How to prevent "datas delays" in Serial Communication (C# form <-> Arduino) - c#

The code i have works, but i want to make sure it's robust, as i remember writing similar code in the past (with python) and noticing that i was receiving datas that would be 3 or 4 minutes old and would get even older with time.
I guess this has to do with the serial buffer, and that i should "clear it" from time to time, what is the best practice for this ?
C# form code:
using System;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.IO.Ports;
namespace SerialTest1
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public SerialPort ArduinoSerial;
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Timer MyTimer = new Timer();
MyTimer.Interval = (1000); // 1 sec
MyTimer.Tick += new EventHandler(SerialTimer_Tick);
MyTimer.Start();
Console.WriteLine("Form1_Loading....");
OpenSerialPort();
}
private void OpenSerialPort() // creating serial communication object
{
try
{
Console.WriteLine("OpenSerialPort: opening port.....");
ArduinoSerial = new SerialPort("COM7", 115200);//Set board COM
ArduinoSerial.Open();
ArduinoSerial.DataReceived += new SerialDataReceivedEventHandler(dataReceived);
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
Console.WriteLine("OpenSerialPort: Can not find port");
}
}
// write to arduino and restart Serial com if error like cable disconnected and reconnected
private void writeToArduino()
{
try
{
Console.WriteLine($"writeToArduino: writing msg to arduino");
ArduinoSerial.WriteLine("hello from pc");
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
Console.WriteLine("writeToArduino: Serial Error");
//MessageBox.Show("Serial Error: " + ex.ToString(), "ERROR");
if (!ArduinoSerial.IsOpen)
{
Console.WriteLine("writeToArduino: ArduinoSerial is close, opening it...");
OpenSerialPort();
}
}
}
private void SerialTimer_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e) // will write to arduino at each timer tick
{
writeToArduino();
}
private void dataReceived(object sender, SerialDataReceivedEventArgs e) // receiving datas from arduino
{
string SerialLine = ArduinoSerial.ReadLine();
Console.WriteLine($"dataReceived: Got serial line for arduino: {SerialLine}");
}
}
}
Arduino code:
#include <TimeLib.h>
#include <Time.h>
//WINDOWS COMMUNICATION
String receivedString;
void setup(void) {
Serial.begin(115200);
}
void loop(void) {
static time_t lastMsg = 0;
static int counter = 1;
if (now() - lastMsg > 1) {
lastMsg = now();
Serial.print("msg ");
Serial.print(counter);
Serial.println("Hello from arduino");
counter++;
}
while (Serial.available() > 0) {
receivedString = Serial.readString();
Serial.println(receivedString);
}
delay(5);
}

Related

Reading Serial Data from Arduino in Windows Forms Application

I am currently trying to build a windows forms app that gets sensor data from an arduino via the serial com.
when checking in the arduino IDE the data gets writen into the serial port correctly.
But i can't figure out how to read the data via c#.
class Program
{
static SerialPort SP;
static void Main(string[] args)
{
SP = new SerialPort();
SP.PortName = "COM7";
SP.BaudRate = 9600;
SP.Handshake = System.IO.Ports.Handshake.RequestToSend;
SP.Open();
while (true)
{
Console.WriteLine(DateTime.Now.ToString() + " : " + SP.ReadLine());
}
}
}
My guess is that the Port is not properly set up, but i have no idea what i am missing.
The Goal is just to receive strings from the arduino, i do not necessarily need to send any data to the arduino.
edit: i am working with an arduino micro
Did you close Arduino IDE?
You need to add a wait code before reading from the port
Below is a working example:
private SerialPort _currentPort = new SerialPort("COM7", 9600);
private readonly object _sync = new object();
public bool Open()
{
_currentPort.Encoding = Encoding.UTF8;
_currentPort.DtrEnable = true;
_currentPort.ReadTimeout = 2000;
try
{
if (!_currentPort.IsOpen)
lock (_sync)
{
if (_currentPort.IsOpen)
return true;
_currentPort.Open();
System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(1500);
}
}
catch (Exception e)
{
//_localLogger?.Error($"{_currentPort.PortName}, {e.Message}", e);
return false;
}
return _currentPort.IsOpen;
}
public bool Subscribe()
{
try
{
if (Open())
{
_currentPort.DataReceived += CurrentPortOnDataReceived;
return true;
}
return false;
}
catch (Exception e)
{
//_localLogger?.Error($"{_currentPort.PortName}, {e.Message}", e);
return false;
}
}
private void CurrentPortOnDataReceived(object sender, SerialDataReceivedEventArgs e)
{
if (!_currentPort.IsOpen)
{
//_localLogger.Info($"{_currentPort} is closed");
Open();
}
Console.WriteLine(_currentPort.ReadExisting());
}

Receiving continuous data using 32feet in .Net (BLUETOOTH)

