C# - backgroundworker getting data continuously from Arduino via serial -

so have c# application getting values (6 variables) arduino. used timer calls read functionts every 100ms hangs ui , responds little heavy. want use backgroundworker continuously reads variables. put read calls in dowork method , put values in variables c# , assign them in label or something. doesn't work. (sorry english)

namespace testtemp {     public partial class tempreaderform : form     {         public tempreaderform()         {             initializecomponent();         }  communicator comport = new communicator(); boolean portconnection = false; string red_light1;  private void button1_click(object sender, eventargs e)         {              if (comport.connect(57600, "i'm arduino", 4, 8, 16))             {                 label1.text = "connection successful - connected  "+comport.port;                 portconnection = true;                 backgroundworker1.runworkerasync(); // not sure if here should start backgroundworker.             }             else             {                 label1.text = "not connected . . . ";                 portconnection = false;             }         }          private void groupbox1_paint(object sender, painteventargs e)         {             graphics ellipse1 = groupbox1.creategraphics();              brush red_on = new solidbrush(color.red);             brush red_off = new solidbrush(color.darkred);              label2.text = "red : " + red_light1; //here label want show "1" if "red_light1" "1" , "0" if "red_light1" "0"              if (red_light1 == "1") ellipse1.fillellipse(red_on, 250, 133, 24, 24);                             else ellipse1.fillellipse(red_off, 250, 133, 24, 24); // here want (the label.text part see value) want color ellipse depending on "red_light1" value.          }    private void backgroundworker1_dowork(object sender, doworkeventargs e)         {             while (true)             {                 red_light1 = comport.message(4, 8, 32);             }         } } } } 

note: tryied "label1.text = red_light1" in dowork method says can't give values variables created in thread, this.

the "problem" backgroundworker lives thread , you're trying use in in ui thread. , message doesn't communicated there.

there 3 options:

1. to use runworkercompleted event: have use timer run backgroundworker every x ms.

   private void timer1_tick(object sender, eventargs e) {   this.backgroundworker.runworkerasync(); }   private void backgroundworker1_dowork(object sender, doworkeventargs e)   e.result = comport.message(4, 8, 32); }  private void backgroundworker1_runworkercompleted(object sender, runworkercompletedeventargs e) {   label2.text = e.result.tostring(); } 

2. use begininvoke set text

   private void backgroundworker1_dowork(object sender, doworkeventargs e) {     while (true)     {         this.begininvoke((action)(() => { label2.text = comport.message(4, 8, 32); });         // add delay here well...     } } 

3. use task instead of backgroundworker , call in timer.

   private void timer1_tick(object sender, eventargs e) {   task.run(() => {     this.begininvoke((action)(() => { label2.text = comport.message(4, 8, 32); });    }); }