The Working Principle Of An Arduino.

Yusuf Abdullahi Badamasi

Nigerian Turkish Nile University
Abuja, Nigeria
Emai\:[email protected]

Abstract-In this paper, we analyze the working principle of

DilltalGround

Serial Out (TX)

an arduino. These days many people try to use the arduino 5erialIn (RX)

because it makes things easier due to the simplified version of

C++ and the already made Arduino microcontroller(atmega328
microcontroller [1]) that you can programme,erase and repro In-CircUit
Serial Proarammer

gramme at any given time .In this paper we will discuss the
ATmep3Z8
hardware components used in the arduino board, the software Mic;rocontroller

used to programme it(Arduino board) with the guide on how to

write and construct your own projects, and a couple of examples Analoaln
(05)
of an arduino project,This will give you the overall view of an Pins

arduino uno, that after reading this paper you will get the basic
concept and use of an arduino uno.
Fig. I. Labelled Arduino Board
Keywords-Open-source platform, Hardware ,Software, Micro
controller.

but we are going to discuss the main component on

I. INTRODUCTION the board such as follows:
USB Plug: This is the first part of the arduino
Arduino is an open-source platform [2] used for con
because it is used to upload a programme to
structing and programing of electronics.It can receive and
the microcontroller [4] and has a regulated
send information to most devices, and even through the
power of 5volts which also power the Arduino
internet to cammand the specific electronic device.it uses a
board .
hardware called arduino uno [3] circuit board and software External Power Supply: This is only used to
programme(Simplified C++ [1]) to programme the board.
power the board and has a regulated voltage
In these modern day, Arduino are used alot in microcon of 9 to 12 volts, mostly if the USB plug does
troller [4] programing among other things due to its user not provide sufficient power for whatever you
friendly or easy to use setting, like any microcontoller an have programmed it to do.
arduino is a circuit board with chip that can be programmed Reset button: This button resets the arduino
to do numerous number of tasks, it sends information from when it when its pressed incase you have
the computer programme to the Arduino microcontroller and uploaded another command and want the ar
finally to the specific circuit or machine with multiple circuits duino to do it.
in order to execute the specific command.An arduino can Microcontroller: This is the device that re
help you read information from input devices [5] such as e.g ceive and send information or cammand to
Sensors, Antenna, Trimmer(potentiometer) e.t.c... and can also the respective circuit.
send information to output devices such as LED [5], Speakers, Analog Pins(O-5): This are analog input pins
LCD Screen, DC motor e.t.c... from AO to A5.
Digital I/O Pins: This are the digital input,
output Pins 2 tol3.
II. ARDUINO B O ARD
In-Circuit Programmer : This is another
The Arduino platform [6] has become well aquinted with source to upload or prograrmne your pro
people into electronics. Unlike most previous progranunable gramme,it can also be done using"TX-l,I"
circuit boards [7], the Arduino does not have a separate piece output and "RX-l,O" input.
of hardware in order to load new code onto the board, you Digital and analog Ground pins
can simply use a USB cable to upload, and the software of Power Pins: we have 3.3 and 5 volts power
the Arduino uses a simplified version of C++ [8], making it pins e.t.c..
easier to learn to program,and it provides you with an easier 2) Software(The Arduino IDE [9]) : The software is a
environment that bypass the functions of the micro-controller set of instructions that informs the hardware of what
[4] into a more accessible package. to do and how to do it. The Arduino IDE(Integrated
Development Environment) is divided into three main
An Arduino Board [7] can be classified into two parts :
parts:
I) Hardware: The Arduino board [7] hardware consist a) Conunand Area: This is the area where you
of many components that combine to make it work, have the menu items such as File, Edit,

978-1-4799-4106-3/14/$31.00 2014 IEEE

 Area

Text/Code II thl!c Sl!ctup routine runs once whl!cn you press rl!cst:

Area IIoidset"l!() {

II initilizl!c thl!c di\litl pin as e.n output.

plnHode{led, OUTPUT);

II the loop routine runs oller and oller a\lin foreller:

IIoid loop() (

di\litlIlrite(led, HIGH); II turn the LED on (HIGH is the IIolte.\l1!c IIl!IIel)

dly(IOOO); II wait for sl!ccond

di\lite.lIlIite(ld, LOll); II tuIn th LED off by .in\l th VOlt\I LOll

dele.y(lOOO); II wait fOI e. slI!cond

Fig. 2. Labelled IDE

Sketch, Tools, Help and Icons like Verify

Icon for verification, Upload Icon for up
loading your prograrmne, New, Open, Save
and Serial Monitor used for sending and Fig. 3. Sensor Alarm

