PCB of the day! Adafruit I2C Stemma QT Rotary Encoder Breakout with NeoPixel - STEMMA QT / Qwiic ๐ง๐๐๏ธ
Rotary encoders are soooo much fun! Twist them this way, then twist them that way. Unlike potentiometers, they go all the way around and often have little detents for tactile feedback. But, if you've ever tried to add encoders to your project, you know they're a real challenge to use: timers, interrupts, debouncingโฆ
This Stemma QT breakout makes all that frustration disappear - solder in any 'standard' PEC11-pinout rotary encoder with or without a push switch. The onboard microcontroller is programmed with our seesaw firmware and will track all pulses and pins for you and then save the incremental value for querying over I2C. Plug it in with a Stemma QT cable for instant rotary goodness with any microcontroller from an Arduino UNO up to a Raspberry Pi.
You can use our Arduino library to control and read data with any compatible microcontroller. We also have CircuitPython/Python code for use with computers or single-board Linux boards.
Rotary encoders are soooo much fun! Twist em this way, then twist them that way. Unlike potentiometers, they go all the way around and often
With the activity board controller finally in place and tested. It's time to throw together the actual firmware. Let's fire up VSCode!
VSCode has been my code editor of choice for quite a while now. Microsoft did a great job in developing a light weight but super powerful code editor. And with the advent of a PlatformIO VSCode extension, this makes for THE perfect Arduino IDE.
That being said, It's time to start working on the final firmware. Or actually: the final firmware for now. Because the Activity Board will probably be a project which will receive some (software) updates over time.
All the board's functionality will be seperated into a bunch of controllers. There is no particular reason why I called them controllers, It just sounds like I know what I'm doing. For now, the code consists of the following 5 controller classes:
InputController: Responsible for reading all the switch states by communicating with the MCP23017 over I2C.
SevenSegmentController: Controls the 7-segment display by communicating with the MAX7219 seven segment display.
NeopixelController: Controls all the WS2812B RGB-LEDs using the FastLED library.
LedController: Controls all the regular LEDs (incorporated in some of the buttons) using the Arduino GPIO pins.
CommunicationController: Sends JSON commands (like the buttons state updates) to a Raspberry Pi using the ArduinoJson library.
All of the controller classes have a setup() method which is called in the main.cpp setup routine, and most of the controllers have an update() method which is being called during the main run loop.
All of the update() methods are non blocking, to make sure the Activity Board stays responsive. Any necessary delays are implemented by using the elapsedMillis library. But every so often, I just simply count the update ticks to check if I need to do something.
if (tick++ % 100 == 0) { // do something every 100th cycle. }
Most of the controllers are pretty straight forward, and are just there as an easy to use wrapper for the respective libraries. The only controller that is a bit more exotic, is the InputController. To be honest, this controller gave me some headaches.
Don't interrupt me!
The MCP23017 I2C IO expander is capable of firing interrupts whenever one of the inputs changes. Because of this, I connected the two interrupt outputs of the MCP23017 to the Arduino interrupt pins (Pin 2 & 3). It turned out I only needed to connect one, since the MCP23017 can mirror the interrupt signal on both pins. Luckily this was just resulted in a redundant connection, and didn't caused any issues.
Unfortunately there was a bigger problem which I didn't forsee. While the MCP23017 is capable of triggering the Arduino's interrupt pin(s), I'm not able to read out the pin states in the interrupt service routines, since I2C uses interrupts itself, which aren't available in the interrupt service routines.
This means I can set a flag to request an update in the main loop, but I can never act on any input change in the service routine itself. Now for most of the inputs this is absolutely no problem, but for the rotary encoder I really need to check the state for both pin A and B. Now, if these two pins were both connected to the two different MCP23017 registers, I could have solved this with the two Arduino Interrupt pins. Or better yet. If I would have just connected the Rotary encoder directly to the Arduino's interrupt pins, it would have been even easier. But of course ... I didn't.
So after a lot of grumbling, I decided to give up on the interrupts for the rotary encoder (for now), and simply read out the MCP23017 data every run loop. I might mean the encoder wouldn't react as expected, but I could always make some hardware modifications later.
And with taking this easy route, reading the MCP23017 state was pretty straight forward, using Mizraith's fork of the Adafruit MCP23017 library:
// Initialize the library. Adafruit_MCP23017 mcp; // Configure the MCP23017. mcp.begin(); // Use default address 0. mcp.setGPIOABMode(0xFFFF); // All ports input. mcp.setGPIOABPullUp(0xFFFF); // All ports pull up. // Read out the 16 bits. unsigned int newState = mcp.readGPIOAB();
And then it turned out I spent way to much time in overthinking it. Since non of my other controllers is blocking the main run loop, fetching the current state up the buttons every loop is easily fast enough to handle any rotary encoder input. Once again, it turns out KISS is the best approach: Keep It Simple, Stupid!
And with that issue out the way, it was a matter of hooking up all the controllers in my main.cpp file. Whenever an input change, execute an action for that specific input.
This setup really enables me to easily add more actions to any of the buttons. Now and in the future.
And by sending any input change as a json object over the serial port, I can continue using the inputs in my future Raspberry Pi implementation.
