Software / API Bindings / Visual Basic .NET / API Reference and Examples / Bricklets (Discontinued) / Current25 Bricklet

Visual Basic .NET - Current25 Bricklet¶

This is the description of the Visual Basic .NET API bindings for the Current25 Bricklet. General information and technical specifications for the Current25 Bricklet are summarized in its hardware description.

An installation guide for the Visual Basic .NET API bindings is part of their general description.

Examples¶

The example code below is Public Domain (CC0 1.0).

Simple¶

Download (ExampleSimple.vb)

Imports System
Imports Tinkerforge

Module ExampleSimple
    Const HOST As String = "localhost"
    Const PORT As Integer = 4223
    Const UID As String = "XYZ" ' Change XYZ to the UID of your Current25 Bricklet

    Sub Main()
        Dim ipcon As New IPConnection() ' Create IP connection
        Dim c As New BrickletCurrent25(UID, ipcon) ' Create device object

        ipcon.Connect(HOST, PORT) ' Connect to brickd
        ' Don't use device before ipcon is connected

        ' Get current current
        Dim current As Short = c.GetCurrent()
        Console.WriteLine("Current: " + (current/1000.0).ToString() + " A")

        Console.WriteLine("Press key to exit")
        Console.ReadLine()
        ipcon.Disconnect()
    End Sub
End Module

Callback¶

Download (ExampleCallback.vb)

Imports System
Imports Tinkerforge

Module ExampleCallback
    Const HOST As String = "localhost"
    Const PORT As Integer = 4223
    Const UID As String = "XYZ" ' Change XYZ to the UID of your Current25 Bricklet

    ' Callback subroutine for current callback
    Sub CurrentCB(ByVal sender As BrickletCurrent25, ByVal current As Short)
        Console.WriteLine("Current: " + (current/1000.0).ToString() + " A")
    End Sub

    Sub Main()
        Dim ipcon As New IPConnection() ' Create IP connection
        Dim c As New BrickletCurrent25(UID, ipcon) ' Create device object

        ipcon.Connect(HOST, PORT) ' Connect to brickd
        ' Don't use device before ipcon is connected

        ' Register current callback to subroutine CurrentCB
        AddHandler c.CurrentCallback, AddressOf CurrentCB

        ' Set period for current callback to 1s (1000ms)
        ' Note: The current callback is only called every second
        '       if the current has changed since the last call!
        c.SetCurrentCallbackPeriod(1000)

        Console.WriteLine("Press key to exit")
        Console.ReadLine()
        ipcon.Disconnect()
    End Sub
End Module

Threshold¶

Download (ExampleThreshold.vb)

Imports System
Imports Tinkerforge

Module ExampleThreshold
    Const HOST As String = "localhost"
    Const PORT As Integer = 4223
    Const UID As String = "XYZ" ' Change XYZ to the UID of your Current25 Bricklet

    ' Callback subroutine for current reached callback
    Sub CurrentReachedCB(ByVal sender As BrickletCurrent25, ByVal current As Short)
        Console.WriteLine("Current: " + (current/1000.0).ToString() + " A")
    End Sub

    Sub Main()
        Dim ipcon As New IPConnection() ' Create IP connection
        Dim c As New BrickletCurrent25(UID, ipcon) ' Create device object

        ipcon.Connect(HOST, PORT) ' Connect to brickd
        ' Don't use device before ipcon is connected

        ' Get threshold callbacks with a debounce time of 10 seconds (10000ms)
        c.SetDebouncePeriod(10000)

        ' Register current reached callback to subroutine CurrentReachedCB
        AddHandler c.CurrentReachedCallback, AddressOf CurrentReachedCB

        ' Configure threshold for current "greater than 5 A"
        c.SetCurrentCallbackThreshold(">"C, 5*1000, 0)

        Console.WriteLine("Press key to exit")
        Console.ReadLine()
        ipcon.Disconnect()
    End Sub
End Module

API¶

Since Visual Basic .NET does not support multiple return values directly, we use the ByRef keyword to return multiple values from a function.

