Arduino Mood Light Controller v3

I finally go some time and some inspiration to update the source code of my Arduino Mood Light Controller. I'll just try to keep it short ...

Code cleanup:
All the light modes have been moved to separate functions.
Replaced a couple of "If, then..." with "Switch, Case", makes the code somewhat easier to read.

New features:
Added two light modes - cycleColor and lightMyFire.
Speed of pulsateColor and cycleColor now controlled via potentiometer.





Download the source code here.
Source code formatted for blogger by: formatmysourcecode.blogspot.com

/* 
  RGB LED controller
  4 modes: off, color select, color pulse and random cycle/pulse
  By Markus Ulfberg 2009-05-19
  
  Updated to Version 2 - 2010-01-13 (Not publicly released)
  Updated to Version 3 - 2011-12-14

  Thanks to: Ladyada, Tom Igoe and 
  everyone at the Arduino forum for excellent 
  tutorials and everyday help. 

  TODO: 
  1. Use millis for debounce instead of delay. 

*/

// set the ledPins
int ledRed = 10;
int ledGreen = 9;
int ledBlue = 11;

// color selector pin
int potPin = 1;
 
// lightMode selector
int switchPin = 2;

// light mode variable
// initial value 0 = off
int lightMode = 0;

// LED Power variables
byte redPwr = 0;
byte greenPwr = 0;
byte bluePwr = 0;

// Variables for lightMode 2
// variables for keeping pulse color
byte redPulse;
byte greenPulse;
byte bluePulse;
int pulseSpeed; 

// Set pulse to down initially
byte pulse = 0;

// floating variables needed to be able to pulse a fixed color 
float redFloat;
float greenFloat;
float blueFloat;

// the amount R,G & B should step up/down to display an fixed color
float redKoff;
float greenKoff;
float blueKoff;

// Variables for lightMode 3
// set the initial random colors
byte redNew = random(255);
byte greenNew = random(255);
byte blueNew = random(255);

// Variables for cycleColor
int truColor = 0;

// misc interface variables
// potVal store the value of the potentiometer for various needs 
int potVal;
// value from the button (debounce)
int switchVal;
int switchVal2;
// buttonState registers if the button has changed
int buttonState;

void setup()
{
  pinMode(ledRed, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(ledGreen, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(ledBlue, OUTPUT);
  
  pinMode(potPin, INPUT);
  
  pinMode(switchPin, INPUT);
  buttonState = digitalRead(switchPin); 
  
  // serial for debugging purposes only
  Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop()
{
  switchVal = digitalRead(switchPin);      // read input value and store it in val
  delay(10);                         // 10 milliseconds is a good amount of time
    
  switchVal2 = digitalRead(switchPin);     // read the input again to check for bounces
  if (switchVal == switchVal2) {                 // make sure we got 2 consistant readings!
    if (switchVal != buttonState) {          // the button state has changed!
      if (switchVal == LOW) {                // check if the button is pressed
        switch (lightMode) {          // light is off
          case 0:
            lightMode = 1;           // light is on and responds to pot
            break;  
          case 1:
            lightMode = 2;           // light pulsates in the latest color from pot
            break;  
          case 2:     
            lightMode = 3;           // light cycles thru colors
            break;
          case 3:
            lightMode = 4;           // light changes randomly
            break;
          case 4:
            lightMode = 5;           // simulated fire
            break;  
          case 5:     
            lightMode = 0;             // light is off        
            break;  
        } // END switch (lightMode)    
      } // END if (switchVal == LOW)
    } // END if (switchVal != buttonState) 
      
    buttonState = switchVal;                 // save the new state in our variable
  } // END if (switchVal == switchVal2)

  /*
  // Debug
  Serial.print("lightMode: ");
  Serial.println(lightMode);
  */
  
  switch (lightMode) {
    case 0:
      lightsOff();
      break;
    case 1:
      colorControl();
      break;
    case 2:
      pulsateColor();
      break;
    case 3: 
      cycleColor();
      break;
    case 4:
      randomColor();
      break;
    case 5:
      lightMyFire();
      break;  
  }

} // END loop()


// lightMode 0
void lightsOff() {
  redPwr = 0;
  greenPwr = 0;
  bluePwr = 0;
  colorDisplay();
}

// lightMode 1 
void colorControl() {

   // read the potentiometer position
   potVal = analogRead(potPin); 
 
  // RED > ORANGE > YELLOW
   if (potVal > 0 && potVal < 170) {
     redPwr = 255;
     bluePwr = 0;
     greenPwr = map(potVal, 0, 170, 0, 255);
   }
 
