Software / API Bindings / Visual Basic .NET / API Reference and Examples / Bricklets / Industrial Dual 0-20mA Bricklet

Visual Basic .NET - Industrial Dual 0-20mA Bricklet¶

This is the description of the Visual Basic .NET API bindings for the Industrial Dual 0-20mA Bricklet. General information and technical specifications for the Industrial Dual 0-20mA 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 Industrial Dual 0-20mA Bricklet

    Sub Main()
        Dim ipcon As New IPConnection() ' Create IP connection
        Dim id020 As New BrickletIndustrialDual020mA(UID, ipcon) ' Create device object

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

        ' Get current current from sensor 1
        Dim current As Integer = id020.GetCurrent(1)
        Console.WriteLine("Current (Sensor 1): " + (current/1000000.0).ToString() + " mA")

        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 Industrial Dual 0-20mA Bricklet

    ' Callback subroutine for current callback
    Sub CurrentCB(ByVal sender As BrickletIndustrialDual020mA, ByVal sensor As Byte, _
                  ByVal current As Integer)
        Console.WriteLine("Sensor: " + sensor.ToString())
        Console.WriteLine("Current: " + (current/1000000.0).ToString() + " mA")
        Console.WriteLine("")
    End Sub

    Sub Main()
        Dim ipcon As New IPConnection() ' Create IP connection
        Dim id020 As New BrickletIndustrialDual020mA(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 id020.CurrentCallback, AddressOf CurrentCB

        ' Set period for current (sensor 1) callback to 1s (1000ms)
        ' Note: The current (sensor 1) callback is only called every second
        '       if the current (sensor 1) has changed since the last call!
        id020.SetCurrentCallbackPeriod(1, 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 Industrial Dual 0-20mA Bricklet

    ' Callback subroutine for current reached callback
    Sub CurrentReachedCB(ByVal sender As BrickletIndustrialDual020mA, _
                         ByVal sensor As Byte, ByVal current As Integer)
        Console.WriteLine("Sensor: " + sensor.ToString())
        Console.WriteLine("Current: " + (current/1000000.0).ToString() + " mA")
        Console.WriteLine("")
    End Sub

    Sub Main()
        Dim ipcon As New IPConnection() ' Create IP connection
        Dim id020 As New BrickletIndustrialDual020mA(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)
        id020.SetDebouncePeriod(10000)

        ' Register current reached callback to subroutine CurrentReachedCB
        AddHandler id020.CurrentReachedCallback, AddressOf CurrentReachedCB

        ' Configure threshold for current (sensor 1) "greater than 10 mA"
        id020.SetCurrentCallbackThreshold(1, ">"C, 10*1000000, 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 BrickletIndustrialDual020mA(ByVal uid As String, ByVal ipcon As IPConnection)¶

Creates an object with the unique device ID uid:

Dim industrialDual020mA As New BrickletIndustrialDual020mA("YOUR_DEVICE_UID", ipcon)

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

Function BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.GetCurrent(ByVal sensor As Byte) As Integer¶

Parameters:	sensor – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 1]
Returns:	current – Type: Integer, Unit: 1 nA, Range: [0 to 22505322]

Returns the current of the specified sensor.

It is possible to detect if an IEC 60381-1 compatible sensor is connected and if it works properly.

If the returned current is below 4mA, there is likely no sensor connected or the sensor may be defect. If the returned current is over 20mA, there might be a short circuit or the sensor may be defect.

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 BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.SetSampleRate(ByVal rate As Byte)¶

Parameters:	rate – Type: Byte, Range: See constants, Default: 3

Sets the sample rate to either 240, 60, 15 or 4 samples per second. The resolution for the rates is 12, 14, 16 and 18 bit respectively.

Value	Description
0	240 samples per second, 12 bit resolution
1	60 samples per second, 14 bit resolution
2	15 samples per second, 16 bit resolution
3	4 samples per second, 18 bit resolution

The following constants are available for this function:

For rate:

BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.SAMPLE_RATE_240_SPS = 0
BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.SAMPLE_RATE_60_SPS = 1
BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.SAMPLE_RATE_15_SPS = 2
BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.SAMPLE_RATE_4_SPS = 3

Function BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.GetSampleRate() As Byte¶

Returns:	rate – Type: Byte, Range: See constants, Default: 3

Returns the sample rate as set by SetSampleRate().

