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Software / API Bindings / Delphi/Lazarus / API Reference and Examples / Bricklets / Distance IR Bricklet

Delphi/Lazarus - Distance IR Bricklet

This is the description of the Delphi/Lazarus API bindings for the Distance IR Bricklet. General information and technical specifications for the Distance IR Bricklet are summarized in its hardware description.

An installation guide for the Delphi/Lazarus API bindings is part of their general description.

Examples

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

Simple

Download (ExampleSimple.pas)

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program ExampleSimple;

{$ifdef MSWINDOWS}{$apptype CONSOLE}{$endif}
{$ifdef FPC}{$mode OBJFPC}{$H+}{$endif}

uses
  SysUtils, IPConnection, BrickletDistanceIR;

type
  TExample = class
  private
    ipcon: TIPConnection;
    dir: TBrickletDistanceIR;
  public
    procedure Execute;
  end;

const
  HOST = 'localhost';
  PORT = 4223;
  UID = 'XYZ'; { Change XYZ to the UID of your Distance IR Bricklet }

var
  e: TExample;

procedure TExample.Execute;
var distance: word;
begin
  { Create IP connection }
  ipcon := TIPConnection.Create;

  { Create device object }
  dir := TBrickletDistanceIR.Create(UID, ipcon);

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

  { Get current distance }
  distance := dir.GetDistance;
  WriteLn(Format('Distance: %f cm', [distance/10.0]));

  WriteLn('Press key to exit');
  ReadLn;
  ipcon.Destroy; { Calls ipcon.Disconnect internally }
end;

begin
  e := TExample.Create;
  e.Execute;
  e.Destroy;
end.

Callback

Download (ExampleCallback.pas)

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program ExampleCallback;

{$ifdef MSWINDOWS}{$apptype CONSOLE}{$endif}
{$ifdef FPC}{$mode OBJFPC}{$H+}{$endif}

uses
  SysUtils, IPConnection, BrickletDistanceIR;

type
  TExample = class
  private
    ipcon: TIPConnection;
    dir: TBrickletDistanceIR;
  public
    procedure DistanceCB(sender: TBrickletDistanceIR; const distance: word);
    procedure Execute;
  end;

const
  HOST = 'localhost';
  PORT = 4223;
  UID = 'XYZ'; { Change XYZ to the UID of your Distance IR Bricklet }

var
  e: TExample;

{ Callback procedure for distance callback }
procedure TExample.DistanceCB(sender: TBrickletDistanceIR; const distance: word);
begin
  WriteLn(Format('Distance: %f cm', [distance/10.0]));
end;

procedure TExample.Execute;
begin
  { Create IP connection }
  ipcon := TIPConnection.Create;

  { Create device object }
  dir := TBrickletDistanceIR.Create(UID, ipcon);

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

  { Register distance callback to procedure DistanceCB }
  dir.OnDistance := {$ifdef FPC}@{$endif}DistanceCB;

  { Set period for distance callback to 0.2s (200ms)
    Note: The distance callback is only called every 0.2 seconds
          if the distance has changed since the last call! }
  dir.SetDistanceCallbackPeriod(200);

  WriteLn('Press key to exit');
  ReadLn;
  ipcon.Destroy; { Calls ipcon.Disconnect internally }
end;

begin
  e := TExample.Create;
  e.Execute;
  e.Destroy;
end.