   // YELLOW > LIME?? > GREEN 
   if (potVal > 170 && potVal < 341) {
     greenPwr = 255;
     bluePwr = 0;
     redPwr = map(potVal, 341, 170, 0, 255);
   }

    // GREEN > TURQOUISE
    if (potVal > 341 && potVal < 511) {
      greenPwr = 255;
      redPwr = 0;
      bluePwr = map(potVal, 341, 511, 0, 255);
    }
 
   // TURQOUISE > BLUE  
   if (potVal > 511 && potVal < 682) {
     bluePwr = 255;
     redPwr = 0;
     greenPwr = map(potVal, 682, 511, 0, 255);
   }
 
   // BLUE > PURPLE 
   if (potVal > 682 && potVal < 852) {
     bluePwr = 255;
     greenPwr = 0;
     redPwr = map(potVal, 682, 852, 0, 255);
   }
 
   // PURPLE > RED
   if (potVal > 852 && potVal < 1023) {
     redPwr = 255;
     greenPwr = 0;
     bluePwr = map(potVal, 1023, 852, 0, 255);
   } 
   
   redFloat = float(redPwr);
   greenFloat = float(greenPwr);
   blueFloat = float(bluePwr);
   
   redKoff = redFloat / 255;
   greenKoff = greenFloat / 255;
   blueKoff = blueFloat / 255;
   
   redPulse = redPwr;
   greenPulse = greenPwr;
   bluePulse = bluePwr; 
   
  /*
  // Debug 
  Serial.print("redFLoat: ");
  Serial.print(redFloat, DEC);
  Serial.print(" redPwr: ");
  Serial.print(redPwr, DEC);
  Serial.print(" greenFloat: ");
  Serial.print(greenFloat, DEC);
  Serial.print(" greenPwr: ");
  Serial.print(greenPwr, DEC);
  Serial.print(" blueFloat: ");
  Serial.print(blueFloat, DEC);
  Serial.print(" bluePwr: ");
  Serial.println(bluePwr, DEC);
  // End debug
  */
  // Display colors 
  colorDisplay();
}        

// lightMode 2
void pulsateColor() {
  
    // get colors from colorControl
    redPwr = int(redFloat);
    greenPwr = int(greenFloat);
    bluePwr = int(blueFloat);
      
    // Read speed from potentiometer 
    pulseSpeed = analogRead(potPin); 
    pulseSpeed = map(pulseSpeed, 0, 1023, 0, 255);
  
    //display the colors
    colorDisplay();
    
    // set speed of change
    delay(pulseSpeed);
    
    // pulse down
    if (pulse == 0) {
      if (redFloat > 10) {
        redFloat = redFloat - redKoff;
      } 
      if (greenFloat > 10) {
        greenFloat = greenFloat - greenKoff;
      } 
      if (blueFloat > 10) {
        blueFloat = blueFloat - blueKoff;
      } 

    // If all xFloat match 10 get pulse up
    if (byte(redFloat) <= 10) {
     if (byte(greenFloat) <= 10) {
      if (byte(blueFloat) <= 10) {
       pulse = 1;
      }
     }
    }
  }
  // Pulse up
  if (pulse == 1) {
    if (redFloat < redPulse) {
      redFloat = redFloat + redKoff;
    } 
    if (greenFloat < greenPulse) {
      greenFloat = greenFloat + greenKoff;
    } 
    if (blueFloat < bluePulse) {
      blueFloat = blueFloat + blueKoff;
    }
   // If all Pwr match Pulse get pulse down
  
    if (byte(redFloat) == redPulse) {
     if (byte(greenFloat) == greenPulse) {
      if (byte(blueFloat) == bluePulse) {
       pulse = 0;
      }
     }
    }
  }
  
  /*
  // Debug 
  Serial.print("redFloat: ");
  Serial.print(redFloat, DEC);
  Serial.print(" redPulse: ");
  Serial.print(redPulse, DEC);
  Serial.print(" greenFloat: ");
  Serial.print(greenFloat, DEC);
  Serial.print(" greenPulse: ");
  Serial.print(greenPulse, DEC);
  Serial.print(" blueFloat: ");
  Serial.print(blueFloat, DEC);
  Serial.print(" bluePulse: ");
  Serial.print(bluePulse, DEC);
  Serial.print(" pulse: ");
  Serial.println(pulse, DEC);
  // End debug
  */
  
