arduino

Code Card Arduino

The Code Card runs on an ESP8266 Wi-fi microcontroller.

The ESP8266 is a low-cost Wi-Fi microchip with full TCP/IP stack and microcontroller capability, produced by manufacturer Espressif Systems.
The processor is an L106 32-bit RISC microprocessor core running at 80 MHz, with 4 MiB external QSPI flash. The ESP8266 supports IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, WEP or WPA/WPA2 authentication, and also supports open networks.

We have included the source code here so you can modify you Code Card however you want!

Software

In order to customise the Code Card firmware, you need to download the Arduino IDE and configure it to use the Arduino core for ESP8266 WiFi chip.
The Arduino core for ESP8266 is a C++ based firmware. With this core, the ESP8266 CPU and its Wi-Fi components can be programmed like any other Arduino device using the Arduino IDE.

Code Card Source Code

Download or git clone https://github.com/cameronsenese/codecard.git this project, and open the Arduino main file (codecard.ino) to get started.

• /arduino contains the source code for the Code Card
• /arduino/bin contains a precompiled image of the Code Card firmware

Instructions

The following instruction describes the setup and configuration of the Arduino IDE, and the process to upload firmware to your Code Card using the Arduino IDE:

Note:

• Versions per component are detailled below, if you chose to deviate from the recommended - your mileage may vary!
• Ensure your Code Card can connect to Wi-Fi before completing step #12

1. Install the Arduino IDE version 1.8.9: https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software
2. Install the serial driver for the ESP-12F Wi-Fi chip: https://www.silabs.com/products/development-tools/software/usb-to-uart-bridge-vcp-drivers
3. Clone the codecard GitHub repository to obtain the source code: https://github.com/cameronsenese/codecard
4. In the Arduino IDE, go to Preferences and set the “Additional Board Managers URLs to http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json
5. Install esp8266 support: Tools | Board | Board Manager
   • esp8266 by ESP8266 Community 2.4.2 (2.5.x is not supported)
6. Install the required modules: Sketch | Include Libraries | Manage Libraries
   • ArduinoJson by Benoit Blanchon version 5.13.3 (6.x is not supported)
   • GxEPD2 by Jean-Marc Zingg version 1.1.5
   • Adafruit GFX Library by Adafruit 1.4.9
7. Under Tools set the following settings:
   • Board: “Generic ESP8266 Module”
   • Upload Speed “115200”
   • CPU Frequency: “80 MHz”
   • Crystal Frequency: “26 MHz”
   • Flash Size: “4M (3M SPIFFS)”
   • Flash Mode: “DIO”
   • Flash Frequency: “40MHz”
   • Reset Method: “nodemcu”
   • Debug port: “Disabled”
   • Debug Level: “None”
   • IwIP Variant: “v2 Lower Memory”
   • VTables: “Flash”
   • Builtin Led: “2”
   • Erase Flash: “Only Sketch”
   • Port: This is the port that shows up once you turn on the CodeCard and press a button
   • Programmer: “ArduinoISP”
8. Open the codecard.ino sketch located in the /arduino directory downloaded in step 3 above

• File | Open | codecard.ino

9. Connect the CodeCard via USB to your computer
10. Establish serial connection via Arduino IDE:

• Tools | Serial Monitor

11. Turn on the Code Card
12. Press and hold button A until the following output is displayed:

Shuting down...
Shuting down...

13. From the Arduino IDE choose Sketch | Upload while continue holding button A until it starts uploading (you'll see the progress bar)
    • The Arduino IDE may compile the skectch before uploading to the Code Card.
    • The following output indicates completed firmware upload:

Sketch uses 447692 bytes (89%) of program storage space. Maximum is 499696 bytes.
Global variables use 43260 bytes (52%) of dynamic memory, leaving 38660 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 81920 bytes.
Uploading 451840 bytes from ...\arduino_build_548415/codecard.ino.bin to flash at 0x00000000
................................................................................ [ 18% ]
................................................................................ [ 36% ]
................................................................................ [ 54% ]
................................................................................ [ 72% ]
................................................................................ [ 90% ]
..........................................                                       [ 100% ]