Threshold

Download (ExampleThreshold.pas)

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program ExampleThreshold;

{$ifdef MSWINDOWS}{$apptype CONSOLE}{$endif}
{$ifdef FPC}{$mode OBJFPC}{$H+}{$endif}

uses
  SysUtils, IPConnection, BrickletDistanceIR;

type
  TExample = class
  private
    ipcon: TIPConnection;
    dir: TBrickletDistanceIR;
  public
    procedure DistanceReachedCB(sender: TBrickletDistanceIR; const distance: word);
    procedure Execute;
  end;

const
  HOST = 'localhost';
  PORT = 4223;
  UID = 'XYZ'; { Change XYZ to the UID of your Distance IR Bricklet }

var
  e: TExample;

{ Callback procedure for distance reached callback }
procedure TExample.DistanceReachedCB(sender: TBrickletDistanceIR; const distance: word);
begin
  WriteLn(Format('Distance: %f cm', [distance/10.0]));
end;

procedure TExample.Execute;
begin
  { Create IP connection }
  ipcon := TIPConnection.Create;

  { Create device object }
  dir := TBrickletDistanceIR.Create(UID, ipcon);

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

  { Get threshold callbacks with a debounce time of 10 seconds (10000ms) }
  dir.SetDebouncePeriod(10000);

  { Register distance reached callback to procedure DistanceReachedCB }
  dir.OnDistanceReached := {$ifdef FPC}@{$endif}DistanceReachedCB;

  { Configure threshold for distance "smaller than 30 cm" }
  dir.SetDistanceCallbackThreshold('<', 30*10, 0);

  WriteLn('Press key to exit');
  ReadLn;
  ipcon.Destroy; { Calls ipcon.Disconnect internally }
end;

begin
  e := TExample.Create;
  e.Execute;
  e.Destroy;
end.

API

Since Delphi does not support multiple return values directly, we use the out keyword to return multiple values from a function.

All functions and procedures listed below are thread-safe.

Basic Functions

constructor TBrickletDistanceIR.Create(const uid: string; ipcon: TIPConnection)
Parameters:
  • uid – Type: string
  • ipcon – Type: TIPConnection
Returns:
  • distanceIR – Type: TBrickletDistanceIR

Creates an object with the unique device ID uid:

distanceIR := TBrickletDistanceIR.Create('YOUR_DEVICE_UID', ipcon);

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

function TBrickletDistanceIR.GetDistance: word
Returns:
  • distance – Type: word, Unit: 1 mm, Range: [0 to 216 - 1]

Returns the distance measured by the sensor. Possible distance ranges are 40 to 300, 100 to 800 and 200 to 1500, depending on the selected IR sensor.

If you want to get the distance periodically, it is recommended to use the OnDistance callback and set the period with SetDistanceCallbackPeriod.

Advanced Functions

function TBrickletDistanceIR.GetAnalogValue: word
Returns:
  • value – Type: word, Range: [0 to 212 - 1]

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

Note

The value returned by GetDistance 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 OnAnalogValue callback and set the period with SetAnalogValueCallbackPeriod.

procedure TBrickletDistanceIR.SetSamplingPoint(const position: byte; const distance: word)
Parameters:
  • position – Type: byte, Range: [0 to 127]
  • distance – Type: word, Unit: 1/10 mm, Range: [0 to 216 - 1]

Sets a sampling point value to a specific position of the lookup table. The lookup table comprises 128 equidistant analog values with corresponding distances.

If you measure a distance of 50cm at the analog value 2048, you should call this function with (64, 5000). The utilized analog-to-digital converter has a resolution of 12 bit. With 128 sampling points on the whole range, this means that every sampling point has a size of 32 analog values. Thus the analog value 2048 has the corresponding sampling point 64 = 2048/32.

Sampling points are saved on the EEPROM of the Distance IR Bricklet and loaded again on startup.

Note

An easy way to calibrate the sampling points of the Distance IR Bricklet is implemented in the Brick Viewer. If you want to calibrate your Bricklet it is highly recommended to use this implementation.

function TBrickletDistanceIR.GetSamplingPoint(const position: byte): word
Parameters:
  • position – Type: byte, Range: [0 to 127]
Returns:
  • distance – Type: word, Unit: 1/10 mm, Range: [0 to 216 - 1]

Returns the distance to a sampling point position as set by SetSamplingPoint.

