Lesson 2.1.6 Joystick

Introduction

In this project, We’re going to learn how joystick works. We manipulate the Joystick and display the results on the screen.

Components

Principle

Joystick

The basic idea of a joystick is to translate the movement of a stick into electronic information that a computer can process.

In order to communicate a full range of motion to the computer, a joystick needs to measure the stick’s position on two axes — the X-axis (left to right) and the Y-axis (up and down). Just as in basic geometry, the X-Y coordinates pinpoint the stick’s position exactly.

To determine the location of the stick, the joystick control system simply monitors the position of each shaft. The conventional analog joystick design does this with two potentiometers, or variable resistors.

The joystick also has a digital input that is actuated when the joystick is pressed down.

Schematic Diagram

When the data of joystick is read, there are some differents between axis: data of X and Y axis is analog, which need to use ADC0834 to convert the analog value to digital value. Data of Z axis is digital, so you can directly use the GPIO to read, or you can also use ADC to read.

T-Board Name	physical	wiringPi	BCM
GPIO17	Pin 11	0	17
GPIO18	Pin 12	1	18
GPIO27	Pin 13	2	27
GPIO22	Pin15	3	22

Experimental Procedures 

Step 1: Build the circuit.

• For C Language Users

Step 2: Go to the folder of the code. 

    cd /home/pi/davinci-kit-for-raspberry-pi/c/2.1.6/

Step 3: Compile the code.

    gcc 2.1.6_Joystick.c -lwiringPi

Step 4: Run the executable file.

    sudo ./a.out

After the code runs, turn the Joystick, then the corresponding values of x, y, Btn are displayed on screen.

Code

#include <wiringPi.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <softPwm.h>

typedef unsigned char uchar;
typedef unsigned int uint;

#define     ADC_CS    0
#define     ADC_CLK   1
#define     ADC_DIO   2
#define     BtnPin    3

uchar get_ADC_Result(uint channel)
{
    uchar i;
    uchar dat1=0, dat2=0;
    int sel = channel > 1 & 1;
int odd = channel & 1;
    pinMode(ADC_DIO, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(ADC_CS, 0);
    // Start bit
    digitalWrite(ADC_CLK,0);
    digitalWrite(ADC_DIO,1);    delayMicroseconds(2);
    digitalWrite(ADC_CLK,1);    delayMicroseconds(2);
   //Single End mode
    digitalWrite(ADC_CLK,0);
    digitalWrite(ADC_DIO,1);    delayMicroseconds(2);
    digitalWrite(ADC_CLK,1);    delayMicroseconds(2);
    // ODD
    digitalWrite(ADC_CLK,0);
    digitalWrite(ADC_DIO,odd);  delayMicroseconds(2);
    digitalWrite(ADC_CLK,1);    delayMicroseconds(2);
    //Select
    digitalWrite(ADC_CLK,0);
    digitalWrite(ADC_DIO,sel);    delayMicroseconds(2);
digitalWrite(ADC_CLK,1);
    digitalWrite(ADC_DIO,1);    delayMicroseconds(2);
    digitalWrite(ADC_CLK,0);
    digitalWrite(ADC_DIO,1);    delayMicroseconds(2);
    for(i=0;i<8;i++)
    {
        digitalWrite(ADC_CLK,1);    delayMicroseconds(2);
        digitalWrite(ADC_CLK,0);    delayMicroseconds(2);
        pinMode(ADC_DIO, INPUT);
        dat1=dat1<<1 | digitalRead(ADC_DIO);
    }
    for(i=0;i<8;i++)
    {
        dat2 = dat2 | ((uchar)(digitalRead(ADC_DIO))<<i);
        digitalWrite(ADC_CLK,1);    delayMicroseconds(2);
        digitalWrite(ADC_CLK,0);    delayMicroseconds(2);
    }
    digitalWrite(ADC_CS,1);
    pinMode(ADC_DIO, OUTPUT);
    return(dat1==dat2) ? dat1 : 0;
}
int main(void)
{
    uchar x_val;
    uchar y_val;
    uchar btn_val;
    if(wiringPiSetup() == -1){ //when initialize wiring failed,print messageto screen
        printf("setup wiringPi failed !");
        return 1;
    }
    pinMode(BtnPin,  INPUT);
    pullUpDnControl(BtnPin, PUD_UP);
    pinMode(ADC_CS,  OUTPUT);
    pinMode(ADC_CLK, OUTPUT);

