Algorithms and Flowcharts

ECET 209 – Lecture 7

Introduction to Microcontrollers
 Overview

• Example Algorithms
• Flowcharts and C Code

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 Formal Problem Solving Steps

• Understand the Problem

• Develop an Algorithm
• Refine the Algorithm
• Create an Action Plan
• Generate a Solution
• Test the Solution

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 Algorithms

• Step by step method to solve a problem

• Must include ALL required information

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 Flowcharts

• Graphical representations of algorithms

• Few basic symbols
– Terminal
– Processes
– Decisions
• Tool to translate algorithms into software
– Flowcharts of C structures
– Rules for Structured Flowcharting
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 Flowcharting

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 Decisions

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 Decisions

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 Decisions

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 Decisions

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 For Loop vs. While Loop

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 Decision

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 So Many Decisions,
How do I choose?

• Flexibility
– For Example
• Any For Loop can be expressed as a While Loop
• Any Case Switch structure can be replaced by a
series of IF/ELSE structures

• The Flowchart is your guide!

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 Follow the Flowchart

• May have to redraw the flowchart several

times to get it into a form that fits one of the
C structures.
• Rules to Flowcharting
– A complex task can be shown as a single block
– Start with the simplest flowchart possible
– Any process can be replaced by a sequence
– Any process can be replaced by a control
structure
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 Flowchart Rules

Rule 1
Rule 3

Rule 3

Rule 2

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 Flowchart Rules

Configure PortC for Output

Configure I/O PORTS Configure PortA for Input

Turn on PortA Pull-ups

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 Averaging Example
Averaging a set of
numbers

sum = 0

Average a set of i=0

Averaging a set of Numbers
numbers

i=i+1
Calculate the Sum of
the Numbers
Calculate the
Average of the 6 sum = sum + ni
Numbers
Divide the Sum by the
Number of Entries Does No
i = 6?
End
Yes
End

Average = sum / 6

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End
 Averaging a set of
numbers

sum = 0

i=0

i=i+1

sum = sum + ni

Does No
i = 6?

Yes

Average = sum / 6

End
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 Relational Operators

• Determine how one value relates to another

– Equal to ==
– Not equal to !=
– Less than <
– Greater than >
– Less than or Equal to <=
– Greater than or Equal to >=

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 True vs. False

• The result of any relational operation is a

True or a False indication

– False is defined as a Zero value

– True is defined as Not False

( if it anything other than zero, it is true!! )

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 More Likely Examples

( number_of_dogs > 3 )

( value != 0 )

( counter > 10 )

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 Relational Operators are
Typically used with Decisions

• For example…

Problem:
Light the upper nibble of the LEDs
when the counter is above 10.

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 How do we get from the
Flowchart to the C Code??

Is the counter Yes

variable greater
than 10 ?

Turn on the upper

No four LEDs

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 How do we get from the
Flowchart to the C Code??

What is
this??
Is the counter Yes
variable greater
than 10 ?

Turn on the upper

No four LEDs

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 How do we get from the
Flowchart to the C Code??

if
Is the counter Yes
variable greater
than 10 ?

Turn on the upper

No four LEDs

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 How do we get from the
Flowchart to the C Code??

What??
if
Is the counter Yes
variable greater
than 10 ?

Turn on the upper

No four LEDs

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 How do we get from the
Flowchart to the C Code??

if ( counter > 10 )
Is the counter Yes
variable greater
than 10 ?

Turn on the upper

No four LEDs

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 How do we get from the
Flowchart to the C Code??

if ( counter > 10 )
Is the counter Yes
variable greater
than 10 ?
{
Turn on the upper
No four LEDs

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 How do we get from the
Flowchart to the C Code??

if ( counter > 10 )
Is the counter Yes
variable greater
than 10 ?
{
Turn on the upper
No four LEDs

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 How do we get from the
Flowchart to the C Code??

if ( counter > 10 )
Is the counter Yes
variable greater
than 10 ?
{ PORTC = 0xF0;
Turn on the upper
No four LEDs

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 How do we get from the
Flowchart to the C Code??

if ( counter > 10 )
Is the counter Yes
variable greater
than 10 ?
{ PORTC = 0xF0;
Turn on the upper
No four LEDs

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 How do we get from the
Flowchart to the C Code??

if ( counter > 10 )
Is the counter Yes
variable greater
than 10 ?
{ PORTC = ~0xF0;
Turn on the upper
No four LEDs

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 Translated to C

if ( counter > 10 )
{
PORTC = ~ 0xF0; // turn on LEDs
}

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What if the condition isn’t true??

• We may or may not want to do something if

the expression evaluates as False

– The False leg is known as the Else

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 Problem Revisited

Problem:
Light the upper nibble of the LEDs
when the counter is above 10. When the
counter is equal to or below 10, light
only the least significant bit of the
LEDs.

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 Updated Flowchart

No Is the counter Yes

variable greater
than 10 ?

Turn on the LSB Turn on the upper

of the LEDs four LEDs

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 Updated Flowchart

else
No Is the counter Yes
variable greater

{ than 10 ?

Turn on the LSB Turn on the upper

of the LEDs four LEDs

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 Updated Flowchart

else
No Is the counter Yes
variable greater

{ than 10 ?

Turn on the LSB Turn on the upper

of the LEDs four LEDs

}
PORTC = ~0x01;
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 Transformation to C Code

if (counter > 10)

else No Is the counter Yes
variable greater
{ than 10 ? {
Turn on the LSB Turn on the upper
of the LEDs four LEDs

} }
PORTC = ~0x01; PORTC = ~0xF0;
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 Updated C Code

if ( counter > 10 )
{
PORTC = ~ 0xF0; // turn on LEDs
}
else
{
PORTC = ~ 0x01; // turn on LSB
}209
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 Updated C Code

if ( counter > 10 )
{
PORTC = ~ 0xF0; // turn on LEDs
}
else
{
PORTC = ~ 0x01; // turn on LSB
}209
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 Updated C Code

if ( counter > 10 )
{
PORTC = ~ 0xF0; // turn on LEDs
}
else
{
PORTC = ~ 0x01; // turn on LSB
}209
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