procedure TBrickletDistanceIR.GetIdentity(out uid: string; out connectedUid: string; out position: char; out hardwareVersion: array [0..2] of byte; out firmwareVersion: array [0..2] of byte; out deviceIdentifier: word)
Output Parameters:
  • uid – Type: string, Length: up to 8
  • connectedUid – Type: string, Length: up to 8
  • position – Type: char, Range: ['a' to 'h', 'z']
  • hardwareVersion – Type: array [0..2] of byte
    • 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: array [0..2] of byte
    • 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: word, 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

procedure TBrickletDistanceIR.SetDistanceCallbackPeriod(const period: longword)
Parameters:
  • period – Type: longword, Unit: 1 ms, Range: [0 to 232 - 1], Default: 0

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

The OnDistance callback is only triggered if the distance has changed since the last triggering.

function TBrickletDistanceIR.GetDistanceCallbackPeriod: longword
Returns:
  • period – Type: longword, Unit: 1 ms, Range: [0 to 232 - 1], Default: 0

Returns the period as set by SetDistanceCallbackPeriod.

procedure TBrickletDistanceIR.SetAnalogValueCallbackPeriod(const period: longword)
Parameters:
  • period – Type: longword, Unit: 1 ms, Range: [0 to 232 - 1], Default: 0

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

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

function TBrickletDistanceIR.GetAnalogValueCallbackPeriod: longword
Returns:
  • period – Type: longword, Unit: 1 ms, Range: [0 to 232 - 1], Default: 0

Returns the period as set by SetAnalogValueCallbackPeriod.

procedure TBrickletDistanceIR.SetDistanceCallbackThreshold(const option: char; const min: word; const max: word)
Parameters:
  • option – Type: char, Range: See constants, Default: 'x'
  • min – Type: word, Unit: 1 mm, Range: [0 to 216 - 1], Default: 0
  • max – Type: word, Unit: 1 mm, Range: [0 to 216 - 1], Default: 0

Sets the thresholds for the OnDistanceReached callback.

The following options are possible:

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

The following constants are available for this function:

For option:

  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = 'x'
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = 'o'
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = 'i'
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = '<'
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = '>'
procedure TBrickletDistanceIR.GetDistanceCallbackThreshold(out option: char; out min: word; out max: word)
Output Parameters:
  • option – Type: char, Range: See constants, Default: 'x'
  • min – Type: word, Unit: 1 mm, Range: [0 to 216 - 1], Default: 0
  • max – Type: word, Unit: 1 mm, Range: [0 to 216 - 1], Default: 0

Returns the threshold as set by SetDistanceCallbackThreshold.

The following constants are available for this function:

For option:

  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = 'x'
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = 'o'
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = 'i'
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = '<'
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = '>'
procedure TBrickletDistanceIR.SetAnalogValueCallbackThreshold(const option: char; const min: word; const max: word)
Parameters:
  • option – Type: char, Range: See constants, Default: 'x'
  • min – Type: word, Range: [0 to 216 - 1], Default: 0
  • max – Type: word, Range: [0 to 216 - 1], Default: 0

Sets the thresholds for the OnAnalogValueReached 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:

  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = 'x'
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = 'o'
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = 'i'
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = '<'
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = '>'
procedure TBrickletDistanceIR.GetAnalogValueCallbackThreshold(out option: char; out min: word; out max: word)
Output Parameters:
  • option – Type: char, Range: See constants, Default: 'x'
  • min – Type: word, Range: [0 to 216 - 1], Default: 0
  • max – Type: word, Range: [0 to 216 - 1], Default: 0

Returns the threshold as set by SetAnalogValueCallbackThreshold.