All functions and procedures listed below are thread-safe.

Basic Functions¶

Class BrickletCurrent25(ByVal uid As String, ByVal ipcon As IPConnection)¶

Creates an object with the unique device ID uid:

Dim current25 As New BrickletCurrent25("YOUR_DEVICE_UID", ipcon)

This object can then be used after the IP Connection is connected.

Function BrickletCurrent25.GetCurrent() As Short¶

Returns:	current – Type: Short, Unit: 1 mA, Range: [-25000 to 25000]

Returns the current of the sensor.

If you want to get the current periodically, it is recommended to use the CurrentCallback callback and set the period with SetCurrentCallbackPeriod().

Advanced Functions¶

Sub BrickletCurrent25.Calibrate()¶

Calibrates the 0 value of the sensor. You have to call this function when there is no current present.

The zero point of the current sensor is depending on the exact properties of the analog-to-digital converter, the length of the Bricklet cable and the temperature. Thus, if you change the Brick or the environment in which the Bricklet is used, you might have to recalibrate.

The resulting calibration will be saved on the EEPROM of the Current Bricklet.

Function BrickletCurrent25.IsOverCurrent() As Boolean¶

Returns:	over – Type: Boolean

Returns true if more than 25A were measured.

Note

To reset this value you have to power cycle the Bricklet.

Function BrickletCurrent25.GetAnalogValue() As Integer¶

Returns:	value – Type: Integer, Range: [0 to 2¹² - 1]

Returns the value as read by a 12-bit analog-to-digital converter.

Note

The value returned by GetCurrent() is averaged over several samples to yield less noise, while GetAnalogValue() gives back raw unfiltered analog values. The only reason to use GetAnalogValue() is, if you need the full resolution of the analog-to-digital converter.

If you want the analog value periodically, it is recommended to use the AnalogValueCallback callback and set the period with SetAnalogValueCallbackPeriod().

Sub BrickletCurrent25.GetIdentity(ByRef uid As String, ByRef connectedUid As String, ByRef position As Char, ByRef hardwareVersion() As Byte, ByRef firmwareVersion() As Byte, ByRef deviceIdentifier As Integer)¶

Output Parameters:

Output Parameters:	uid – Type: String, Length: up to 8 connectedUid – Type: String, Length: up to 8 position – Type: Char, Range: ["a"C to "h"C, "z"C] hardwareVersion – Type: Byte Array, Length: 3 0: major – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 255] 1: minor – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 255] 2: revision – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 255] firmwareVersion – Type: Byte Array, Length: 3 0: major – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 255] 1: minor – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 255] 2: revision – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 255] deviceIdentifier – Type: Integer, Range: [0 to 2¹⁶ - 1]

uid – Type: String, Length: up to 8
connectedUid – Type: String, Length: up to 8
position – Type: Char, Range: ["a"C to "h"C, "z"C]
hardwareVersion – Type: Byte Array, Length: 3

0: major – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 255]
1: minor – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 255]
2: revision – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 255]

firmwareVersion – Type: Byte Array, Length: 3

0: major – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 255]
1: minor – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 255]
2: revision – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 255]

deviceIdentifier – Type: Integer, Range: [0 to 2¹⁶ - 1]

Returns the UID, the UID where the Bricklet is connected to, the position, the hardware and firmware version as well as the device identifier.

The position can be 'a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e', 'f', 'g' or 'h' (Bricklet Port). A Bricklet connected to an Isolator Bricklet is always at position 'z'.

The device identifier numbers can be found here. There is also a constant for the device identifier of this Bricklet.

Callback Configuration Functions¶

Sub BrickletCurrent25.SetCurrentCallbackPeriod(ByVal period As Long)¶

Parameters:	period – Type: Long, Unit: 1 ms, Range: [0 to 2³² - 1], Default: 0

Sets the period with which the CurrentCallback callback is triggered periodically. A value of 0 turns the callback off.

