Finding the change and direction of a signed word value (sensor output) ?

[mr.sneezy]

Maybe something like this?

If reading1 > reading2 then
diff = reading1 - reading2
else
diff = reading2 - reading1
endif

Then maybe set a flag to know which calc was used?

Thanks, that looks simple enough for a start tonight.

I'd like to take the difference value and average it too, before deciding if the change is big enough to use and not just sensor noise. To average the raw output of the sensor needs 32bit math I think, so this has got to be easier for me.

[mackrackit]

The difference should be smaller than a WORD so if you do the average of a couple you should not need 32 bit math. If it does over flow the WORD then I think that would be telling you that the difference is larger enough to... make a difference

[mr.sneezy]

The difference should be smaller than a WORD so if you do the average of a couple you should not need 32 bit math. If it does over flow the WORD then I think that would be telling you that the difference is larger enough to... make a difference

OK, yes I see that.
Is there any drawback to averaging the difference between the numbers rather than the total of the numbers ?

[mackrackit]

OK, yes I see that.
Is there any drawback to averaging the difference between the numbers rather than the total of the numbers ?

It sounds like you are after a relative measurement and not concerned withnthe actual so averaging the difference should be fine.

Are you thinking the Difference values will be small enough to use more samples in the average? Should be on target then.