I am creating a Windows Form application, where it is connecting to a device through bluetooth. I am able to send commands to the device and I am receiving the data continuously. The problem I am facing is that I am not able to show the continuous data in the text box. The text box only shows the first line of characters the application is receiving. Here is my code:
CONNECT BUTTON ACTION:
private void btnConnect_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
if (listBox.SelectedItem != null)
{
lblProgress.Text = "";
btnStart.Enabled = true;
cBoxAvailablePorts.Enabled = cBoxAvailableBaudRates.Enabled = true;
try
{
int pos = listBox.SelectedIndex;
deviceInfo = array.ElementAt(pos);
if (pairDevice())
{
Thread thread = new Thread(() => connectThread());
thread.Start();
}
else
{
MessageBox.Show("Pair failed!");
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
MessageBox.Show(ex.ToString());
}
}
else
{
MessageBox.Show("Please connect to a device!");
}
}
THREAD ACTION
private void connectThread()
{
//BluetoothClient client = new BluetoothClient();
bc.BeginConnect(deviceInfo.DeviceAddress, serviceClass, this.connectCallBack, bc);
}
CALLBACK ACTION:
private void connectCallBack(IAsyncResult result)
{
//BluetoothClient client = (BluetoothClient)result.AsyncState;
try
{
if (bc.Connected)
{
MessageBox.Show("Connected!");
}
else
{
MessageBox.Show("Connection Failed!");
}
}
catch (Exception)
{
MessageBox.Show("Not able to identify Bluetooth devices! Please try again.!");
}
}
START BUTTON ACTION:
Here I send a command "S".
In button action I call sendMessage("S").
The function that is called is shown below:
public void sendMessage(string msg)
{
try
{
if (bc.Connected)
{
Stream stream = bc.GetStream();
stream.ReadTimeout = 1000;
StreamWriter streamWriter = new StreamWriter(stream);
streamWriter.WriteLine(msg);
streamWriter.Flush();
// Read operation
StreamReader streamReader = new StreamReader(stream);
string result = streamReader.ReadLine();
txtResult.Text = result;
}
else
{
MessageBox.Show("Sending failed!");
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
MessageBox.Show(ex.ToString());
}
}
I wrote the StreamReader part in a loop, and it gave me Socket Exception.
I also tried to get the data from Serial Port and used DataReceived event just in case, but still it didn't help.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you!
OKAY! I solved the problem. Without getting in trouble with 32feet library (though it is fun to code with 32feet), I thought to make communication through serial port. I connected the device with my laptop and got to know the outgoing COMPORT in bluetooth setting of my laptop. The two-way communication can only be done through outgoing COMPORT, not the incoming COMPORT.
Suppose the outgoing COMPORT is COM12 and the baud rate that I have set is 9600.
So here is my code:
public delegate void updateDelegate(string text);
private updateDelegate objDelegate;
private SerialPort serialPort;
public View() // constructor
{
InitializeComponent();
this.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal;
this.StartPosition = FormStartPosition.CenterScreen;
this.objDelegate = new updateDelegate(getText);
serialPort = new SerialPort("COM12", 9600);
serialPort.Handshake = Handshake.None;
serialPort.Parity = Parity.None;
serialPort.StopBits = StopBits.One;
serialPort.DtrEnable = true;
serialPort.RtsEnable = true;
}
START BUTTON ACTION
private void btnStart_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
sendData("S");
}
// SEND COMMAND
public void sendData(string msg)
{
try
{
if (!serialPort.IsOpen)
{
serialPort.Open();
//serialPort.Close();
}
if (serialPort.IsOpen)
{
serialPort.Write(msg);
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
MessageBox.Show(ex.ToString());
}
}
// READ DATA
public void readData()
{
try
{
serialPort.DataReceived += SerialPort_DataReceived;
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
MessageBox.Show(ex.ToString());
}
}
private void SerialPort_DataReceived(object sender, SerialDataReceivedEventArgs e)
{
string res = serialPort.ReadExisting();
Thread.Sleep(500);
txtResult.Invoke(this.objDelegate, new object[] {res});
}
public void getText(string text)
{
txtResult.Text = text;
}
I hope this will help someone! Thank you!!!

Close application after reading upper code c#

I am working with arduino serial monitor. My goal is to connect through serial port, send some data and close the application after it's done.
This is a C# application. Everything works well besides the fact that the application does not close. To solve the issue, I added Application.Exit() call at the end of Form1_Load method. After this change, the application starts and closes without reading the uppercase letter that I'm sending.
Source code:
namespace ForTest
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
string[] ports = SerialPort.GetPortNames();
foreach (string port in ports)
{
SerialPort sp = new SerialPort(port, 9600, Parity.None, 8, StopBits.One);
try
{
sp.Open();
try
{
sp.WriteLine("Z"); // Send 1 to Arduino
sp.Close();
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
}
}
catch (Exception ek)
{
System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine(ek.Message);
}
}
Application.Exit();
}
private void label2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
}
private void label1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
}
}
}
if I understood properly, you want to send data FROM C# to ARDUINO and then you exit the C# app
you can't just call Application.exit() after the InitializeComponent(), instead to achieve that you need to exit after sending the data
sp.WriteLine("Z"); // Send 1 to Arduino
sp.Close();
Application.Exit(); ///here!!