The CurrentCallback callback is only triggered if the current has changed since the last triggering.

Function BrickletCurrent25.GetCurrentCallbackPeriod() As Long¶

Returns:	period – Type: Long, Unit: 1 ms, Range: [0 to 2³² - 1], Default: 0

Returns the period as set by SetCurrentCallbackPeriod().

Sub BrickletCurrent25.SetAnalogValueCallbackPeriod(ByVal period As Long)¶

Parameters:	period – Type: Long, Unit: 1 ms, Range: [0 to 2³² - 1], Default: 0

Sets the period with which the AnalogValueCallback callback is triggered periodically. A value of 0 turns the callback off.

The AnalogValueCallback callback is only triggered if the analog value has changed since the last triggering.

Function BrickletCurrent25.GetAnalogValueCallbackPeriod() As Long¶

Returns:	period – Type: Long, Unit: 1 ms, Range: [0 to 2³² - 1], Default: 0

Returns the period as set by SetAnalogValueCallbackPeriod().

Sub BrickletCurrent25.SetCurrentCallbackThreshold(ByVal option As Char, ByVal min As Short, ByVal max As Short)¶

Parameters:	option – Type: Char, Range: See constants, Default: "x"C min – Type: Short, Unit: 1 mA, Range: [-2¹⁵ to 2¹⁵ - 1], Default: 0 max – Type: Short, Unit: 1 mA, Range: [-2¹⁵ to 2¹⁵ - 1], Default: 0

Sets the thresholds for the CurrentReachedCallback callback.

The following options are possible:

Option	Description
'x'	Callback is turned off
'o'	Callback is triggered when the current is outside the min and max values
'i'	Callback is triggered when the current is inside the min and max values
'<'	Callback is triggered when the current is smaller than the min value (max is ignored)
'>'	Callback is triggered when the current is greater than the min value (max is ignored)

The following constants are available for this function:

For option:

BrickletCurrent25.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = "x"C
BrickletCurrent25.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = "o"C
BrickletCurrent25.THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = "i"C
BrickletCurrent25.THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = "<"C
BrickletCurrent25.THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = ">"C

Sub BrickletCurrent25.GetCurrentCallbackThreshold(ByRef option As Char, ByRef min As Short, ByRef max As Short)¶

Output Parameters:	option – Type: Char, Range: See constants, Default: "x"C min – Type: Short, Unit: 1 mA, Range: [-2¹⁵ to 2¹⁵ - 1], Default: 0 max – Type: Short, Unit: 1 mA, Range: [-2¹⁵ to 2¹⁵ - 1], Default: 0

Returns the threshold as set by SetCurrentCallbackThreshold().

The following constants are available for this function:

For option:

BrickletCurrent25.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = "x"C
BrickletCurrent25.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = "o"C
BrickletCurrent25.THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = "i"C
BrickletCurrent25.THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = "<"C
BrickletCurrent25.THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = ">"C

Sub BrickletCurrent25.SetAnalogValueCallbackThreshold(ByVal option As Char, ByVal min As Integer, ByVal max As Integer)¶

Parameters:	option – Type: Char, Range: See constants, Default: "x"C min – Type: Integer, Range: [0 to 2¹² - 1], Default: 0 max – Type: Integer, Range: [0 to 2¹² - 1], Default: 0

Sets the thresholds for the AnalogValueReachedCallback callback.

