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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Micromite Enter Key Not working
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| Pergone Newbie  Joined: 19/06/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6 |
Hi I recently built the Parking Assist project as a start to hopefully a new hobby in my retirement. After some teething problems I got it working. My only problem is when I try to change any parameter eg the timeout all of the buttons work except the Enter button. When pressed it flashes but does not return the screen to the menu and actually locks up the screen so I have to power down to get back to the working unit. I am using Firmware 5.04.08 with the original parking assist program plus the Distance C Program. Have I missed something in the program loading? |
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Azure Guru  Joined: 09/11/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 446 |
Just to try and make sure you get help with the correct unit, which parking assistant project did you build and which software did you load (links or references). |
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| Pergone Newbie Joined: 19/06/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6 |
Hi It is the Geoff Graham parking assist project which I purchased from Silicon Chip and I loaded the ParkingAssist.bas software from Geoffs site. Hope this helps |
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| Azure Guru Joined: 09/11/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 446 |
Are you referring to the "ENT" key on the bottom right of the virtual keypad which you go into when you have chosen an option to configure? Do all the other keys work, especially the numbers "Del" and "Can" int he virtual keypad? I think the code requires a value to be entered to return otherwise it stays in the loop waiting for a value to be entered, unless you press the "Can" key. Only other thought is you might need to do a touch screen calibration. If none of that helps, let us know a little more about the screens you see and the buttons you press leading up to the problem. |
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| Pergone Newbie Joined: 19/06/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6 |
Hi Azure Yes I am refering to the "ENT" key on the bottom of the virtual keypad. Yes all other keys work especially "Del" and "Can" and all the numbers. I enter a changed parameter but when I hit the "Ent" it just flashed once and then all is locked up on the same screen. I have tired another touch screen calibration with no change. I have tired all parameter changes, numbers and Del and Can but as soon as I hit enter all locks up. Everything else is working fine. |
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Geoffg Guru Joined: 06/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 3292 |
The software (and the ENT key) does work and many people have it working, so it must be something peculiar to your setup. My suggestions are: - Redo the touch calibration as suggested by Azure. - Make sure that nothing is pressing on the screen (ie, the case). - Check that the numbers that you are entering are reasonable. - Try a clean regulated power supply. The last one is important - noisy USB chargers have caused a lot of problems for constructors of this project. You could even try three fresh AA batteries in series as a power supply if you do not have a lab quality power supply. EDIT: Re reading your post I see that you have used a recent version of MMBasic. I have not tested the software with this version so there could be some incompatibility. Download ParkingAssistFull.hex from my website and try that. Geoff Geoff Graham - http://geoffg.net |
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| Pergone Newbie Joined: 19/06/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6 |
Geoff Thanks. I have loaded the ParkingAssistFull from your website and it fixed the virtual keypad error but the readout became unstable and inaccurate especially over 50cm. I connected 3 batteries and that stopped the instability. I was using an Apple power pack as I thought they would be good quality??? I reloaded the latest firmware (5.04.08)and it is stable with the Apple powerpack but still has the fault in the virtual keypad. What type and where can I get a reasonably priced 5 volt power pack that will work please? |
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TassyJim Guru Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6283 |
Getting a good 5V supply can be a bit of hit and miss. Current rating and noise on the 5V are the two issues. Current rating is easy to fix, noise needs testing. What is the current rating of your Apple unit? Jim VK7JH MMedit |
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| Pergone Newbie Joined: 19/06/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6 |
Hi Jim It is only needed to run the Geoff Graham Parking Assist project which would be less than 500mA at a guess. Therefore it doesn't have to be a high rating but it does need to be low noise as that is my current problem |
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| erbp Senior Member  Joined: 03/05/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 195 |
Hi, I had a similar problem with the Parking Assistant unit that I built (stability of the reading, not the enter key issue). I built mine when the article was first published in Silicon Chip (Mar 2016)so was using the firmware version that was around at that time (I have never upgraded fw, no need to). My unit is also powered from a USB wall wart. Initially I thought the problem might be a crook ultrasonic sensor, so I ordered a replacement on ebay, but I ordered a HY-SR05 unit, not HC-SR04. The SR05 is supposedly a better sensor. Anyway while I was waiting for the replacement unit, I was doing more testing and realised that the reading was rock solid when I brought the unit inside and attached it to my computer for testing, then it dawned that when testing I was using my computer's USB, not the wall wart. Bringing the wall wart inside to power the unit while testing confirmed the problem was power related. I tried various filter caps, etc, but nothing seemed to work until I connected a 0.1uF cap from the negative side of the 5v supply to MAINS GROUND (Earth). As soon as I did this, the readings were rock solid. As my wall wart only had 2 power pins (as most do), I had no easy way to get a mains ground to the unit to connect the capacitor to as a permanent solution. Eventually I decided I would need a separate 3 pin power plug, connect a single wire ONLY to the EARTH pin and run that separately to the unit, then probably use a 3.5mm audio connector to get it inside the case. As it turned out, before I proceeded with that rather in-elegant solution, my replacement ultrasonic sensor arrived, so I decided to try it out before I did anything else. The HY-SR05 uses a 5 pin connector, not 4 as the SR04, but 1 pin doesn't need to be connected, unfortunately it is one of the middle pins, so you need to upgrade to a 5 pin connector housing - I popped the pins out of the existing 4 pin connector and just re-inserted them in the appropriate pins of the 5 pin connector. The HY-SR05 gave rock solid readings regardless of which power supply I used and WITHOUT the 0.1uf Cap to mains ground. It is possible that both my solutions depend on something specific about the wall wart and/or sensors I am using, but it did work for me. My Parking Assistant has been performing faultlessly for over 2 years now! You might like to try one of these options. HY-SR05 sensors can be had on ebay for under $2, only thing is you have a few weeks wait for one to arrive from China. |
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| TassyJim Guru Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6283 |
Your Apple supply will have the current rating on it somewhere. It needs to be at least 500mA. As a test, you could drop the backlight brightness right down as that will significantly reduce the current required. If you do go for a different supply, I would stay clear of ebay ones. 240V is not worth risking non approved supplies with. A 750mA or 1000mA unit from Jaycar etc would be worth a try. Jim VK7JH MMedit |
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| Pergone Newbie Joined: 19/06/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6 |
Erbp and Jim Thanks for the info. I will try these. Regards Pergone |
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| erbp Senior Member Joined: 03/05/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 195 |
Oops, misquoted the ultrasonic sensor style in my post above. It is a HY-SRF05. Just search for SRF05 on ebay to find them. Cheers, Phil. |
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