LIGHTCHASER
PROGRAM IN C++
I MATHEWS BOBY
FF h i s I i g h t c h a s e rp r o g r a m i s
written in C++ and compiled
I
t using Turbo C++ compiler.It
can be used to create lighting anima-
tion sequencesto attract attention in
advertising and promotion. In addi-
tion, it can be used to produce pleas-
ing lighting effectsand disco lights.
The program can be implemented
with a simple interfacing circuit using
eight LEDs connectedacrossthe PC's
parallel port. The software is easy to
understand and anyone can easily
modify it to produce a new display
sequence.
GUI-basedprogram
Graphics function is included in the
program to make a GUI (graphical
user interface)menu-driven applica-
tion. Mouse function makes it user-
friendly. You can use the mouse to
click various options in the menu.
When you run the program, you
can see three separatesectionson the
I
I screen/namely, 'styles,' 'settings'and
I 'instructions.'
r
r Under 'styles'section,you can see
a total of nine rectangularbuttons with
red borders. Eight of them are num-
bered '1' to '8' and the last one is 'exit'
button. You can select a display pat-
tern style from any given eight options
lr for displaying the LEDs.
'Settings'is the input sectionwhere
you can enter delay times and num-
ber of times to be displayed.
To make the program user-
friendly, there is an 'instructions' sec-
tion. The input parameters displayed
in the settings section are explained
for the user in the instruction section.
While you run the program, keep an
I eye on the instructions section.
I
I
After selecting a style, you are
li
prompted to enter the delay between
the consecutiveLEDs to glow in milli-
seconds.Next, you have to enter the
number of times you need to display
the lighting pattern.
Now, press any key to start the
Iight display.Justpressany key on the
keyboard once to stop the current dis-
play. You can exit from the program
by clicking'exit' button.
Software
A total of eight functions have been
defined in the software program ex-
'main (
cluding ).' Each function is ex-
plained below:
f. initialize( ). This function
initialises graphics, mouse and also
clears the parallel port. The third ar-
gument to the'initgraph'function is a
string specifying to the path of the
'egavga.bgi'
graphic driver file. If the
file is present in the folder where the
execution program is stored, you
needn't specify anything in the pro-
gram. Mouse is initialised by passing
'51' (=9a33
a value in hex) to the soft-
ware interrupt interface function
'int86.'
2. shozumouse( ). This function
mousepointer on the output
:i:H
3. hiilemouse( ). This function hides
the mouse pointer from the output
screen. This is done when we have to
output some text, etc on the screen.
Otherwise, the pointer can cause prob-
lcms to the text or drawing.
4. Readmouse( ). This function is
invoked whenever we need the coor-
dinates of the current position of
mouse.'x1' stores x-coordinate and' y7'
stores y-coordinate value.
5. Clear( ). This function is invoked
when we need to clear the screen.
6. Menu( ). This function displays
the menu of the program. It contains
THEO
the functions to draw lines, rectangles,
output text, change colour, etc.
7. coordinates( ) and click(h f). This
function checks whether the mouse
pointer is inside any of the rectangu-
Iar buttons being drawn. If the pointer
is inside, it invokes the click(int) func-
tion, where the argument represents
the rectangle in whicl-r the pointer en-
tered. Now, the click(int) function
checks for a left button click event. lf
there is a click event, the correspond-
ing LEDs display sequence comes inti'r
action.
8. main( ). The program's main( )
contains an infinite loop through
which the functions menu( ) and coor-
dinates( ) are executed one after the
other. First, the initialise( ) function is
invoked followed by the infinite loop.
Executionof the program
We will now see how the execution
of the program takes place. First, the
code present in the main( ) function
is executed. Before the loop starts,
the initialise( ) function is invoked.
The mouse and the graphics are
initialised and the parallel port is
cleared. The address for parallel port
is'0x0378' in hexadecimal system. In-
formation is sent to the port r.t'ith the
'outport(int
command portid, int
value)' Thc bir-rary equivalent (as a
'value'
byte) is sent to the data pins
of the port.
After initialisation, the next
'menu(
)' function is invoked. This
function draws the required boxes
(buttons) and outputs other texts. In-
side the menu( ) function, first call the
clear( ) function to clear the screen. Be-
fore clearing the screen, the mouse
pointer is hidden. After performing all
the display functions, the mouse
pointer appears again by invoking the
showmouse( ) function.