The following options are possible:

Option	Description
'x'	Callback is turned off
'o'	Callback is triggered when the analog value is outside the min and max values
'i'	Callback is triggered when the analog value is inside the min and max values
'<'	Callback is triggered when the analog value is smaller than the min value (max is ignored)
'>'	Callback is triggered when the analog value is greater than the min value (max is ignored)

The following constants are available for this function:

For option:

BrickletCurrent25.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = "x"C
BrickletCurrent25.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = "o"C
BrickletCurrent25.THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = "i"C
BrickletCurrent25.THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = "<"C
BrickletCurrent25.THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = ">"C

Sub BrickletCurrent25.GetAnalogValueCallbackThreshold(ByRef option As Char, ByRef min As Integer, ByRef max As Integer)¶

Output Parameters:	option – Type: Char, Range: See constants, Default: "x"C min – Type: Integer, Range: [0 to 2¹² - 1], Default: 0 max – Type: Integer, Range: [0 to 2¹² - 1], Default: 0

Returns the threshold as set by SetAnalogValueCallbackThreshold().

The following constants are available for this function:

For option:

BrickletCurrent25.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = "x"C
BrickletCurrent25.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = "o"C
BrickletCurrent25.THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = "i"C
BrickletCurrent25.THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = "<"C
BrickletCurrent25.THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = ">"C

Sub BrickletCurrent25.SetDebouncePeriod(ByVal debounce As Long)¶

Parameters:	debounce – Type: Long, Unit: 1 ms, Range: [0 to 2³² - 1], Default: 100

Sets the period with which the threshold callbacks

CurrentReachedCallback,
AnalogValueReachedCallback

are triggered, if the thresholds

SetCurrentCallbackThreshold(),
SetAnalogValueCallbackThreshold()

keep being reached.

Function BrickletCurrent25.GetDebouncePeriod() As Long¶

Returns:	debounce – Type: Long, Unit: 1 ms, Range: [0 to 2³² - 1], Default: 100

Returns the debounce period as set by SetDebouncePeriod().

Callbacks¶

Callbacks can be registered to receive time critical or recurring data from the device. The registration is done by assigning a procedure to an callback property of the device object:

Sub MyCallback(ByVal sender As BrickletCurrent25, ByVal value As Short)
    Console.WriteLine("Value: {0}", value)
End Sub

AddHandler current25.ExampleCallback, AddressOf MyCallback

The available callback property and their type of parameters are described below.

Note

Using callbacks for recurring events is always preferred compared to using getters. It will use less USB bandwidth and the latency will be a lot better, since there is no round trip time.

Event BrickletCurrent25.CurrentCallback(ByVal sender As BrickletCurrent25, ByVal current As Short)¶

Callback Parameters:	sender – Type: BrickletCurrent25 current – Type: Short, Unit: 1 mA, Range: [-25000 to 25000]

This callback is triggered periodically with the period that is set by SetCurrentCallbackPeriod(). The parameter is the current of the sensor.

The CurrentCallback callback is only triggered if the current has changed since the last triggering.

Event BrickletCurrent25.AnalogValueCallback(ByVal sender As BrickletCurrent25, ByVal value As Integer)¶

Callback Parameters:	sender – Type: BrickletCurrent25 value – Type: Integer, Range: [0 to 2¹² - 1]

This callback is triggered periodically with the period that is set by SetAnalogValueCallbackPeriod(). The parameter is the analog value of the sensor.

The AnalogValueCallback callback is only triggered if the current has changed since the last triggering.

Event BrickletCurrent25.CurrentReachedCallback(ByVal sender As BrickletCurrent25, ByVal current As Short)¶

Callback Parameters:	sender – Type: BrickletCurrent25 current – Type: Short, Unit: 1 mA, Range: [-25000 to 25000]

This callback is triggered when the threshold as set by SetCurrentCallbackThreshold() is reached. The parameter is the current of the sensor.

If the threshold keeps being reached, the callback is triggered periodically with the period as set by SetDebouncePeriod().

Event BrickletCurrent25.AnalogValueReachedCallback(ByVal sender As BrickletCurrent25, ByVal value As Integer)¶

Callback Parameters:	sender – Type: BrickletCurrent25 value – Type: Integer, Range: [0 to 2¹² - 1]

This callback is triggered when the threshold as set by SetAnalogValueCallbackThreshold() is reached. The parameter is the analog value of the sensor.

If the threshold keeps being reached, the callback is triggered periodically with the period as set by SetDebouncePeriod().