} // pulsateColor END 

// lightMode 3
void cycleColor() {    // Cycles through colors

  switch(truColor) {
  // RED > ORANGE > YELLOW   
   case 0:
     redPwr = 255;
     bluePwr = 0;
     greenPwr++;
     if (greenPwr > 254) {
       truColor = 1;
     }
     break;
   
   // YELLOW > LIME?? > GREEN 
   case 1:
     greenPwr = 255;
     bluePwr = 0;
     redPwr--;
     if (redPwr < 1) {
       truColor = 2;
     }
     break;

   // GREEN > TURQOUISE
   case 2:
     greenPwr = 255;
     bluePwr++;
     redPwr = 0;
     if (bluePwr > 254) {
       truColor = 3;
     }   
    break;
    
   // TURQOUISE > BLUE  
   case 3:
     greenPwr--;
     bluePwr = 255;
     redPwr = 0;
     if (greenPwr < 1) {
       truColor = 4;
     }
     break;
     
   // BLUE > PURPLE 
   case 4:
     greenPwr = 0;
     bluePwr = 255;
     redPwr++;
     if (redPwr > 254) {
       truColor = 5;
     }
     break;
     
   // PURPLE > RED
   case 5:
     greenPwr = 0;
     bluePwr--;
     redPwr = 255;
     if (bluePwr < 1) {
       truColor = 0;
     }   
     break;
 }
  // START SPEED 
  pulseSpeed = analogRead(potPin); 
  pulseSpeed = map(pulseSpeed, 0, 1023, 0, 255);
  
  //display the colors
  colorDisplay();
  // set speed of change
  delay(pulseSpeed);
  // END SPEED
  
}  // END cycleColor 


// lightMode 4 
void randomColor() {     // randomize colorNew and step colorPwr to it
                          
  if (redPwr > redNew) {
    redPwr--;
  } 
  if (redPwr < redNew) {
    redPwr++;
  }
  if (greenPwr > greenNew) {
    greenPwr--;
  } 
  if (greenPwr < greenNew) {
    greenPwr++;
  }
  if (bluePwr > blueNew) {
    bluePwr--;
  } 
  if (bluePwr < blueNew) {
    bluePwr++;
  }

// If all Pwr match New get new colors
  
  if (redPwr == redNew) {
   if (greenPwr == greenNew) {
    if (bluePwr == blueNew) {
     redNew = random(254);
     greenNew = random(254);
     blueNew = random(254);
    }
   }
  }
  
  // display the colors
  colorDisplay();
  // Set speed of change
  delay(20);

} // END randomColor 

// lightMode 5
void lightMyFire() {
  
  // Flicker will determine how often a fast flare will occur
  int flicker;

  // set flicker randomness
  flicker = random(800); 

  // Set random colors, 
  // constrain green to red and blue to green
  // in order to stay within a red, blue, white spectrum
  redPwr = random(220, 240);
  greenPwr = random(180, 200);
  // when flicker occur, the colors shine brighter
  // adding blue creates a white shine 
  if (flicker > 750) {
    redPwr = 254;
    greenPwr = random(200, 230); 
    bluePwr = random(0, 50);    
  } else {
    bluePwr = 0;
  }
  
  // display Colors
  colorDisplay();
  
  // Set speed of fire
  delay(20);  

} // END lightMyFire

// Displays the colors when called from other functions
void colorDisplay() {
  analogWrite(ledRed, redPwr);
  analogWrite(ledGreen, greenPwr);
  analogWrite(ledBlue, bluePwr);
}

How I fixed a rattling laptop fan

So my laptop fan started rattling recently. First I thought it might be my hard drive that was about to give up, so I was kind of glad it was "just" the fan. Until the noise of the fan started to drive me slightly insane. My first attempt of silencing the fan was a failure. I opened up my laptop and cleaned out all the dust in the fan and the vents. I also checked if there any loose pieces of something in the fan, but didn't find anything. After putting the laptop back together again it didn't take long for the fan to start making noise again.

So yesterday evening I opened up my laptop again, about a month after my initial try. I took it one step further this time, I removed the fan completely and disassembled it up til the point where I had the fan blades removed from the housing. After cleaning everything as good as possible I  put a drop of oil (for sewing machines) on the spindle where the fan blades sit. When I had put everything back togheter I could verify that my laptop now indeed was quiet as a mouse. And yes before you ask, the fan i still working.

Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures of this but hopefully it's quite easy to understand anyway. If you don't please just ask and I will try to give you an answer.