receiving of data between the arduino and

the IDE.
A. Sensor Alarm
b) Text Area: This is where you write your
code which uses a simplified version of C++ Sensor alarm uses a sensor either infrared ,motion any kind
programming language that makes it easier of sensor to detect movement then send the message to the
to write your programme,which is also called arduino microcontroller which then turns ON or OFF the LED
a sketch. When writing your code there are and speaker.
mainly two important parts :
COMPONENTS
The setup function: Before the setup you
need to intialize the variables you intend 1) Arduino Uno
to use and assign them. Then the setup 2) LED
routine begins, This is where you set 3) Speaker
the intial condition of your variables and 4) Infrared Proximity Sensor
run preliminary code only once.Here is 5) Breadboard
an example of how it should be written CIRCUIT [11]
[10].
CODE [11]
void setup()
This where you write int ledPin = 13; II choose the pin
your code which will run once. for the LED
int inputPin = 3; II choose the input
pin (for PIR sensor)
int pirState = LOW; II we start,
Loop routine: This is the loop that runs
assuming no motion
or execute your main code over and over
detected
again.Here is an example..
int val = 0; II variable for reading
void loop() { the pin status
This is where your main code is int pinSpeaker = 10; IISet up a speaker
written, to run repeatedly. on a PWM pin
(digital 9, 10,or 11)
void setup () {
pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT); II declare LED
c) Message Window Area: This shows message as output
from the IDE in the black area, mostly on pinMode(inputPin, INPUT); II declare
varification on your code. sensor as input
pinMode(pinSpeaker, OUTPUT);
Serial.begin(9600);
III. ApPLlCATlONS(ExAMPLES)
}
In this part we take a look at some basic examples in void loop() {
arduino and notice how the application is written and sent to val = digitalRead(inputPin); II read input
the arduino and resulting output.Here are some Application: value
 if ( val == HIGH) { II check if the input
is HIGH
digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH); II turn LED
ON
playTone(300, 160);
delay(150);
II playTone(300, 120);
II delay(150);
if (pirState == LOW)
II we ha ve just turned on
Serial.println("Motion detected !");
II We only want to print on the output
change, not state
pirState = HIGH;
}
} else { Fig. 4. Capacitance Measurin Circuit
digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); II turn LED OFF
playTone(O, 0);
delay(300); Extra
if (pirState == HIGH) { capacitance can be added to
II we ha ve just turned off Iiallo w higher capacitance to be
Serial.println("Motion ended !"); measured.
II We only want to print on the output const float IN STRAY CAP TO GND 24.48;
change, not state Ilinitially this was 30.00
pirState = LOW; const float IN_EXTRA_CAP_TO_GND o .0;
} const float IN_CAP_TO GND
} = IN STRAY CAP TO_GND
} + IN_EXTRA_CAP_TO_GND;
II duration in mSecs, frequency in hertz const int MAX_ADC_VA LUE 1023;
void playTone(long duration, int freq) {
duration *= 1000; void setup ()
int period = (1.0 I freq) * 1000000; {
long elapsed_time = 0; pinMode(OUT_PIN, OUTPUT);
while (elapsed_time < duration) IldigitalWrite(OUT_PIN, LOW);
digitalWrite(pinSpeaker,HIGH); IIThis is the default
delayMicroseconds(period I 2); state for outputs
digitalWrite(pinSpeaker, LOW); pinMode(IN_PIN, OUTPUT);
delayMicroseconds(period I 2); IldigitalWrite(IN_PIN, LOW);
elapsed_time += (period);
} Serial.begin(115200);
}
OUTPUT The output shows the LED and speaker
void loop()
turns ON when the sensor detects motion, and OFF
when it doesn't.
IICapacitor under test between
OUT_PIN and IN_PIN
B. Capacitance Measuring [12] IIRising high edge on OUT_PIN
pinMode(IN_PIN, INPUT);
This measures the value of the capacitor using the arduino
digitalWrite(OUT_PIN, HIGH);
which then reads and write your result on the serial monitor.
int val = analogRead(IN_PIN);

COMPONENT
IIClear e verything for next
1) Arduino board
measurement
2) 100pf Capacitor
digitalWrite(OUT_PIN, LOW);
CIRCUIT pinMode(IN_PIN, OUTPUT);

CODE [12] IICalculate and print result

const int OUT_PIN = A2;
const int IN_PIN = AO; float capacitance = (float)val *
IN_CAP_TO_GND I
IICapacitance between IN_PIN and Ground (float)(MAX_ADC_VA LUE - val);
IIStray capacitance is al ways present.
 r

[1
Capacit ance Value -= 102.000 pf le251
C ap acitance Value - 1 01. 3U p!' l e241
C4paci t a n Value - 102.000 p F 1825)
C<\pocltance Value = 1 0 2 . 0 0 0 pi' 1825)
Capa elt i;nC e Value = ],02.000 p. l e2S)

Fig. 5. Capacitance Measurin Output

Serial.print(F("Capacitance Value "));

Serial.print(capacitance, 3);
Serial.print(F(" pF ("));
Serial.print(val);
Serial.println(F(") "I);

while (millis() % 500 ! = 0)

OUTPUT

IV. CONCLUSIONS

In this paper, We examined the working principle of an ar

duino uno both the hardware and software of the Arduino,from
the components on the arduino Hardware to knowing how to
write the code in the software(lDE),and how to combine both
and contruct your own project.

REFERENCES

[1] P. D. Minns, C Programming For the PC the MAC and the Arduino
Microcontroller System. Author House, 2013.

[2] M. Banzi, Getting Started with arduino. " O'Reilly Media, Inc.", 2009.
[3] Arduino, "Arduino uno." Last visited on 06/09/2014.
[4] A. M. Gibb, New media art, design, and the Arduino microcontroller:
A malleable tool. PhD thesis, Pratt Institute, 2010.

[5] M. Margolis, Arduino cookbook. " O'Reilly Media, Inc.", 2011.

[6] D. Mellis, M. Banzi, D. Cuartielles, and T. Igoe, "Arduino: An open
electronic prototyping platform," in Proc. CHI, vol. 2007, 2007.
[7] A. U. ARDUINO UNO, "Front. arduino uno board," 2012.
[8] B. Stroustrup et aI., The C++ programming language. Pearson
Education India, 1995.
[9] J. Boxall, Arduino Workshop: A Hands-on Introduction with 65 Projects.
No Starch Press, 2013.
[l0] "Intro to arduino," January 2014.
[11] "Using motion detectors with an arduino," June 2012.
[12] "Capacitance measurement with the arduino uno," January 2014.