Monitoring Switches to Make Sure They are Pressed in Correct Order with Node.js

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1

Hello,

I am currently working on a project that involves using switches (handled the same was as a button) and node.js. I am stuck on a part that involves making sure the switches are pressed in the correct order. There is an Up switch and a Down switch.

The things I need to do:

  • The Up switch needs to be the first switched pressed, if the Down switch is pressed first I need to print an error (console.log will do)
  • The Up switch cannot be pressed two or more times in a row without having a Down switch press in between, if there are two or more Up switch presses in a row it will result in printing an error.
  • The Down switch cannot be pressed two or more times in a row without having an Up switch press in between, if there are two or more Down switch presses in a row it will result in printing an error.

Any help I can get would be greatly appreciated! I have been stuck on this for quite a while and I know it shouldn’t be hard its just not coming to me very easily. Everything I have tried so far as been unsuccessful.

Thanks.

2

Hello,

I am currently working on a project that involves using switches (handled
the same was as a button) and node.js. I am stuck on a part that involves
making sure the switches are pressed in the correct order. There is an Up
switch and a Down switch.

The things I need to do:

- The Up switch needs to be the first switched pressed, if the Down switch
is pressed first I need to print an error (console.log will do)
- The Up switch cannot be pressed two or more times in a row without having
a Down switch press in between, if there are two or more Up switch presses
in a row it will result in printing an error.
- The Down switch cannot be pressed two or more times in a row without
having an Up switch press in between, if there are two or more Down switch
presses in a row it will result in printing an error.

Any help I can get would be greatly appreciated! I have been stuck on this
for quite a while and I know it shouldn't be hard its just not coming to me
very easily. Everything I have tried so far as been unsuccessful.

Flow chart this. You will need a routine that sets a boolean variable
when a key has been pressed, or a method of checking when the key has
been pressed.

A flow chart will give you the program flow,

Example as a start, using words...

Initialize all switches to not pressed.

is switch pressed? if not, loop on this question

is switch UP switch, if yes, go to next statement, if no print error
// up has to be first

is switch DOWN switch, if yes, go to DOWN, if not, go to next
statement

is up switch already pressed? if so, print error. if not, go to next
statement

.... code here to handle up switch press and then reset up switch
pressed and go back to looking for switch pressed

DOWN:
is down switch already pressed? if so, print error, if not, go to
next statement

..... etc

Harvey

3

Another consideration is that you may have to “rate limit” your key presses. Although I’m not sure what kind of latency you’re going to get with Nodejs. You’re probably getting multiple key press signals from Nodejs by just holding down the key for a fraction of a second. De-bounce could even be a factor here.

So . . . off the top of my head you’re going to have to do as Harvey suggests and use a boolean value to toggle the key press state. Then perhaps have a timer OR the value after a set amount of time ( if the key is still physically pressed down ). Depending on if you wish a held down key to send multiple key presses or not.