user262: I've managed to adapt some code from the Arduino forums to display timecode on an LCD display.
What I would like some extra help with is first is there a way of defining the one_time_max etc differently depending on the high low state of a pin? This way I could use a switch to change the times so it could switch between NTSC and PAL.
Secondly would anyone be kind enough to explain what is happening in the middle part of this code? I've made some notes but any help would be really appreciated.
Here is a picture of how it's going so far. I'll keep you guys up to date as the project continues :)

// Code from forum post Dec 12, 2007

// include the library code:
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>

// initialize the library with the numbers of the interface pins
LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 5, 4, 3, 2);
#define one_time_max 600 // these values are setup for PA video
#define one_time_min 400
// It's the durstion of a one and zero with a little bit of room for error.
#define zero_time_max 1050 //
#define zero_time_min 950 //


#define icpPin 8 // ICP input pin on arduino
//#define one_time_max 475 // these values are setup for NTSC video
//#define one_time_min 300 // PAL would be around 1000 for 0 and 500 for 1
//#define zero_time_max 875 // 80bits times 29.97 frames per sec
//#define zero_time_min 700 // equals 833 (divide by 8 clock pulses)

#define end_data_position 63
#define end_sync_position 77
#define end_smpte_position 80

volatile unsigned int pin = 13;
volatile unsigned int bit_time;
// volatile instructs the variable to be stored in RAM
volatile boolean valid_tc_word;
// boolean can be either of two values true or false but default to false
volatile boolean ones_bit_count;
// boolean can be either of two values true or false but default to false
volatile boolean tc_sync;
// boolean can be either of two values true or false but default to false
volatile boolean write_tc_out;
// boolean can be either of two values true or false but default to false
volatile boolean drop_frame_flag;
// boolean can be either of two values true or false but default to false
volatile byte total_bits; //this stores a an 8-bit unsigned number
volatile byte current_bit; //this stores a an 8-bit unsigned number
volatile byte sync_count; //this stores a an 8-bit unsigned number

volatile byte tc[8]; //this stores a an 8-bit unsigned number
volatile char timeCode[11]; //this stores a an 8-bit unsigned number

/* ICR interrupt vector */
ISR(TIMER1_CAPT_vect) {
  //ISR=Interrupt Service Routine, and timer1 capture event
  //toggleCaptureEdge
  TCCR1B ^= _BV(ICES1);
  //toggles the edge that triggers the handler so that the duration of both high and low pulses is measured.
  bit_time = ICR1; //this is the value the timer generates
  //resetTimer1
  TCNT1 = 0;
  // Ignore phase changes < time for 1 bit or > time for zero bit (zero bit phase change time is double that of 1 bit)
  if ((bit_time < one_time_min) || (bit_time > zero_time_max)) {
    // this gets rid of anything that's not what we're looking for
    total_bits = 0;
  } else {
    // If the bit we are reading is a 1 then ignore the first phase change
    if (ones_bit_count == true)
      // only count the second ones pulse
      ones_bit_count = false;
    else {
      // We have already checked the outer times for 1 and zero bits so no see if the inner time is > zero min
      if (bit_time > zero_time_min) {
        // We have a zero bit
        current_bit = 0;
        sync_count = 0; // Not a 1 bit so cannot be part of the 12 bit sync
      } else {
        // It must be a 1 bit then
        ones_bit_count = true; // Flag so we don't read the next edge of a 1 bit
        current_bit = 1;
        sync_count++; // Increment sync bit count
        if (sync_count == 12) {
          // part of the last two bytes of a timecode word
          // We have 12 1's in a row that can only be part of the sync
          sync_count = 0;
          tc_sync = true;
          total_bits = end_sync_position;
        }
      }