    while(1){
        x_val = get_ADC_Result(0);
        y_val = get_ADC_Result(1);
        btn_val = digitalRead(BtnPin);
        printf("x = %d, y = %d, btn = %d\n", x_val, y_val, btn_val);
        delay(100);
    }
    return 0;
}

Code Explanation

uchar get_ADC_Result(uint channel)
{
    uchar i;
    uchar dat1=0, dat2=0;
    int sel = channel > 1 & 1;
    int odd = channel & 1;
    pinMode(ADC_DIO, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(ADC_CS, 0);
    // Start bit
    digitalWrite(ADC_CLK,0);
    digitalWrite(ADC_DIO,1);    delayMicroseconds(2);
    digitalWrite(ADC_CLK,1);    delayMicroseconds(2);
   //Single End mode
    digitalWrite(ADC_CLK,0);
    digitalWrite(ADC_DIO,1);    delayMicroseconds(2);
    digitalWrite(ADC_CLK,1);    delayMicroseconds(2);
......

The working process of the function is detailed in 2.1.4 Potentiometer.

while(1){
        x_val = get_ADC_Result(0);
        y_val = get_ADC_Result(1);
        btn_val = digitalRead(BtnPin);
        printf("x = %d, y = %d, btn = %d\n", x_val, y_val, btn_val);
        delay(100);
    }

VRX and VRY of Joystick are connected to CH0, CH1 of ADC0834 respectively. So the function getResult() is called to read the values of CH0 and CH1. Then the read values should be stored in the variables x_val and y_val. In addition, read the value of SW of joystick and store it into the variable Btn_val. Finally, the values of x_val, y_val and Btn_val shall be printed with print() function.

• For Python Language Users

Step 2: Go to the folder of the code.

    cd /home/pi/davinci-kit-for-raspberry-pi/python/

Step 3: Run.

    sudo python3 2.1.6_Joystick.py

After the code runs, turn the Joystick, then the corresponding values of x, y, Btn are displayed on screen.

Code 

#!/usr/bin/env python3

import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
import ADC0834
import time

BtnPin = 22

def setup():
    # Set the GPIO modes to BCM Numbering
    GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
    GPIO.setup(BtnPin, GPIO.IN, pull_up_down=GPIO.PUD_UP)
    ADC0834.setup()

def destroy():
    # Release resource
    GPIO.cleanup()

def loop():
    while True:
        x_val = ADC0834.getResult(0)
        y_val = ADC0834.getResult(1)
        Btn_val = GPIO.input(BtnPin)
        print ('X: %d  Y: %d  Btn: %d' % (x_val, y_val, Btn_val))
        time.sleep(0.2)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    setup()
    try:
        loop()
    except KeyboardInterrupt: # When 'Ctrl+C' is pressed, the program destroy() will be executed.
        destroy()

Code Explanation

def loop():
    while True:
        x_val = ADC0834.getResult(0)
        y_val = ADC0834.getResult(1)
        Btn_val = GPIO.input(BtnPin)
        print ('X: %d  Y: %d  Btn: %d' % (x_val, y_val, Btn_val))
        time.sleep(0.2)

VRX and VRY of Joystick are connected to CH0, CH1 of ADC0834 respectively. So the function getResult() is called to read the values of CH0 and CH1. Then the read values should be stored in the variables x_val and y_val. In addition, read the value of SW of joystick and store it into the variable Btn_val. Finally, the values of x_val, y_val and Btn_val shall be printed with print() function.

Phenomenon Picture