Capturing serial welcome message when connecting in c#

I am trying to write a program that communicates with a controller. The controller is supposed to send a "welcome" message when a connection is successfully established and, in fact, it does when I connect using a communications software. However, using the .NET code below, I never see the welcome message. Beyond that, it works. How can I capture this message. It seems to be sent the moment the connection is established.
Again, I am able to communicate fine with the controller after connection but I simply cannot seem to get the welcome message that is sent a the moment the connection is opened.
using System;
using System.IO.Ports;
using System.Windows.Forms;
namespace WindowsFormsApplication1
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public delegate void AddDataDelegate(String myString);
public AddDataDelegate myDelegate;
SerialPort sp;
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
public void AddDataMethod(String myString)
{
richTextBox1.AppendText(myString);
richTextBox1.SelectionStart = richTextBox1.Text.Length;
richTextBox1.ScrollToCaret();
}
private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
try
{
sp = new SerialPort(comboBox1.SelectedItem.ToString(),Int32.Parse(comboBox2.SelectedItem.ToString()));
sp.DataReceived += SerialPort_OnDataReceived;
sp.Close();
sp.Open();
richTextBox1.AppendText("open\n");
button2.Enabled = true;
button3.Enabled = true;
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
richTextBox1.AppendText(ex.Message);
}
}
void SerialPort_OnDataReceived(object sender,SerialDataReceivedEventArgs args)
{
SerialPort sp = sender as SerialPort;
string s = sp.ReadExisting();
richTextBox1.Invoke(this.myDelegate, new Object[] { s });
}
private void button2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
sp.WriteLine(textBox1.Text);
textBox1.Text = "";
}
private void button3_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
sp.DiscardOutBuffer();
sp.DiscardInBuffer();
sp.Close();
richTextBox1.AppendText("\nclosed\n");
}
private void Form1_Load_1(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
this.myDelegate = new AddDataDelegate(AddDataMethod);
string[] Ports = SerialPort.GetPortNames();
comboBox2.SelectedIndex = comboBox2.Items.Count - 1;
Array.Sort(Ports, (a, b) => string.Compare(a.Substring(3).PadLeft(3, '0'), b.Substring(3).PadLeft(3, '0')));
foreach (string port in Ports)
{
comboBox1.Items.Add(port);
}
comboBox1.SelectedIndex = 0;
}
}
}
I worked it out. Required a slight delay between connection and trying to pull data from the port.

Serial communication in c#

I have made a simple windows form with a ComboBox, TextBox and two Buttons to setup a serial protocol with my hardware.
However, whenever I send something I do get reply from hardware but C# doesn't display it. Instead it gives an exception saying that the operation has timed out. I even used an oscilloscope to check if I received something and it was positive. But C# doesn't display the code as stated before.
I am attaching my code below. Anyhelp would be welcome. Thanks in advance.
public partial class Form3 : Form
{
string buffer;
public SerialPort myComPort = new SerialPort();
delegate void setTextCallback(string text);
public Form3()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
private void Form3_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
try
{
ManagementObjectSearcher searcher =
new ManagementObjectSearcher("root\\CIMV2",
"SELECT * FROM Win32_PnPEntity");
foreach (ManagementObject queryObj in searcher.Get())
{
if (queryObj["Caption"].ToString().Contains("(COM"))
{
comboBox1.Items.Add(queryObj["Caption"]);
}
}
comboBox1.Text = comboBox1.Items[0].ToString();
}
catch (ManagementException ex)
{
MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
}
}
private void setText(string text)
{
if (textBox1.InvokeRequired)
{
setTextCallback tcb = new setTextCallback(setText);
this.Invoke(tcb, new object[] { text });
}
else
{
textBox1.Text = text;
}
}
void myComPort_DataReceived(object sender, SerialDataReceivedEventArgs e)
{
try
{
string myString = myComPort.ReadLine();
setText(myString);
}
catch (System.Exception ex)
{
MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, "Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Warning);
}
}
private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
myComPort.Close();
// button1.Enabled = false;
string name = comboBox1.Text;
string[] words = name.Split('(', ')');
myComPort.PortName = words[1];
myComPort.ReadTimeout = 5000;
// myComPort.WriteTimeout = 500;
myComPort.BaudRate = 9600;
myComPort.DataBits = 8;
myComPort.StopBits = StopBits.One;
myComPort.Parity = Parity.None;
myComPort.DataReceived += new SerialDataReceivedEventHandler(myComPort_DataReceived);
myComPort.Open();
}
private void button2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
myComPort.WriteLine("?GV1\r");
}
}
It say
...The DataReceived event is not guaranteed to be raised for every byte received...
Try something like:
private static void DataReceived(object sender, SerialDataReceivedEventArgs e)
{
// prevent error with closed port to appears
if (!_port.IsOpen)
return;
// read data
if (_port.BytesToRead >= 1)
{
// ...
// read data into a buffer _port.ReadByte()
DataReceived(sender, e);
}
// ...
// if buffer contains data, process them
}
Have a look at this url:
http://csharp.simpleserial.com/
And this url for WMI:
http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/32330/A-Useful-WMI-Tool-How-To-Find-USB-to-Serial-Adapto

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