      if (total_bits <= end_data_position) {
        // timecode runs least to most so we need
        // to shift things around
        tc[0] = tc[0] >> 1;
        for(int n=1;n<8;n++) {
          //creates tc[1-8]
          if(tc[n] & 1) tc[n-1] |= 0x80;
          tc[n] = tc[n] >> 1;
        }
        if(current_bit == 1) tc[7] |= 0x80;
      }
      total_bits++;
    }
    if (total_bits == end_smpte_position) {
      // we have the 80th bit
      total_bits = 0;
      if (tc_sync) {
        tc_sync = false;
        valid_tc_word = true;
      }
    }
    if (total_bits <= end_data_position) {
      // timecode runs least to most so we need
      // to shift things around
      tc[0] = tc[0] >> 1;
      for(int n=1;n<8;n++) {
        //creates tc[1-8]
        if(tc[n] & 1) tc[n-1] |= 0x80;
        tc[n] = tc[n] >> 1;
      }
      if(current_bit == 1) tc[7] |= 0x80;
    }
    total_bits++;
  }

  if (total_bits == end_smpte_position) {
    // we have the 80th bit
    total_bits = 0;
    if (tc_sync) {
      tc_sync = false;
      valid_tc_word = true;
    }
  }

  if (valid_tc_word) {
    valid_tc_word = false;
    timeCode[10] = (tc[0]&0x0F)+0x30;
    // frames  this converst from binary to decimal giving us the last digit
    timeCode[9] = (tc[1]&0x03)+0x30;
    // 10's of frames this converst from binary to decimal giving us the first digit
    timeCode[8] =  ':';
    timeCode[7] = (tc[2]&0x0F)+0x30; // seconds
    timeCode[6] = (tc[3]&0x07)+0x30; // 10's of seconds
    timeCode[5] =  ':';
    timeCode[4] = (tc[4]&0x0F)+0x30; // minutes
    timeCode[3] = (tc[5]&0x07)+0x30; // 10's of minutes
    timeCode[2] = ':';
    timeCode[1] = (tc[6]&0x0F)+0x30; // hours
    timeCode[0] = (tc[7]&0x03)+0x30; // 10's of hours
    drop_frame_flag = bit_is_set(tc[1], 2);
    //detects whether theree is the drop frame bit.
    write_tc_out = true;
  }
}

void setup() {
  lcd.begin (16, 2);
  pinMode(icpPin, INPUT); // ICP pin (digital pin 8 on arduino) as input
  bit_time = 0;
  valid_tc_word = false;
  ones_bit_count = false;
  tc_sync = false;
  write_tc_out = false;
  drop_frame_flag = false;
  total_bits =  0;
  current_bit =  0;
  sync_count =  0;
  lcd.print("FINISHED SETUP");
  delay (1000);
  TCCR1A = B00000000; // clear all
  TCCR1B = B11000010; // ICNC1 noise reduction + ICES1 start on rising edge + CS11 divide by 8
  TCCR1C = B00000000; // clear all
  TIMSK1 = B00100000; // ICIE1 enable the icp
  TCNT1 = 0; // clear timer1
}

void loop() {
  if (write_tc_out) {
    write_tc_out = false;
    if (drop_frame_flag)
      lcd.print("TC-[df] ");
    else
      lcd.print("TC-NO DROP FRAME");
    lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
    lcd.print((char*)timeCode);
    lcd.print("\r");
    lcd.setCursor(11, 1);
    lcd.print("......");
    delay (30);
    lcd.clear();
  }
}


user136: The one_time_max, one_time_min, zero_time_max and zero_time_min are all defines at the top of the file. This will insert them as constant values at compile time. This makes changing the code to deal with them slightly awkward, but not impossible.
Oddly, the one_time_max value isn't used, but the others are. To allow you to switch between PAL and NTSC, I would do the following (this is marginally lazy, but quick):

change one_time_max to ONE_TIME_MAX_NTSC and ONE_TIME_MAX_PAL so that you have two defined constants for each part. Caps is convention for defines.
create a new global variable, a boolean, that is a flag to decide if PAL or NTSC is to be decoded.
every time that one of the constant is used, use a conditional statement based on the global variable to decided which constants are used.
use the input from a button to decided the value of the global variable.


