Blink LED / toggle output with causing a software delay

[timetec]

Hello all - I'm very, very new to this, so please forgive me

I need to toggle an output @ 2hz (250ms High / 250ms Low etc), when a specific action has been performed, blinking an LED as a visual indicator.

The PULSOUT command stalls the program routine and for it's entire duration, in in my case, I'd be using a looped PULSOUT GPIO.1,250000

Is there a way to toggle an output for a fixed ON/OFF period, whilst the program can continue to run, monitoring inputs etc ?

Many thanks

[Acetronics2]

Hi, Tim

Welcome aboard ...

YES there are lots of different ways ...

BUT ... we , at least, need to know which processor you use and what you already use as resources ...

Shortly ...

Your program ALSO is welcome ...

Alain

[Jerson]

timetec

Think about using the inbuilt hardware timer and its associated interrupt. With this, you can flash leds in the background. But, like Alain says, please tell us more about your selected PIC for this to be meaningful to you

Welcome aboard

[timetec]

Many thanks for the replies

The MCU is a 12F629, using all GPIO ports.

Here's the routine :

To monitor 2 momentary switch inputs, & enable an output (blinking an LED @ 2Hz), when a switch is pressed.

There is a seperate O/P for each corresponding switch.

If both outputs become active, a 3rd output toggles 10 seconds high and then reverts back to a low state -- the LED outputs are then reset.

All working perfectly, but I'm having to use FLED's on the outputs.

[Acetronics2]

Hi, Tim

Sorry, but I do not understand what you want to do or actually do ... :

Blink outputs WHILE button pressed ?
Blink @ First press and stop @ second press ?

You talk about 2 Leds ???

the LED outputs are then reset.

... 2 inputs + 3 outputs + 2 Leds ...

are more pins than available on the 629 ...

soooo ... PLEASE : Your program .... so we can understand what you do !

Alain

[timetec]

5 I/O are used - 2 switch inputs, 2 LED outputs, 1 'reset' output

Example :

Switch 1

Blink LED output IF the Switch 1 has been pressed - keep it blinking @ 2Hz

If Switch 1 pressed again, keep it blinking ! - exactly the same for Switch 2

If both LED outputs are active - send 10 second pulse to 3rd output pin.
Then reset all switches / LED's & start again.