Event BrickletCurrent25.OverCurrentCallback(ByVal sender As BrickletCurrent25)¶

Callback Parameters:	sender – Type: BrickletCurrent25

This callback is triggered when an over current is measured (see IsOverCurrent()).

Virtual Functions¶

Virtual functions don't communicate with the device itself, but operate only on the API bindings device object. They can be called without the corresponding IP Connection object being connected.

Function BrickletCurrent25.GetAPIVersion() As Byte()¶

Output Parameters:	apiVersion – Type: Byte Array, Length: 3 0: major – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 255] 1: minor – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 255] 2: revision – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 255]

Returns the version of the API definition implemented by this API bindings. This is neither the release version of this API bindings nor does it tell you anything about the represented Brick or Bricklet.

Function BrickletCurrent25.GetResponseExpected(ByVal functionId As Byte) As Boolean¶

Parameters:	functionId – Type: Byte, Range: See constants
Returns:	responseExpected – Type: Boolean

Returns the response expected flag for the function specified by the function ID parameter. It is true if the function is expected to send a response, false otherwise.

For getter functions this is enabled by default and cannot be disabled, because those functions will always send a response. For callback configuration functions it is enabled by default too, but can be disabled by SetResponseExpected(). For setter functions it is disabled by default and can be enabled.

Enabling the response expected flag for a setter function allows to detect timeouts and other error conditions calls of this setter as well. The device will then send a response for this purpose. If this flag is disabled for a setter function then no response is sent and errors are silently ignored, because they cannot be detected.

The following constants are available for this function:

For functionId:

BrickletCurrent25.FUNCTION_CALIBRATE = 2
BrickletCurrent25.FUNCTION_SET_CURRENT_CALLBACK_PERIOD = 5
BrickletCurrent25.FUNCTION_SET_ANALOG_VALUE_CALLBACK_PERIOD = 7
BrickletCurrent25.FUNCTION_SET_CURRENT_CALLBACK_THRESHOLD = 9
BrickletCurrent25.FUNCTION_SET_ANALOG_VALUE_CALLBACK_THRESHOLD = 11
BrickletCurrent25.FUNCTION_SET_DEBOUNCE_PERIOD = 13

Sub BrickletCurrent25.SetResponseExpected(ByVal functionId As Byte, ByVal responseExpected As Boolean)¶

Parameters:	functionId – Type: Byte, Range: See constants responseExpected – Type: Boolean

Changes the response expected flag of the function specified by the function ID parameter. This flag can only be changed for setter (default value: false) and callback configuration functions (default value: true). For getter functions it is always enabled.

The following constants are available for this function:

For functionId:

BrickletCurrent25.FUNCTION_CALIBRATE = 2
BrickletCurrent25.FUNCTION_SET_CURRENT_CALLBACK_PERIOD = 5
BrickletCurrent25.FUNCTION_SET_ANALOG_VALUE_CALLBACK_PERIOD = 7
BrickletCurrent25.FUNCTION_SET_CURRENT_CALLBACK_THRESHOLD = 9
BrickletCurrent25.FUNCTION_SET_ANALOG_VALUE_CALLBACK_THRESHOLD = 11
BrickletCurrent25.FUNCTION_SET_DEBOUNCE_PERIOD = 13

Sub BrickletCurrent25.SetResponseExpectedAll(ByVal responseExpected As Boolean)¶

Parameters:	responseExpected – Type: Boolean

Changes the response expected flag for all setter and callback configuration functions of this device at once.

Constants¶

Const BrickletCurrent25.DEVICE_IDENTIFIER¶

This constant is used to identify a Current25 Bricklet.

The GetIdentity() function and the IPConnection.EnumerateCallback callback of the IP Connection have a deviceIdentifier parameter to specify the Brick's or Bricklet's type.

Const BrickletCurrent25.DEVICE_DISPLAY_NAME¶: This constant represents the human readable name of a Current25 Bricklet.