 Next, executethe co-
ordinates() funcfion. In-
side the coordinates( )
function, the program
continuously polls the
J 7 l
coordinatesof the mouse 3
pointer, that is, savesthe F
position of the mouse Uz o--
pointer on the screenand (J
c h e c k s w h e t h e r t h e tr
pointer is inside any of
statement on the value of variable'2.'
LEOl So you enter into
o 14R14 Displayformats
o- ^vw the loop. Inside the
vl
U o-
o R2
a loop, you can see
'flag1' equated to
The LEDs will glow according to the
byte available at the parallel port. The
.ff. d '0.'Now, read the byte available is the binary equivalent
E o- 7l
o status of the of the value sent to the port using the
^L.^ a mouse through the outport command. Let us seedifferent
Y 18 .ff.
z
a readmouse() func- display formats available in this pro-
ot
F -l
tion. The next two gram.
I ct ? .16^ a lines of the code In the sourcecode,you can seethat
J 7l

the rectangles drawn. U

? .11 a prevent some there are different 'cases'based on the
This is done using logi-
f
ot 7l problems associ- value of'2.'In eachcase,you have a
otI
cal AND operator'&&.' I ^l'^ d ated with the mo- 'do while' loop which works for the
U
I 7l
Check whether the I Rl-F8=2200 LEDS tion of the mouse number of times that you enter. Inside
receivedvalue of coordi- oz o l with its button the loop, it outputs the value to the
nates (both 'X' and 'Y') o -l
? clicked. Also, they parallel port. You may see that some
N
of the pointer is greater prevent multiple odd valueslike 85.170.240and 15hav-
than the smallest values o l? clicks. ing interesting binary equivalents due
o
of coordinatesof the rect- 25 Next, check the to their symmetry can be sent to the
o
angle and smaller than negated value of port.
the largestvalue of coor- Fig. 1: lnbrtacing circuit of light chaser 'k'. This is done to
85= 01010101
170= 10101010
240= 11110000
15
dinates of the rectangle.program in C++ check whether the = 00001111
You can refer to the code button is released. 'outport'
After each statement,
to have an insight of this simple tech- If the button is released,enter the code 'delay (
there is a statement called )'
nique. If the pointer is inside any of corresponding to the true part of if' which suspends the execution of the
the nine rectangle boxes drawn, the condition. next statement for the time specified
click(int) function is invoked. Here, the Here, checkingof the value of vari- inside the parentheses in milliseconds.
argument represents in which rect- able'z' is done.If you click a rectangle This brings a delay for glowing of the
angle the pointer is present. Also you other than the one inscribedwith'exit' consecutive LEDs.
can see that there is a break statement button, you are prompted to enter the The binary values sent to the port
based on the variable flag. This will values for delay and the number of for a one-time display in each case are
be discussedlater. times to display. given in the table on next page.
Now, imagine that the mouse was Here, we have used an interesting To exit a sequence before it goes to
in the first rectangle, that is, the rect- function in C++. The function is 'atol completion, you may press any key
angle in which 'f is inscribed. This (string)'.Thisfunction convertsa string while the display is
'on.'
Make sure
will invoke the click (int) function and into long type. We have used this be- that you press the key only once. You
the argumentpassedis '1.' Now, go to cause if one enters charactersother can see in the source code that in each
the click(int) function, which is the than digits, it can cause problems in 'if'
loop, there is an condition whose
most important part of this program. the program. So first get a string and true part is executed when a keystroke
The value that you pass to the func- convert it into 'long' data t1pe. is available. This is'done using the
tion is stored in the variable '2.' Next, After entering values for the above- bioskey (1) function, which returns a
you can see a loop based on the vari- mentioned item, press 'enter' to start non-zero value when a keystroke is
ablevalue of 'k'. The variable'k'holds the display. This is given in the in- cietected. lf a keystroke is detected, it
a non-zero value if a left mouse but- structions section of the program. If 'f
breaks from the loop storing in
ton click takes place. Otherwise, it is you press any other key, you will go 'flagl.'
