):​

• One leg of button to GND
• Other leg to D2 (digital pin)
  
  =================================
  
  const int buttonPin = 2; // Button connected to pin 2
  
  void setup() {
  pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT_PULLUP); // Use internal pull-up
  Serial.begin(9600);
  }
  
  void loop() {
  if (digitalRead(buttonPin) == LOW) { // LOW means pressed
  Serial.println("Button Pressed");
  delay(200); // Simple debounce
  }
  }
  
  
  ===============
  
  const int buttonPin = 2; // Button connected to pin 2
  
  void setup() {
  pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT_PULLUP); // Use internal pull-up
  Serial.begin(9600);
  }
  
  void loop() {
  if (digitalRead(buttonPin) == LOW) { // LOW means pressed
  Serial.println("Button Pressed");
  delay(200); // Simple debounce
  }
  }
  
  
  ===================
  
  

  Knobs (Analog Input - Potentiometer)​

  
  

  Required Components:​

  • Potentiometer (10kΩ is fine)
  • Arduino

  Wiring:​

  • One side of pot to 5V
  • Other side to GND
  • Center pin (wiper) to A0
    
    ========================================
    
    const int potPin = A0;
    
    void setup() {
    Serial.begin(9600);
    }
    
    void loop() {
    int value = analogRead(potPin); // Reads 0-1023
    Serial.println(value);
    delay(100); // Limit print rate
    }
    
    
    
    ================
    

    Rotary Encoder (Optional for advanced knobs)​

    
    

    Required:​

    • KY-040 rotary encoder or similar
    • Arduino
    • Pull-up resistors (or internal)

    Wiring:​

    • CLK → D2
    • DT → D3
    • GND → GND
    • • → 5V

    Code (with Encoder Library):
    ​

    #include <Encoder.h>
    
    Encoder knob(2, 3); // CLK and DT pins
    
    void setup() {
    Serial.begin(9600);
    }
    
    void loop() {
    static long position = -999;
    long newPos = knob.read();
    if (newPos != position) {
    Serial.println(newPos);
    position = newPos;
    }
    }
    
    
    
    regards
    IHSAN ULLAH KHAN
    
    

 

[danadak]

Buttons need to be debounced in code unless Micro does that for you in HW. Many
modern micros, especially ones that have capacitive touch capability on pins, have
that in their features. Like Cypress (now Infineon) and their ARM cores.

Reading analog stuff generally you would average some samples to remove noise
from the reading. In many cases one may not care and just use the raw single sample
value.

Some debounce methods -

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Regards, Dana.

 

[ep user]

Thanks. I thought about Arduino but was hoping there was a simpler or kit approach. Maybe something that you just tell it what buttons there are, and what the output should be; this output would then easily be connected to the controlled devices.

Moderators note : removed color to improve contrast

 

[danadak]

Thanks. I thought about Arduino but was hoping there was a simpler or kit approach. Maybe something that you just tell it what buttons there are, and what the output should be; this output would then easily be connected to the controlled devices.

Moderators note : removed color to improve contrast

There are ICs that simply debounce a button, but thats a waste of budget, board space,
parts count...

https://www.analog.com/en/resources/design-notes/tiny-ic-debounces-pushbutton-switch.html

 

[ep user]

Seems someone should make a kit that is more pre-assembled, or maybe a beginner Arduino setup that needs only a few hours learning.

 

[Martaine2005]

There are!.
Called shields or modules.
Even libraries of sketches too.
The hard work is done for you, and you only need to apply the necessary ancillaries.
Nothing is perfect and you will need a certain amount of customisation or code edits to get it to your requirements.

 

[danadak]

If you dont know how to code look into block programming, lots of fun,
easy, and fast to get something working.

An example of debouncing a pin -



mBlock takes you block config and generates the Arduino code from it.

Once you learn a block programmer there are many other variants with common and unique
capabilities, Snap4Arduino, Visuino, Tuniot, Nodered, Flow code, Visuino, some free, other
pay to play.

Some examples :

GUI Codeless Processor Design

Micro design has for years relied on ASM and C programming and other languages. Often many tasks are fairly simply but these tools were focused and quite a learning curve, especially ASM and C and C++. There are a number of new GUI based tools that essentially take out the "strong typing"...

www.edaboard.com

Pulse Sequence Generator / Smart Timer

Often users, developers, hobbyists need timed and qualified event generators, many resorting to 555 timers and the like. The venerable 555 has had a long run but its limited in accuracy and capability. This approach uses block language to create...

www.electro-tech-online.com

 

[ep user]

Block does look simpler. Maybe I just need a PLC though.