VernierThermistorDisplay.ino

/*
VernierThermistorDisplay (v 2017.07)
Reads the temperature from a Vernier Stainless Steel Temperature Probe (TMP-BTA)
or Surface Temperature Sensor (STS-BTA) connected to the BTA connector. 
As written, the readings will be displayed every half second. Change the variable 
TimeBetweenReadings to change the rate.

This version of the program uses the VernierLib library.

See www.vernier.com/engineering/stem/sensors/temperature-sensor/
for more information on how thermistors are read.

This sketch uses a 4-character, 7-Segment Serial Display to temperature
readings in Celsius. The code for controlling the display was based on
the Serial 7-Segment Display Example Code, Serial Mode Stopwatch by Jim Lindblom
of SparkFun Electronics

The print function is used with the SoftwareSerial library
to send display data to the S7S.
Here is the wiring for display with a UART serial connection:
   Arduino -------------- Serial 7-Segment
     5V   --------------------  VCC
     GND  --------------------  GND
     13   --------------------  RX
 */
#include "VernierLib.h" 
VernierLib Vernier;
float sensorReading;
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
// These are the Arduino pins required to create a software serial
//  instance. We'll actually only use the TX pin.
const int softwareTx = 9;
const int softwareRx = 7;
SoftwareSerial s7s(softwareRx, softwareTx);
char tempString[10];  // Will be used with sprintf to create strings	
int thermistorPIN =0;// Analog Pin 0
float readingTime;
int count; //reading from the A/D converter (10-bit)
float temp;
unsigned int temp100;
int timeBetweenReadings = 500; // in ms
int readingNumber=0;

void setup()
{
  Vernier.autoID();// this is the routine to do the autoID
  s7s.begin(9600);
  // Clear the display, and then turn on all segments and decimals
  clearDisplay();  // Clears display, resets cursor
  setDecimals(0b000000);  // Turn on all decimals, colon, apos
  s7s.print("DEG.");  // Displays Deg and then Cels on display
  delay (2000);
  s7s.print("CELS"); 
  setBrightness(127);  // Medium brightness
  delay(1500);
  setBrightness(255);  // High brightness
  delay(1500);
  // Clear the display before jumping into loop
  clearDisplay();  
}

void loop()
{
   sensorReading =Vernier.readSensor();
  Serial.print(sensorReading);
  temp100 =sensorReading*100;
  // Magical sprintf creates a string for us to send to the s7s.
  //  The %4d option creates a 4-digit integer.
  sprintf(tempString, "%4d", temp100);
  // This will output the tempString to the S7S
  s7s.print(tempString);
  setDecimals(0b0000010);  // Sets digit 3 decimal on
  delay(timeBetweenReadings);  // This will make the display update at about every half second
}

void clearDisplay()
{
  s7s.write(0x76);  // Clear display command
}

// Set the displays brightness. Should receive byte with the value
//  to set the brightness to
//  dimmest------------->brightest
//     0--------127--------255

void setBrightness(byte value)
{
  s7s.write(0x7A);  // Set brightness command byte
  s7s.write(value);  // brightness data byte
}

// Turn on any, none, or all of the decimals.
//  The six lowest bits in the decimals parameter sets a decimal 
//  (or colon, or apostrophe) on or off. A 1 indicates on, 0 off.
//  [MSB] (X)(X)(Apos)(Colon)(Digit 4)(Digit 3)(Digit2)(Digit1)
void setDecimals(byte decimals)
{
  s7s.write(0x77);
  s7s.write(decimals);
}