Later,'flagf is checked and if
'0.' back to the position where the program '1,'
its value is the key pressed is stored
Remember that here the mouse had started. You won't exit the pro- in the variable 'ch.'
pointer was only inside the rectangle gram. If you exit the sequence in the nor-
and no click event took place. So, if Checking of whether you pressed mal way, that is, at the end of the dis-
you do not click the mouse, it will re- 'cnter' or any other key is done using play, you go back to the coordinates( )
turn to the coordinates() function and the bioskey(0) function. It waits for a function after changing the value of
continue polling the position of the keystroke and returns an integer value 'fIag' '1.'
to Thereafter, inside the co-
mouse. It will go to the click( ) func- which is different for different keys. ordinates( ) function, the value of the
tion only if the pointer is inside any of For 'enter'key, the value equals'7181.' flag is checked and if it is
'1'
you stop
the rectangles. After you press 'enter' key, you will from the loop and go back to the
'k'be- go to different 'cases' with a switch
Now, click a button. Then main( ) function. The 'exit' button ex-
 d=
lr BinaryValues
Sentto lhePortlor a 0ne-Time
Display Through PC's Parallel
Port Using Visual Basic'
by Adeeb Raja in March

00000001 00000001 00000001 10101010 111'r0000 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0000001 1 2005 issue of EFY maga-
00000010 00000011 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 10 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 00000000 01000010 000001 10 zine.
Construct the hard-
00000100 00000111 000001 11 00100100 00001100
ware according to the fig-
00001000 00001111 00001 111 00011000 00011000
ure given. Connect the 25-
00010000 00011111 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 00110000
pin male connector to the
0 0 1 0 0 0 0 00 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 , 01100000
parallel port. The files
0'1000000 01111111 0 1 1 1 1 1 I1 1 11000000 'egavga.bgi'
and'trip.chr'
1 0 0 0 0 0 0 01 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
must be present in the
11111111
folder where the main ex-
01111111
ecutable program is lo-
00t11111
cated. Note that'trip.chr'
00011111 present in the same folder
00001 111 is a font file.
000001 11 EFY notes. 1. The
0000001 1 source code and other rel-
'
00000001 evant files of this project
ecutes the exit(0) statement and you Pins 18 to 25 are grounded. A 25-pin have been included in this month's
can exit the program. male connector must be used to inter- EFY{D.
face the external circuit to the PC. Eight 2. This program cannot be used
Hardware transistors (8C547) can be used to with Windows XP because it cannot
The hardwarccomprisesinterfacingof drive the higher-power LEDs with ex- accessthe port due to security reasons.
the parallelport of the PC with LEDs. ternal power supply. In this circuit, Also if there are some other software
The parallel port consistsof 25 pins, transistors are not used. For connect- installed that uses parallel port like
out of which eight data pins starting ing heavy loads using relays, you may microcontroller programmer, the pro-
from 2 and ending al9 are used here. refer to the project 'Device Control gram may not work satisfactorily.

