Digital Code Lock using Arduino with LCD Display and User Defined

Password
We have published a digital code lock using arduino some weeks before. This one is a little different. The earlier
version was based on a defined password, where the user can not change it. Moreover there was no LCD display
interfaced with the project to output lock status. This project is a much improved version of the same digital code
lock which comes with a user defined password and LCD display. The user will be prompted to set a password at
installation. This password inputted at installation will continue to serve the lock until it is changed. The user can
change the current password with a single key press. The program will check for current password and allows the
user to change password only if the the current password is input correctly.

Required Knowledge
You should learn two important device interfacing concepts before attempting this project. The very first one is to
interface hex keypad with Arduino. The second one is to interface LCD with Arduino. Once you understand
the concepts behind interfacing LCD module and interfacing hex keypad, its just a matter of adding few lines of
code to build the Digital Code Lock. I recommend to read the simple digital code lock using arduino as well to
gain insights into basics of a code lock.
Note:- In this program, I have reused the code developed for interfacing hex keypad with arduino. There are two
versions of the program in the interfacing tutorial. I used version 2.

About the Program

I will be explaining important points about the program only. As mentioned before, you are supposed to know the
codes of interfacing hex keypad and lcd module.
Usage of Device
Installation - You will be asked to input 5 digits as password at the initial boot/reset of the device. The first 5

digits you input at installation will be saved as your SET PASSWORD. The device will go LOCKED after setting
PASSWORD.
Key A - for unlocking the device. Input correct password and press A for Unlocking.
Key B - for locking any time. Just press B and you will see the LOCKED message.
Key C - for changing the password. Input the correct password and Press C. You will see message asking to
ENTER NEW PASSWORD. Enter 5 digits as password. The first 5 digits you enter will be SAVED as NEW
PASSWORD.
Exceptions - You can not use keys A, B and C inside the password combination. These 3 keys are control keys
of the device with specific functions. The program checks for these key presses (at the password setting time you
may see the SetPassword() function and look the condition to check for invalid key press) and identifies them as
Invalid Keys. You will have to input 5 new digits as password after an Invalid Key press.
Important Variables and Arrays
pass[6] is the array used to save and hold the user defined password.
check[6] is the array used to collect & hold user input. This user input data (in check[] array) is compared with
pass[] array to authenticate password.
entry is the variable used to identify initial entry point of the program. User is asked to SET a 5 Digit Password
at installation of Lock. Hence we need a variable to identify entry and loop 5 times to collect 5 digits and save
them to pass[] array. The same variable is later made use of to Change Password. When the key for Changing
Password (here C) is pressed, this variable is simply assigned a zero value (the initial state of variable). This
forces the program control to re enter the Password Setting Loop of the program.
key_id is the variable used to identify a key press and perform some actions in the program (that should happen
only on a key press). By default this variable is set zero initial value. Whenever a key is pressed in key pad, this
variable will be assigned a value =1. You may check the keyscan() function to see this. This simple trick helps to
identify a key press and perform various actions on that key press (based on the value of key press). This variable
is set to zero at different points in the program (to prevent the value 1 in key_id variable being identified as a false
key press). You may check them as well.
Note:- col_scan is the actual variable that gets activated to a LOW on key press (hence helps in identifying key
press). But this variable is actually a part of the key pad interfacing program (version 2).
count - is the variable used to iterate the index of check[count] ( user input array ). count variable is initialized to
1. Each user input will be saved to check[] array in order of the increment of count variable.
temp_press - is a temporary variable to hold the value of key press. The value of key press is assigned to
temp_press variable as a return result of the keypress() function. keypress() is the function defined to identify
value of key press.
lcd_count - is a simple counter variable used to iterate the column position of LCD module. This variable helps to
display user input data successively in row 2 of LCD module.
i,j,flag are just dummy variables used in the program. i,j are used as counter variables inside for loop. flag is used
to hold status of checkPassword() subroutine (the function used to compare user input data and the SET
password ). A decision is made based on the value inside flag variable.

Subroutines used in the Program

SetPassword() is the subroutine used to SET user defined password. This subroutine is very dependent on the
Password Setting Loop written inside the main program. This password setting loop will be iterated at
installation of the device (that is at the boot or reset of the device) for first 5 key presses. This first 5 key press will
be used to SET the Password. These key presses will be saved to pass[] array. As mentioned earlier, entry is the
variable used to iterate the loop 5 times. key_id is the variable used identify key press.
Note:- The same Password Setting Loop is made use of for Changing the Password as well. When key C is
pressed, the current password is checked for. If the input password is matching with current SET password, then
entry variable will be assigned to zero value. This will simply transfer the control of the program to ENTER the
Password Setting Loop again.
keyscan() is the subroutine to scan keypad for a key press. This subroutine is basically same as the version 2
code of interfacing hex keypad to arduino. I have added some lines of code needed for this code lock. Apart from
that, the lines of code in this subroutine is same as that of interfacing keypad. keyscan() subroutine scans for a key
press (when ever the function is called from Main program or from other sub routines like SetPassword()) and
identifies the row and column of the pressed key. If key 1 is pressed, keyscan identifies that key at row 1 and
column 1 is pressed. Similarly if key 6 is pressed, the keyscan identifies a key is pressed at row 2 and column 3.
When ever a key is pressed, another subroutine named keypress() is invoked within the keyscan() routine. This
keypress() routine is used identify the value of key press (say 1, 2, 3 or A, C or D etc)
keypress() as mentioned above is the subroutine to identify value of key press. The keyscan() routine identifies
which row and column of key pad is pressed. This row and column number is passed to keypress() routine as
parameters (using variable values of i and j ).
checkPassword() is the subroutine to check user input password against the SET User Defined Password. The
user input data (password to cross check) is collected in the check[] array. This is compared against the SET
Password inside pass[] array. A for loop is used for comparing. If each digit inside the arrays match, flag variable
will remain zero. If any mismatch occurs, the flag will be set to 1 and loop will break.
So thats all you need to know about the program. Read the program below and if you have any doubt, just drop a
comment.

