Thread: Delay time between inputs

I am sorry but i don't understand what input_1 and input_2 are supposed to be.

Code:

for (input_2=false)
{count time}

Would that be a ...

Code:

while(input_2=false)
{count time}

Also, how do you count time? Will the code be a function needing to return something?
Try to be a bit less confusing.

What is the platform for this?

Normally, if I were to do something like this, I would use "clock()" to get the starting time for input1, then when input2 gets activated, I'd get the current value of "clock()", subtract the first value of from clock(), and you have the time it took. Then divide by "CLOCKS_PER_SEC" and you get the actual time in seconds.

But of course that assumes a fairly complete set of standard C library, and some embedded systems (particularly on smaller platforms) do not support all of the standard library functions, in which case you have to use other methods.

If this doesn't solve your problem, perhaps you could explain a bit more about what you are doing, what the platform is, etc, etc.

--
Mats

okay, it's a bit confusing for myself as well.

the platform is company specific, the hardware contains a Motorola MPC5200 processor. I think it only supports basic C-functions. the program I'm programming with is called GAP Programmer but this is only used within my company.

I'll try to explain it a little better:

I have a Relay (DO) and a Discrete input (DI). The D.O. is connected to the D.I. When my program send a TRUE to the DO the relay will switch to TRUE. The program will get a feedback from the DI that the relay has actually switched.

So lets translate to my program:
DO is the output to my hardware, but this can also be an input for another function in my program. So I called it input_1.
DI is the input from the hardware that has the function to report that de relay really switched. This input I call input_2.

In my graphical programmer (internal use only) I have a block that can call a C-function. To this block I can connect multiple inputs and outputs: real, bolean or integer values.

an example code of the contents of this block:

Code:

            #include wgos.h 

            #include math.h 

            FILE=  file1.c

            FUNCT = _FUNCT1

 

            file1.c         _FUNCT1(double Rval1,              ...(num of Real Repeats),

                                             int        Ival1,               ...(num of Int Repeats),

                                             WGBOOLEAN Bval1,   ...(num of Boolean repeats),

                                             float * ROval1,           ...(num of Real Out Repeats),

                                             int *      IOVal1,             ...(num of Int Out Repeats),

                                             WGBOOLEAN *BOval1, ...(num of Boolean Out repeats) )

                                 {

                                //your code here

                                //   example

                                if ((Rval1 > 100.0) && (Ival1 > 22) && (Bval1 == TRUE))

                                    {

                                    *ROval1 = 22.0;

                                    *IOval1 = 11;

                                    *BOval1 = FALSE;

                                    }

                                else

                                    {

                                    *ROval1 = -22.0;

                                    *IOval1 = -11;

                                    *BOval1 = TRUE;

                                    }

                                }

What I want to happen is that the C function measures the amount of time between the two inputs to be true. There is a delay in sending the instruction and receiving a feedback, I want to know that delay in time.
the output can just be a variable that contains a bolean or integer (1=true, 0=false) value. The C-function block can handle this and can output it to my programmer.

I hope this makes things a bit more clear!

thanks!

So what is your hardware platform, at least what processor is it and what OS [if any]?

To measure time you have to be able to get some sort of timing reference. There are several ways to achieve this, but which is the right way depends on the hardware and the requirements for precision. Are you after a precise number in seconds (milli or microseconds perhaps?), a relative measurement comparing multiple models of relays, or something else?

--
Mats

The Real-time clock is probably not precise enough [although it may be], but you should be able to use the clock() function to measure time reasonably well.

--
Mats