SOMETHINC IS DISPLAYED, ouftextxy(11O,316, ----- );

I ouftextxy(.120,31 0,"INSTRUCTIONS");
#include<ictream.h> relis.x.ax=2; outtextxy(,120,316,' ------- -" );
#include<conio.h> int86(0x33,&regs,&regs), ktcolor(4);
#include<drx.h> I rcrtangle(70,1 40,170,160);
*include<stdio.h> r<tangle(270,140.370,1 60);
#includc<stdlib.h> void clear0//CLEAtt MAIN MENU | @langle(47O,140,57O,'l6O);
#includecgraphics.h> t rtrtangle(70,196,170,216);
#include<bios.h> hidemouse0; re ctanBle(Z7 O,196,370,216);
cleardevice0; wta gle(470,1,570,216),
corot int fORT-Ox0378;//PORT ADDRESSOF PARAL- I r<<tangle(70,252,'l7O,272);
LEL T,|ORT r Kta gle(270,252,370,272);
long int glob' delay=0,tlow-num=0;//VARIABLES void readmouse0//READS COORDINATES OF rectangle(470,252,570,272);
USEDFOR TIMINC MOUSE'SCURRENT POsITION, *tcolor(i 3);
int v=2.a=85,r=15,s=O,o,i,i,flat=0,fla{l=0;/ / AND SE- I ouftextxy(120,146,"1 );
QUENCINC LED5 regs.x-ax=3; outtextxy(320,146,"2");
char d[5I.n[5l,ch[2]; int85(0x33,&rets,&regs); outtextxy(520,1i16,"3");
xl=rets.x.s; / / xI CONTATNSX-COORDINATE. outtextxy(l 20.202,"4");
mim REGSregs;//FOR MOUSE CONTROL. y\=tegs-x.dx;/ / yl CONTAINS Y-COORDINATE. outtextxy(320,202,"5");
inr x=50,y=200;// AS COORDINATES. k=regs.x.bx&l;//CHECKS FOR MOUSE'SLEFT-BUT- outtextxy(520,202,"6");
inr x1,y7,k;// AS MOUSE IIOINTER'SCOORDINATES TON CLICK. outtextxl' (124,25a,"7' );
l outtextxy(320,258,"8");
VOidiNitiAIiS0 / / INITIALISE MOUSE & GRAPFIICS, outtextxy(505,258,"EXIT");
{ void mdu0 *tcolor(15);
int gd=DETECT,gn; I outtextxy(3,10,360,"* CLICK A STYLE");
initgraph(&gd,&gn,"'); / /THIRD ARCUMENT IS clear0j showmou*0;
PATH OF ECAVCA.BCI FILE. setcolc(2); I
retangle(0,0,getmaxx0,getmaxy0);
/ /INITIALISEMOLSE.
regs.x.ar-0; Ihe(0,100,getmaxx0,l00); void click(int z),//CHECK FOR MOUSE CLICK.
int86(Or33,&regs,&regs); line(OJ00,getmaxx0,300); {
line(getmas0/ 2,300,getmax\0 / 2,getmaxy0) ; while(k)
mtport(POR1,0):/ /C L tARS PORT. setcolo{ 15); I
t *ttextstyle( 1,0,5); flagl=0;
outtextxy(110,20,'8 CHANNEL CHAISER"); readmou*0;
void showmou*0//SHOWS MOUSE ON SCREEN. rtcolor(14); while((inportb(0x3da)&8));
{ settexlstyle(0,0,1); '** while( !(inportb(0x3da)&8));
rw.x.ax=l; outtextxy(110,70, if(!K)//.K, STORESZERO IF A LEFI-BUTTON CLICK
int85{(k33,&!egs,&regsi; rtcolor(9); TAKES PLACE.
I outtextxy(300,1 10."STYLES"); I
outtextxy(300,1 16,'----'); ir(zt=9)
t
void hidoosd)//HIDES MOUSE.INVOKED WHEN outtextxv(140,310,"SETTINCS"); {
t
il
 hidenouse0; glow nurn--j {
outtextxy(340,380,"*
ENTER DEI-AY"); outport(PORT,0); flag1=1;
outtextxy(100,356,"D8LAY: "); Iwhile(glow_num>0); break;
gotoxy(21,23); outport(PORT,0); I
gets(d); if(flag1) gets(ch), delay(glow_delay);
glow-delay=atol(d); break; I
outtextxy(340,400,"*
ENTER NUMBER OF TIMES"); case 4l glow_num--;
');
outtextxy(100,388,
TIMES i glow-num*=2; / /ST\LE4 outport(PORT,0);
gotoxy(21,25); do ]while(glow_num>0);
gets(n)i { outport(POItT,0);
glow_num=atol(n); if(a==170) if(flag1)gets(ch);
outtextxy(340,420,'*
PRESSENTERTO START"); a=85; break;
if(bioskey(0)!=7181) elseif(a--85) casev:
1 a=170; {
showmouse0; outport(PORT,a); ck)seBraph0;
menu0; jf(bioskey(1))//EXITSIF A KEY IS PRESSED exit(0);//EXITSFROM THE PIIOGRAM
break; I )
I flagl=1; l
outtextxy(340,440,'+
PRESSANY KEY ONCE TO RE- break; fl;rg=1;
TrRE"); I l
showmouse0;
{ delay(glow_delay); I

It: l glow-num--; l
switch(z) )while(glow-num>0);
{ outport(PORT,0);
case 1: if(flagi) gets(ch); vojd coordinates0//CHECKS WHETHER MOUSU'S
do break, POINTER IS INSIDE
{ case5: I //ANY OF THE RECTANCLESDI{AWN,
for(i=1;i<=128;i=i+2)//FOR STYLE1 glow num+=2; //STYLE5 showmouseO; //lF INSIDE INVOKESFUNCTION
do 'click(int)'.