The following constants are available for this function:

For rate:

BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.SAMPLE_RATE_240_SPS = 0
BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.SAMPLE_RATE_60_SPS = 1
BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.SAMPLE_RATE_15_SPS = 2
BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.SAMPLE_RATE_4_SPS = 3

Sub BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.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 BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.SetCurrentCallbackPeriod(ByVal sensor As Byte, ByVal period As Long)¶

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

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

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

Function BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.GetCurrentCallbackPeriod(ByVal sensor As Byte) As Long¶

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

Returns the period as set by SetCurrentCallbackPeriod().

Sub BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.SetCurrentCallbackThreshold(ByVal sensor As Byte, ByVal option As Char, ByVal min As Integer, ByVal max As Integer)¶

Parameters:	sensor – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 1] option – Type: Char, Range: See constants, Default: "x"C min – Type: Integer, Unit: 1 nA, Range: [-2³¹ to 2³¹ - 1], Default: 0 max – Type: Integer, Unit: 1 nA, Range: [-2³¹ to 2³¹ - 1], Default: 0

Sets the thresholds for the CurrentReachedCallback callback for the given sensor.

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:

BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = "x"C
BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = "o"C
BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = "i"C
BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = "<"C
BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = ">"C

Sub BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.GetCurrentCallbackThreshold(ByVal sensor As Byte, ByRef option As Char, ByRef min As Integer, ByRef max As Integer)¶

Parameters:	sensor – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 1]
Output Parameters:	option – Type: Char, Range: See constants, Default: "x"C min – Type: Integer, Unit: 1 nA, Range: [-2³¹ to 2³¹ - 1], Default: 0 max – Type: Integer, Unit: 1 nA, Range: [-2³¹ to 2³¹ - 1], Default: 0

Returns the threshold as set by SetCurrentCallbackThreshold().

The following constants are available for this function:

For option:

BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = "x"C
BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = "o"C
BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = "i"C
BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = "<"C
BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = ">"C

Sub BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.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 callback

CurrentReachedCallback

is triggered, if the threshold

SetCurrentCallbackThreshold()

keeps being reached.

Function BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.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 BrickletIndustrialDual020mA, ByVal value As Short)
    Console.WriteLine("Value: {0}", value)
End Sub

AddHandler industrialDual020mA.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 BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.CurrentCallback(ByVal sender As BrickletIndustrialDual020mA, ByVal sensor As Byte, ByVal current As Integer)¶

Callback Parameters:	sender – Type: BrickletIndustrialDual020mA sensor – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 1] current – Type: Integer, Unit: 1 nA, Range: [0 to 22505322]

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 BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.CurrentReachedCallback(ByVal sender As BrickletIndustrialDual020mA, ByVal sensor As Byte, ByVal current As Integer)¶

Callback Parameters:	sender – Type: BrickletIndustrialDual020mA sensor – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 1] current – Type: Integer, Unit: 1 nA, Range: [0 to 22505322]

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().

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 BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.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 BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.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:

BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.FUNCTION_SET_CURRENT_CALLBACK_PERIOD = 2
BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.FUNCTION_SET_CURRENT_CALLBACK_THRESHOLD = 4
BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.FUNCTION_SET_DEBOUNCE_PERIOD = 6
BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.FUNCTION_SET_SAMPLE_RATE = 8

Sub BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.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:

BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.FUNCTION_SET_CURRENT_CALLBACK_PERIOD = 2
BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.FUNCTION_SET_CURRENT_CALLBACK_THRESHOLD = 4
BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.FUNCTION_SET_DEBOUNCE_PERIOD = 6
BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.FUNCTION_SET_SAMPLE_RATE = 8

Sub BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.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 BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.DEVICE_IDENTIFIER¶

This constant is used to identify a Industrial Dual 0-20mA 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 BrickletIndustrialDual020mA.DEVICE_DISPLAY_NAME¶: This constant represents the human readable name of a Industrial Dual 0-20mA Bricklet.