262: <p>I've managed to adapt some code from the Arduino forums to display timecode on an LCD display.</p>

<p>What I would like some extra help with is first is there a way of defining the <code>one_time_max</code> etc differently depending on the high low state of a pin? This way I could use a switch to change the times so it could switch between NTSC and PAL.</p>

<p>Secondly would anyone be kind enough to explain what is happening in the middle part of this code? I've made some notes but any help would be really appreciated.</p>

<p>Here is a picture of how it's going so far. I'll keep you guys up to date as the project continues :)</p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/V6CxE.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/V6CxE.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<pre><code>// Code from forum post Dec 12, 2007

// include the library code:
#include &lt;LiquidCrystal.h&gt;

// initialize the library with the numbers of the interface pins
LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 5, 4, 3, 2);
#define one_time_max 600 // these values are setup for PA video
#define one_time_min 400
// It's the durstion of a one and zero with a little bit of room for error.
#define zero_time_max 1050 //
#define zero_time_min 950 //


#define icpPin 8 // ICP input pin on arduino
//#define one_time_max 475 // these values are setup for NTSC video
//#define one_time_min 300 // PAL would be around 1000 for 0 and 500 for 1
//#define zero_time_max 875 // 80bits times 29.97 frames per sec
//#define zero_time_min 700 // equals 833 (divide by 8 clock pulses)

#define end_data_position 63
#define end_sync_position 77
#define end_smpte_position 80

volatile unsigned int pin = 13;
volatile unsigned int bit_time;
// volatile instructs the variable to be stored in RAM
volatile boolean valid_tc_word;
// boolean can be either of two values true or false but default to false
volatile boolean ones_bit_count;
// boolean can be either of two values true or false but default to false
volatile boolean tc_sync;
// boolean can be either of two values true or false but default to false
volatile boolean write_tc_out;
// boolean can be either of two values true or false but default to false
volatile boolean drop_frame_flag;
// boolean can be either of two values true or false but default to false
volatile byte total_bits; //this stores a an 8-bit unsigned number
volatile byte current_bit; //this stores a an 8-bit unsigned number
volatile byte sync_count; //this stores a an 8-bit unsigned number

volatile byte tc[8]; //this stores a an 8-bit unsigned number
volatile char timeCode[11]; //this stores a an 8-bit unsigned number

/* ICR interrupt vector */
ISR(TIMER1_CAPT_vect) {
  //ISR=Interrupt Service Routine, and timer1 capture event
  //toggleCaptureEdge
  TCCR1B ^= _BV(ICES1);
  //toggles the edge that triggers the handler so that the duration of both high and low pulses is measured.
  bit_time = ICR1; //this is the value the timer generates
  //resetTimer1
  TCNT1 = 0;
  // Ignore phase changes &lt; time for 1 bit or &gt; time for zero bit (zero bit phase change time is double that of 1 bit)
  if ((bit_time &lt; one_time_min) || (bit_time &gt; zero_time_max)) {
    // this gets rid of anything that's not what we're looking for
    total_bits = 0;
  } else {
    // If the bit we are reading is a 1 then ignore the first phase change
    if (ones_bit_count == true)
      // only count the second ones pulse
      ones_bit_count = false;
    else {
      // We have already checked the outer times for 1 and zero bits so no see if the inner time is &gt; zero min
      if (bit_time &gt; zero_time_min) {
        // We have a zero bit
        current_bit = 0;
        sync_count = 0; // Not a 1 bit so cannot be part of the 12 bit sync
      } else {
        // It must be a 1 bit then
        ones_bit_count = true; // Flag so we don't read the next edge of a 1 bit
        current_bit = 1;
        sync_count++; // Increment sync bit count
        if (sync_count == 12) {
          // part of the last two bytes of a timecode word
          // We have 12 1's in a row that can only be part of the sync
          sync_count = 0;
          tc_sync = true;
          total_bits = end_sync_position;
        }
      }