I

f
outport(PORT,i)j I while(1)
if(bioskey(i))//EXITSlF A KEY IS PRESSED if(r==240) {
I r-15; readmouse0;
flag1=1; elseif(r==15) if(((x1>70&&x1<170)&&y1>140)&&y1<160)
break; r=240; I
I outport(PORT,r), click(1);
delav(glow-delay); if(bioskey(1))//EXITSlF A KEY lS PRESSED if(flag)
I I break;//GOESTO MAIN
clow num--j flag1=1; l
lwhile(glow_num>0); break; if(((x1>270&&xl<32))&&yl> l 40)&&y1<160)
if(flag1)gets(ch); ) I
outport(PORT,0); delay(glow-delay); click(2);
break; Blow_num--; if(flarj)
case2: lwhile(glow-num>0); break;//GOESTO MAIN
do outport(PORT,0), I
{ if(fla91 ) gets(ch); if (((x1>470&&x1
<570)&&y1>140)&&y1<160)
i=0;v=l; / /ST\I.E2 break; {
do case 6: click(3);
I glow-num*=2; /ISTYLF.6 if(flag)
i=i+v; do break;/ /GOES TO MAIN
I l
ougort(PORT,i); if(s==255) if(((x1>70&&x1<170)&&y1>196)&&y1<216)
if(bioskey(1))//EXITSIF A KEY IS PRESSED s=0; {
l elseif(s==0) click(4);
fla81=1; s=255; if(flag)
break; outport(PORT,s); break;//GOES TO MAIN
I if(bioskey(1))//EXITSIF A KEY IS PRESSED )
delay(glow_delay); { if(((x1>270&&x1<370)&&y1
>196)&&y1
<216)
)while(i<=255); flagl=1; {
glow_num--; break; click(5);
outport(PORT,0); l if(flag)
Iwhile(glow-num>0); delay(glow delay); break;/ /GOES TO MAIN
outport(PORT,o); glow num--: I
if(fla91)gets(ch); iwhile(glow_num>0); if(((x1>470&&x1<570)&&y1>1e6)&&y1
<216)
break; outport(PORT,0); {
case3: if(flagl) gets(ch); click(6);
do break: if(flag)
l case 7i / /sTvLET break;//COESTO MAIN
i=0;v=1; / /STYLE3 d<r 1
do l <170)&&y1>252)&&y1<272)
if(((x1>70&&x1
I t=0; I
i=i+v; for(i=129;j<s;i=((i+(3.j))/2)) click(7);
outport(PORT,i); { if(flag)
v--v*2; outport(PORT,i); break;//GOESTO MAIN
if(bioskey(1))//EXITSIF A KEY IS PRESSED if(bioskey(l))//EXITS IF A KEY IS PRESSED l
I I >252)&&y1<272)
if(((x1>270&&x1<370)&&yl
flagl=1; flag1=1; {
break; breaki click(8);
I l if(flag)
delay(glow_delay); delay(glow_delay); break;,/,/COES TO MAIN
if(i==255) if(j==21 I
I i=4; if(((x1>470&&xl
<570)&&y1
>252)&&y1
<272)
o=128; else click(9);
do j*t; I
{ ) l
outport(PORT,i); outport(PORT,O);
i=i-oi glow_num--; void mainO
o=o/2) Iwhile(glow_num>0); l
if&ioskey(1))//EXITS IF A KEY IS PRESSED if(fla91)gets(ch); initialise0;
{ break; while(1)
flagl=l; case 8l //STYLE 8 {
break; do menut),
I I c@rdinates0;
delay(glow_delay); for(i=3,i<=192;i=it2) flag=9;
Iwhile(i>=1); { I
l outport(PORT,i); ).
)while(i<-255); if(bioskey(1))//EXITSIF A KEY IS PRESSED