Me:
Hi, how can I replace an encoder with 2 push buttons?
To replace an encoder with 2 push buttons, you can use digital inputs on a microcontroller or single-board computer to read the state of the buttons, and then use software to interpret the button presses as encoder rotation. The specific steps would depend on the microcontroller or board you are using and the programming language you are using. But in general, you would need to:
- Connect the push buttons to digital inputs on the microcontroller or board
- Write code to read the state of the digital inputs
- Use an algorithm to interpret the button presses as encoder rotation
- Write code to perform the appropriate action based on the interpreted rotation.
It's important to keep in mind that the accuracy and responsiveness of this solution may not be as good as a real encoder, but it can be a good solution for some applications where the cost or complexity of an encoder is not feasible.
me:
which microcontroller would you recommend that is cheap and just enough for this task?
There are many microcontrollers that are suitable for this task and can be considered cheap. Some popular options include:
- Arduino: The Arduino platform is a popular choice for hobbyists and beginners, and there are many different boards available that are based on the AVR microcontroller. The Arduino Uno and Arduino Nano are two popular boards that are relatively inexpensive and have a large community of users.
- ESP8266/ESP32: The ESP8266 and ESP32 are low-cost WiFi-enabled microcontrollers that can be programmed using the Arduino IDE. They have built-in WiFi, which allows you to connect the microcontroller to a network and control it remotely. The ESP32 has more memory and processing power than the ESP8266.
- STM32: The STM32 line of microcontrollers from STMicroelectronics is a bit more powerful than the Arduino, and is suitable for more advanced projects. They come with a variety of peripheral options such as USB, CAN, Ethernet and more, at a cheap cost.
- PIC: Microchip PIC microcontrollers are inexpensive, powerful and easy to program. They have a wide range of products suitable for different needs, from simple applications to advanced ones.
Ultimately, the best microcontroller for your project will depend on your specific requirements and the resources you have available. You should take into account factors such as cost, processing power, memory size, and the availability of development tools and libraries when choosing a microcontroller.
me:
That does not make sense these are way too expensive. can you suggest something form microchip?
I apologize for the confusion, you are correct that the microcontrollers I listed previously may be considered expensive for some applications.
Microchip Technology Inc. has a wide range of microcontrollers that are suitable for different needs and are relatively inexpensive. Some examples of Microchip microcontrollers that can be used for your application are:
- PIC10F: Microchip PIC10F microcontroller are very cheap and small in size, they have few I/O pins and low memory, but they can be a good solution for simple applications that do not require a lot of processing power or memory.
- PIC12F: Microchip PIC12F microcontroller are also very cheap and small in size, they have more I/O pins and memory than PIC10F, They can be a good solution for simple applications that require more I/O pins and memory than PIC10F.
- PIC16F: Microchip PIC16F microcontroller are also very cheap, they have more I/O pins, memory and processing power than PIC10F and PIC12F, They can be a good solution for applications that require more memory, processing power and I/O pins than PIC10F and PIC12F.
It's important to note that these microcontrollers may not have as many features as the other microcontroller I mentioned earlier, such as built-in WiFi or USB, but they are suitable for simple and cheap applications.
Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.
Me:
The PIC10F looks good. can you write an embeded c program that generates grey code like an encoder, to scan the 2 inputs and runs an interrupt routine on the falling edge of the clock? It should detected which button is pressed and generate gray code on the output. 1 button represents left rotation the other a right rotation.
Sure, here is an example of an embedded C program that generates gray code like an encoder, scans the 2 inputs, and runs an interrupt routine on the falling edge of the clock. It should detect which button is pressed and generate gray code on the output. The left button represents left rotation, and the right button represents right rotation.