Program
#include<LiquidCrystal.h>
LiquidCrystal lcd(7,6,5,4,3,2);
int row[]={A1,A0,8,9};// Defining row pins of keypad connected to Arduino pins
int col[]={10,11,12,13};//Defining column pins of keypad connected to Arduino
int i,j,lcd_count,count=1,key_id=0,flag,entry=0;// See About the Program
int col_scan;// Variable to identify a key press
char temp_press; // Variable to hold value of key press
char check[6],pass[6]; // See About the Program
void setup()
{
lcd.begin(16,2);
for(i=0;i<=3;i++)
{
pinMode(row[i],OUTPUT);
pinMode(col[i],INPUT);

digitalWrite(col[i],HIGH);
}
lcd.print("SET 5 Digit PASS");
}
/* Main Program Begins */
void loop()
{
while(entry<=4)// Password Setting Loop begins
{
SetPassword();
}
// Password Setting Loop Ends
key_id=0;
keyscan(); // Scan for a Key Press
/* Actions on Key Press begins */
if(key_id==1) // Condition to Check Key is Pressed
{
check[count]=temp_press;
count++;
/* Condition to Unlock Begins*/
if(temp_press=='A')
{
checkPassword();
if(flag==0)
{
lcd.setCursor(0,0);
lcd.print("UNLOCKED");
}else{
lcd.setCursor(0,0);
lcd.print("WRONG PASSWORD");
delay(200);
lcd.clear();
lcd.print("LOCKED");
}
count=1; // Resetting the counter variable
}
/* Condition to Unlock Ends*/
/* Condition to Change Password Begins */
else if(temp_press=='C')
{
checkPassword();
if(flag==0)
{
lcd.setCursor(0,0);
lcd.print("ENTER NEW PASS");
key_id=0;
entry=0;
}else{
lcd.setCursor(0,0);
lcd.print("WRONG PASSWORD");
}
count=1; // Resetting the counter variable
}

/* Condition to Change Password Ends */

/* Condition to LOCK Begins*/
else if(temp_press=='B')
{
lcd.setCursor(0,0);
lcd.print("LOCKED");
count=1; // Resetting the counter variable
}
/* Condition to LOCK Ends*/
}
/* Actions on Key Press Ends*/
}
/* Main Program Ends */
void SetPassword() // Subroutine to SET User Defined Password
{
keyscan();
if(key_id==1)
{
if(temp_press=='A'||temp_press=='C'||temp_press=='B') // Condition to Check for an Invalid
Keypress
{
lcd.setCursor(0,0);
lcd.print("INVALID KEYS");
entry=0;
}
else
{
pass[entry]=temp_press;
}
}
key_id=0;
if(entry==5)
{
lcd.clear();
lcd.setCursor(0,0);
lcd.print("PASSWORD SET & LOCKED");
}} // Subroutine to SET Password ENDS
char keyscan()// Subroutine to Scan Keypad for a Keypress
{
for(i=0; i<=3; i++)
{
digitalWrite(row[0],HIGH);
digitalWrite(row[1],HIGH);
digitalWrite(row[2],HIGH);
digitalWrite(row[3],HIGH);
digitalWrite(row[i],LOW);
for(j=0; j<=3; j++)
{
col_scan=digitalRead(col[j]);
if(col_scan==LOW)
{
key_id=1;
entry++;
temp_press=keypress(i,j);

lcd.setCursor(lcd_count++,1);
lcd.print(temp_press);
if(temp_press=='A'||temp_press=='C'||temp_press=='B')
{
lcd_count=0;
lcd.clear();
}
delay(300);
break;
}}
}}// Subroutine to Scan Keypress Ends
char keypress(int i, int j) // Subroutine to Identify the value of Key pressed
{
if(i==0&&j==0)
{
return('1');
}
if(i==0&&j==1)
{
return('2');
}
if(i==0&&j==2)
{
return('3');
}
if(i==0&&j==3)
{
return('A');
}
if(i==1&&j==0)
{
return('4');
}
if(i==1&&j==1)
{
return('5');
}
if(i==1&&j==2)
{
return('6');
}
if(i==1&&j==3)
{
return('B');
}
if(i==2&&j==0)
{
return('7');
}
if(i==2&&j==1)
{
return('8');
}
if(i==2&&j==2)
{
return('9');
}
if(i==2&&j==3)
{
return('C');
}
if(i==3&&j==0)
{

return('*');
}
if(i==3&&j==1)
{
return('0');
}
if(i==3&&j==2)
{
return('#');
}
if(i==3&&j==3)
{
return('D');
}
} // Subroutine to identify Keypress Ends
void checkPassword() // Subroutine to Check User Input Data with SET Password
{
flag=0;
for(i=1;i<=5&&flag==0;i++)
{
if(check[i]==pass[i])
{
flag=0;
}
else
{flag=1;
}}} // Subroutine to check password ends