      if (total_bits &lt;= end_data_position) {
        // timecode runs least to most so we need
        // to shift things around
        tc[0] = tc[0] &gt;&gt; 1;
        for(int n=1;n&lt;8;n++) {
          //creates tc[1-8]
          if(tc[n] &amp; 1) tc[n-1] |= 0x80;
          tc[n] = tc[n] &gt;&gt; 1;
        }
        if(current_bit == 1) tc[7] |= 0x80;
      }
      total_bits++;
    }
    if (total_bits == end_smpte_position) {
      // we have the 80th bit
      total_bits = 0;
      if (tc_sync) {
        tc_sync = false;
        valid_tc_word = true;
      }
    }
    if (total_bits &lt;= end_data_position) {
      // timecode runs least to most so we need
      // to shift things around
      tc[0] = tc[0] &gt;&gt; 1;
      for(int n=1;n&lt;8;n++) {
        //creates tc[1-8]
        if(tc[n] &amp; 1) tc[n-1] |= 0x80;
        tc[n] = tc[n] &gt;&gt; 1;
      }
      if(current_bit == 1) tc[7] |= 0x80;
    }
    total_bits++;
  }

  if (total_bits == end_smpte_position) {
    // we have the 80th bit
    total_bits = 0;
    if (tc_sync) {
      tc_sync = false;
      valid_tc_word = true;
    }
  }

  if (valid_tc_word) {
    valid_tc_word = false;
    timeCode[10] = (tc[0]&amp;0x0F)+0x30;
    // frames  this converst from binary to decimal giving us the last digit
    timeCode[9] = (tc[1]&amp;0x03)+0x30;
    // 10's of frames this converst from binary to decimal giving us the first digit
    timeCode[8] =  ':';
    timeCode[7] = (tc[2]&amp;0x0F)+0x30; // seconds
    timeCode[6] = (tc[3]&amp;0x07)+0x30; // 10's of seconds
    timeCode[5] =  ':';
    timeCode[4] = (tc[4]&amp;0x0F)+0x30; // minutes
    timeCode[3] = (tc[5]&amp;0x07)+0x30; // 10's of minutes
    timeCode[2] = ':';
    timeCode[1] = (tc[6]&amp;0x0F)+0x30; // hours
    timeCode[0] = (tc[7]&amp;0x03)+0x30; // 10's of hours
    drop_frame_flag = bit_is_set(tc[1], 2);
    //detects whether theree is the drop frame bit.
    write_tc_out = true;
  }
}

void setup() {
  lcd.begin (16, 2);
  pinMode(icpPin, INPUT); // ICP pin (digital pin 8 on arduino) as input
  bit_time = 0;
  valid_tc_word = false;
  ones_bit_count = false;
  tc_sync = false;
  write_tc_out = false;
  drop_frame_flag = false;
  total_bits =  0;
  current_bit =  0;
  sync_count =  0;
  lcd.print("FINISHED SETUP");
  delay (1000);
  TCCR1A = B00000000; // clear all
  TCCR1B = B11000010; // ICNC1 noise reduction + ICES1 start on rising edge + CS11 divide by 8
  TCCR1C = B00000000; // clear all
  TIMSK1 = B00100000; // ICIE1 enable the icp
  TCNT1 = 0; // clear timer1
}

void loop() {
  if (write_tc_out) {
    write_tc_out = false;
    if (drop_frame_flag)
      lcd.print("TC-[df] ");
    else
      lcd.print("TC-NO DROP FRAME");
    lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
    lcd.print((char*)timeCode);
    lcd.print("\r");
    lcd.setCursor(11, 1);
    lcd.print("......");
    delay (30);
    lcd.clear();
  }
}
</code></pre>
 136: <p>The one_time_max, one_time_min, zero_time_max and zero_time_min are all defines at the top of the file. This will insert them as constant values at compile time. This makes changing the code to deal with them slightly awkward, but not impossible.</p>

<p>Oddly, the one_time_max value isn't used, but the others are. To allow you to switch between PAL and NTSC, I would do the following (this is marginally lazy, but quick):</p>

<ul>
<li>change one_time_max to ONE_TIME_MAX_NTSC and ONE_TIME_MAX_PAL so that you have two defined constants for each part. Caps is convention for defines.</li>
<li>create a new global variable, a boolean, that is a flag to decide if PAL or NTSC is to be decoded.</li>
<li>every time that one of the constant is used, use a conditional statement based on the global variable to decided which constants are used.</li>
<li>use the input from a button to decided the value of the global variable.</li>
</ul>