The following constants are available for this function:

For option:

  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = 'x'
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = 'o'
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = 'i'
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = '<'
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = '>'
procedure TBrickletDistanceIR.SetDebouncePeriod(const debounce: longword)
Parameters:
  • debounce – Type: longword, Unit: 1 ms, Range: [0 to 232 - 1], Default: 100

Sets the period with which the threshold callbacks

are triggered, if the thresholds

keep being reached.

function TBrickletDistanceIR.GetDebouncePeriod: longword
Returns:
  • debounce – Type: longword, 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:

procedure TExample.MyCallback(sender: TBrickletDistanceIR; const value: longint);
begin
  WriteLn(Format('Value: %d', [value]));
end;

distanceIR.OnExample := {$ifdef FPC}@{$endif}example.MyCallback;

The available callback properties and their parameter types 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.

property TBrickletDistanceIR.OnDistance
procedure(sender: TBrickletDistanceIR; const distance: word) of object;
Callback Parameters:
  • sender – Type: TBrickletDistanceIR
  • distance – Type: word, Unit: 1 mm, Range: [0 to 216 - 1]

This callback is triggered periodically with the period that is set by SetDistanceCallbackPeriod. The parameter is the distance of the sensor.

The OnDistance callback is only triggered if the distance has changed since the last triggering.

property TBrickletDistanceIR.OnAnalogValue
procedure(sender: TBrickletDistanceIR; const value: word) of object;
Callback Parameters:
  • sender – Type: TBrickletDistanceIR
  • value – Type: word, 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 OnAnalogValue callback is only triggered if the analog value has changed since the last triggering.

property TBrickletDistanceIR.OnDistanceReached
procedure(sender: TBrickletDistanceIR; const distance: word) of object;
Callback Parameters:
  • sender – Type: TBrickletDistanceIR
  • distance – Type: word, Unit: 1 mm, Range: [0 to 216 - 1]

This callback is triggered when the threshold as set by SetDistanceCallbackThreshold is reached. The parameter is the distance of the sensor.

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

property TBrickletDistanceIR.OnAnalogValueReached
procedure(sender: TBrickletDistanceIR; const value: word) of object;
Callback Parameters:
  • sender – Type: TBrickletDistanceIR
  • value – Type: word, 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.

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 TBrickletDistanceIR.GetAPIVersion: array [0..2] of byte
Output Parameters:
  • apiVersion – Type: array [0..2] of byte
    • 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 TBrickletDistanceIR.GetResponseExpected(const functionId: byte): 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:

  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_FUNCTION_SET_SAMPLING_POINT = 3
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_FUNCTION_SET_DISTANCE_CALLBACK_PERIOD = 5
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_FUNCTION_SET_ANALOG_VALUE_CALLBACK_PERIOD = 7
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_FUNCTION_SET_DISTANCE_CALLBACK_THRESHOLD = 9
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_FUNCTION_SET_ANALOG_VALUE_CALLBACK_THRESHOLD = 11
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_FUNCTION_SET_DEBOUNCE_PERIOD = 13
procedure TBrickletDistanceIR.SetResponseExpected(const functionId: byte; const responseExpected: 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.

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:

  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_FUNCTION_SET_SAMPLING_POINT = 3
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_FUNCTION_SET_DISTANCE_CALLBACK_PERIOD = 5
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_FUNCTION_SET_ANALOG_VALUE_CALLBACK_PERIOD = 7
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_FUNCTION_SET_DISTANCE_CALLBACK_THRESHOLD = 9
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_FUNCTION_SET_ANALOG_VALUE_CALLBACK_THRESHOLD = 11
  • BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_FUNCTION_SET_DEBOUNCE_PERIOD = 13
procedure TBrickletDistanceIR.SetResponseExpectedAll(const responseExpected: boolean)
Parameters:
  • responseExpected – Type: boolean

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

Constants

const BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_DEVICE_IDENTIFIER

This constant is used to identify a Distance IR Bricklet.

The GetIdentity function and the TIPConnection.OnEnumerate callback of the IP Connection have a deviceIdentifier parameter to specify the Brick's or Bricklet's type.

const BRICKLET_DISTANCE_IR_DEVICE_DISPLAY_NAME

This constant represents the human readable name of a Distance IR Bricklet.