For now, it just resulted in one awesome looking activity board with a lot of light effects!
Enjoy the show!
Now, if you are interested in all the fine detail of the code, you can check out the full source code on GitHub. Of course it's fully supplied with unit and integration tests (NOPE!). And it's fully and well documented (NOPE!). Check it it out in the ActivityBoardController repository!
Read all posts in this series:
Part 1: Enzoโs Control Room
Part 2: Building the Box
Part 3: Fire up the Lasers!
Part 4: Spray Away!
Part 5: Push the button!
Part 6: Assembling the panel
Part 7: The dial on the board goes round and round
Part 8: Take control!
Part 9: Itโs all about the code!
Part 10: Bake me some Pi!
Part 11: The Final Touch
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ย The 5-Pin D Shaft Rotary Encoder: A Versatile Input Device
The 5-Pin D Shaft Rotary Encoder with Detents, Push Button, and Potentiometer is a multi-functional component that offers a unique blend of input capabilities. This compact device combines the precision of a rotary encoder with the convenience of a push button and the versatility of a potentiometer, making it a valuable asset for a wide range of electronic and automation projects.
Core Functionality: Rotary Encoding
At its heart, the device functions as a rotary encoder. The encoder features a 360-degree rotation with distinct detent points, providing precise positional feedback. These detents ensure smooth and accurate rotation, eliminating any ambiguity in the user's input. The encoder generates digital signals that correspond to the rotational position, allowing for precise control and measurement of angular movement. This makes it ideal for applications such as :ย
Volume Control: Smoothly adjust volume levels in audio systems.
Menu Navigation: Navigate through menus and options on electronic devices.
Position Sensing: Monitor the position of mechanical components in robotics and automation systems.
Angle Measurement: Measure angles in various applications, including scientific instruments and industrial machinery.ย
Enhanced Input: Push Button Integration
The integration of a push button adds another dimension of input functionality. This push button can be used for various purposes, such as:
Selecting Options: Confirm selections in menus or initiate actions.
Resetting Values: Reset settings or return to default values.
Triggering Events: Trigger specific events or commands within the system.
This combination of rotary encoding and push-button functionality provides a versatile and intuitive user interface, enhancing the overall user experience.
Potentiometer Integration
The inclusion of a D Shaft Rotary Encoder further expands the device's capabilities. The potentiometer allows for continuous analogue input, enabling fine-grained adjustments and control over various parameters. This feature can be utilised in applications such as:
Gain Control: Adjust gain levels in audio amplifiers or signal processing circuits.
Brightness Control: Control the brightness of displays or backlights.
Speed Control: Adjust the speed of motors or other rotating devices.
Sensor Calibration: Calibrate sensors or adjust sensitivity levels.
Key Features and Benefits
Compact Design: The encoder boasts a compact and space-saving design, making it suitable for integration into a wide range of devices and systems.
High Precision: The detent mechanism ensures high precision in rotational measurements, minimising errors and providing accurate feedback.
360-Degree Rotation: The full 360-degree rotation allows for complete control and flexibility in various applications.ย
Integrated Push Button: The push button adds an extra layer of input functionality, enhancing user interaction and system capabilities.
Compact and Lightweight: The lightweight design makes it easy to incorporate into portable devices and systems.
Durable Construction: The encoder is constructed with durable materials, ensuring long-term reliability and withstanding frequent use.
Applications :
The versatility of the 5-Pin D Shaft Rotary Encoder with Detents, Push Button, and Potentiometer makes it suitable for a wide range of applications, including:
Consumer Electronics: audio systems, video players, gaming consoles, and home appliances.
Industrial Automation: Machine control panels, robotics, and process control systems.
Medical Devices: medical equipment, rehabilitation devices, and patient monitoring systems.
Test and Measurement: Scientific instruments, laboratory equipment, and data acquisition systems.
Automotive: Automotive controls, instrument clusters, and infotainment systems.
rotarotarotarotary (that's four times a rotary encoder) ๐๐ข๐น๏ธ๐ต๐ดโช๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ ๏ธ๐๏ธ๐๐๐๏ธ๐ป๐พ๐งฉ๐ก๐
count em: one, two, threeโฆfour rotary encoders encrust this new Stemma QT board! with a lil attiny817 running the adafruit seesaw code, we can now read 4 encoders and 4 switches plus control 4 matching neopixels all over I2C. great for when you do not want to spend all your microcontroller cycles counting out all your interrupted pins plus also clocking out neopixels. we don't have a ton of room on this 'standard sized' 4 inch by 1 inch PCB, so we stuck the pixels underneath. now on low cost encoders you can't really see the lighting, but on fancy 'clear body' encoders you can get a cool glowing effect! there's even clear or translucent knobs one can get that will diffuse the color nicely.
Posted @withregram โข @blink_australia Did you know that you can customize our #PowerTrack rotary encoder with your own #logo and custom icons? @australiandiversifiedengineering #rotaryencoder #canbus #j1939 #pwtr #keypad #screenintegration #agricultureengineering #hydraulicengineering #marineengineering https://www.instagram.com/p/CXGDeXIsfTY/?utm_medium=tumblr
