Delays using getc() and kbhit() on PIC 16F84a

[Denis Gnani]

<font face="Courier New" size=-1>I'm having some problems with the getc() command delaying for too long. I have 1 MCU sending a byte to the other MCU a few times per second using RS232. When the second MCU receives that signal, it resets a counter. If that signal is not received, the counter increments and when it hits a specified limit, it will trigger a buzzer.

When the MCU's are connected, the buzzer does not sound which is good. The problem I'm having is that when I disconnect the serial link, it takes a long time for the buzzer to start sounding. I think I've narrowed the problem down to something having to do with the getc() function. I believe it is trying to check for a signal on the RS232 receive line but since it is disconnected, it waits for some time before realizing there is no signal. I need this time to be as short as possible. The way it is now, it take about 6 seconds before it realizes there is no signal.

Here is my code.....

#include <16F84A.H>
#fuses XT,NOWDT,NOPROTECT
#use delay(clock=4000000)
#use rs232(baud=9600, xmit=PIN_B4, rcv=PIN_B5)

main() {

int mobile1; // Data received from mobile unit 1
int timermobile1=0; //Counter for max timer limit
SET_TRIS_B( 0x20 ); //RB0-RB4,RB6,RB7=outputs, RB5=inputs
OUTPUT_LOW(PIN_B3); //used to prevent inital beep

do {
mobile1=0; //Resets mobile1
mobile1=getc();
if(mobile1==1) //received signal from mobile untit 1
timermobile1=0;
else
++timermobile1;
DELAY_MS(50)
if(timermobile1>10) //no signals
OUTPUT_HIGH(PIN_B2);
else
OUTPUT_LOW(PIN_B2);

} while (TRUE);
}


I've been reading up on the kbhit() function and I think it may help in my problem but I can't seem to get it working properly either. I tried using it so that if there is a signal on the RS232 line, it will read it using the getc(). Otherwise it will skip the getc() and just increment the counter variable. But when I did this, it seemed to never seemed to process the getc() function. In other words, the buzzer would always sound even when the 2 MCU's were connected.

Any thoughts would be GREATLY appreciated on how I can get the delay on the getc() function lower. </font>
___________________________
This message was ported from CCS's old forum
Original Post ID: 11286

[Sherpa Doug]

getc() will wait literally forever for a character to come in, or at least for a Start bit. I suspect your program is hanging on getc() until some noise on the open serial line causes a spurious Start bit. You need to use kbhit() or poll the serial line yourself. I use kbhit like this in my main polling loop:


if (kbhit()) //If a serial command is present
comms();
.
.
.

void comms() { //Parses commands:
char key;
long sum = 0;

switch (toupper(getch())) {
case 'F': // 'F' takes frequency argument (long)
key = getch();
while (isdigit(key)) {
sum = (sum * 10) + (key - '0');
key = getch();
}

Sherpa Doug

:=<font face="Courier New" size=-1>I'm having some problems with the getc() command delaying for too long. I have 1 MCU sending a byte to the other MCU a few times per second using RS232. When the second MCU receives that signal, it resets a counter. If that signal is not received, the counter increments and when it hits a specified limit, it will trigger a buzzer.
:=
:=When the MCU's are connected, the buzzer does not sound which is good. The problem I'm having is that when I disconnect the serial link, it takes a long time for the buzzer to start sounding. I think I've narrowed the problem down to something having to do with the getc() function. I believe it is trying to check for a signal on the RS232 receive line but since it is disconnected, it waits for some time before realizing there is no signal. I need this time to be as short as possible. The way it is now, it take about 6 seconds before it realizes there is no signal.
:=
:=Here is my code.....
:=
:=#include <16F84A.H>
:=#fuses XT,NOWDT,NOPROTECT
:=#use delay(clock=4000000)
:=#use rs232(baud=9600, xmit=PIN_B4, rcv=PIN_B5)
:=
:=main() {
:=
:= int mobile1; // Data received from mobile unit 1
:= int timermobile1=0; //Counter for max timer limit
:= SET_TRIS_B( 0x20 ); //RB0-RB4,RB6,RB7=outputs, RB5=inputs
:= OUTPUT_LOW(PIN_B3); //used to prevent inital beep
:=
:= do {
:= mobile1=0; //Resets mobile1
:= mobile1=getc();
:= if(mobile1==1) //received signal from mobile untit 1
:= timermobile1=0;
:= else
:= ++timermobile1;
:= DELAY_MS(50)
:= if(timermobile1>10) //no signals
:= OUTPUT_HIGH(PIN_B2);
:= else
:= OUTPUT_LOW(PIN_B2);
:=
:= } while (TRUE);
:=}
:=
:=
:=I've been reading up on the kbhit() function and I think it may help in my problem but I can't seem to get it working properly either. I tried using it so that if there is a signal on the RS232 line, it will read it using the getc(). Otherwise it will skip the getc() and just increment the counter variable. But when I did this, it seemed to never seemed to process the getc() function. In other words, the buzzer would always sound even when the 2 MCU's were connected.
:=
:=Any thoughts would be GREATLY appreciated on how I can get the delay on the getc() function lower. </font>
___________________________
This message was ported from CCS's old forum
Original Post ID: 11298