Arduino Basics

Serial.print() function

The purpose of this function is to print data on the serial monitor.

So it prints data to the serial port as human readable ascii text.

Syntax

Serial.print(val)
Serial.print(val, format)

Examples

By default serial print function gives decimal values.

Serial.print(78) gives 78
Serial.print(1.23456) gives 1.23
Serial.print(‘N’) gives N
Serial.print(“Hello”) gives Hello

If we pass a value in the format,

Then we can have different values as per format.

Format is an integral data type. It can have byte, char, int, long,
short, unsigned char, unsigned int, unsigned long, word.

We can use four types of data in format.

Binary (BIN)2, Octal (OCT)8
Decimal (DEC)10, Hexadecimal (HEX)16

Examples

We can also pass the number of decimal places to be printed for

floating point numbers (double, float)

Serial.print(78, BIN) gives 1001110

Serial.print(78, OCT) gives 116
Serial.print(78, DEC) gives 78
Serial.print(78, HEX) gives 4E
Serial.print(1.23456, 0) gives 1
Serial.print(1.23456, 2) gives 1.23
Serial.print(1.23456, 4) gives 1.2345

Serial.println()

It does the same functions as Serial.print() and in addition to that

it always prints value on the new line

digitalWrite() function

We can use this function to on/off relays, leds, or dc motars.

These devices work on 5V so we can use this function to operate
all these devices.
In arduino, 0 - 13 pins are digital pins.

We can use these pins to get input/output.

Syntax

digitalWrite(pin, value)

Using this function, we can do high or low on any pin.

Value for any pin can be either 0 or 1, that is low or high.

Here, 1 means 5V and 0 means 0V

For example, I have to make pin 13 high and low.

digitalWrite(13, 1)
digitalWrite(13, 0)

digitalWrite(13, LOW)
digitalWrite(13, HIGH)

We can use both ways.

Example Code.

Pin Number 13 in arduino is connected to led by default.

So, first we’ll decide on which pin we want the output.

Here, we want output on pin number 13.

So, we can use this function.

void setup(){
pinMode(13, OUTPUT);
}
Now we want the led to be high for some time and low for some
time, and we want to run this in a loop. So, we can use void
loop() which is like a main function for arduino.

void loop(){
​ digitalWrite(13, HIGH);
​ delay(1000);
​ digitalWrite(13, LOW);
​ delay(1000);
}

Now the delay function says I’ll wait for some milliseconds after
the code line before me has been executed.

So, here our led will be on for 1s and then off for 1s in a loop.
digitalRead() function

Syntax

digitalRead(Pin)

We have digitally read a pin. We’ll use this function for those
devices that gives us a digital value.

For example, a button. It can either give 0 or 1.

And motion sensor also gives output as 0 or 1.

To read these 0 or 1 values, we use this digitalRead function.

We also have an IR sensor that also gives 0 or 1 output.

They give low or high values only.

To read this type of data only, we use the digital read function.
So the parameters of digitalRead functions are arduino uno
digital pins only. From 0 to 13 pins work as digital pins only.
These pins can be used digitally.
For example, to get the IR sensor value, we want to read from
the pin 7. So, the output pin of sensor is connected to pin
number 7.

digitalRead(7)

Example Code.

First we’ll connect led to pin number 13 and turn led on. I have to
use pin number 7 as an input. And we’ll connect IR sensor here.
Now IR sensor will give either 0 or 1, so we’ll store it.

int ledPin = 13;

int inPin = 7;
int val = 0;
void setup(){
​ pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
​ pinMode(inPin, INPUT);
}

void loop(){
​ val = digitalRead(inPin);
​ digitalWrite(ledPin, val);
}

So, here according to IR sensor, value wil be stored and our led
will turn on/off according to the IR sensor.
We have 3 wires here with the IR sensor. The yellow wire
indicates the 5V power supply from the Arduino. The black wire
is use to Ground. The purple wirte is actually connected to pin
number 7.

analogRead() function

So there are some devices that does not give digital values as
input. For example, potentiometer and water sensor.

So, we get analog data from these kind of sensors.

In arduino uno, we have 6 pins to read these analog signals.

But we know that microcontrollers work only on digital values,
they don’t work on analog values. So, this problem is solved by
in-built ADC design, which converts analog signals to digital
signals.

Our arduino uno is of 10 bits. So the return values will be from 0

to 1023. So 0 value means 0V and 1023 means 5V.

Syntax

analogRead(Pin)

Where Pin can be from A0 to A5

Example code

int analogPin = A0;

int val = 0;
void setup(){
Serial.begin(9600);
}
void loop(){
val = analogRead(analogPin);
Serial.println(val);
}
analogWrite() function

If we want to change brightness of led, and change speed of our

dc motar using arduino uno then we can use this function.

We can set pin and value and it will be converted to PWM waves
before sending the signal to devices. The values for PWM waves
range from 0 to 255 only.

Syntax

analogWrite(pin, value)

We can use pin numbers 0 to 13 for analog write.

For example, for full brightness of a led, we use

analogWrite(3, 255)

Example Code

We have to change the brightness of an led light using the

analog signals of potentiometer.

int ledPin = 3;
int analogPin = A0;
int val = 0;
void setup(){
​ pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
}

void loop(){
val = analogRead(analogPin);
analogWrite(ledPin, val);
}

map() function

We use this function to covert a number from one range to

another. For example, we can use potentiometer to change the
brightness of led, or we can control dc motar as well.

Like the way arduino converts the analog signals to digital

signals, and the 10 bit value we get ranges from 0 to 1023 value.

So this 10 bit microcontroller gives digital readings in this range

when receiving the analog signals from potentiometer.

Now we want to change the value from one range to another

range. From this digital signal values between 0 to 1023 to the
PWD waves signals that range from 0 to 255.

Syntax

map(value, fromLow, fromHigh, toLow, toHigh)

Before conversion from one range to another, we want to store
the previous value, that we store in the first parameter of map.

Now we have to specify the range of this value from low to high
in the next two parameters, that is from 0 to 1023.

Now in the last two parameters, we specify the range of the

value in which we want to convert the signals to, that is for pwd
signals, it is from 0 to 255.

Example

brightness = map(analogValue, 0, 1023, 0 , 255)

Here analogValue is the input readings from the potentiometer

In servo motar, we use angles that range from 0 to 180 value

angle = map(analogValue, 0, 1023, 0, 180)

The values between 0 to 1023 will be stored in 0 to 180

It is important to note that only pins 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 can only be

connected for the PWD signals, not other pins form 0 to 13.
Example Program

int LED_PIN = 3;
int POTENTIOMETER_PIN = A0;
void setup(){
​ Serial.begin(9600);
​ pinMode(LED_PIN, OUTPUT);
}

void loop(){
​ int analogValue = analogRead(POTENTIOMETER_PIN);
​ int brightness = map(analogValue, 0, 1023, 0, 255);
analogWrite(LED_PIN, brightness);
Serial.print(“Analog ”);
Serial.print(analogValue);
Serial.print(“Brightness ”);
Serial.print(brightness);
delay(100);
}