Python - Analog In Bricklet

This is the description of the Python API bindings for the Analog In Bricklet. General information and technical specifications for the Analog In Bricklet are summarized in its hardware description.

An installation guide for the Python API bindings is part of their general description.

Examples

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

Simple

Download (example_simple.py)

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#!/usr/bin/env python
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-  

HOST = "localhost"
PORT = 4223
UID = "ABC" # Change to your UID

from tinkerforge.ip_connection import IPConnection
from tinkerforge.bricklet_analog_in import AnalogIn

if __name__ == "__main__":
    ipcon = IPConnection() # Create IP connection
    ai = AnalogIn(UID, ipcon) # Create device object

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

    # Get current voltage (unit is mV)
    voltage = ai.get_voltage()

    print('Voltage: ' + str(voltage/1000.0) + ' V')

    raw_input('Press key to exit\n') # Use input() in Python 3
    ipcon.disconnect()

Callback

Download (example_callback.py)

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#!/usr/bin/env python
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-  

HOST = "localhost"
PORT = 4223
UID = "ABC" # Change to your UID

from tinkerforge.ip_connection import IPConnection
from tinkerforge.bricklet_analog_in import AnalogIn

# Callback function for voltage callback (parameter has unit mV)
def cb_voltage(voltage):
    print('Voltage: ' + str(voltage/1000.0) + ' V')

if __name__ == "__main__":
    ipcon = IPConnection() # Create IP connection
    ai = AnalogIn(UID, ipcon) # Create device object

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

    # Set Period for voltage callback to 1s (1000ms)
    # Note: The callback is only called every second if the 
    #       voltage has changed since the last call!
    ai.set_voltage_callback_period(1000)

    # Register voltage callback to function cb_voltage
    ai.register_callback(ai.CALLBACK_VOLTAGE, cb_voltage)

    raw_input('Press key to exit\n') # Use input() in Python 3
    ipcon.disconnect()

Threshold

Download (example_threshold.py)

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#!/usr/bin/env python
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-  

HOST = "localhost"
PORT = 4223
UID = "ABC" # Change to your UID

from tinkerforge.ip_connection import IPConnection
from tinkerforge.bricklet_analog_in import AnalogIn

# Callback for voltage smaller than 5V
def cb_reached(voltage):
    print('Voltage dropped below 5V: ' + str(voltage/1000.0))

if __name__ == "__main__":
    ipcon = IPConnection() # Create IP connection
    ai = AnalogIn(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)
    ai.set_debounce_period(10000)

    # Register threshold reached callback to function cb_reached
    ai.register_callback(ai.CALLBACK_VOLTAGE_REACHED, cb_reached)

    # Configure threshold for "smaller than 5V" (unit is mV)
    ai.set_voltage_callback_threshold('<', 5*1000, 0)

    raw_input('Press key to exit\n') # Use input() in Python 3
    ipcon.disconnect()

API

Generally, every method of the Python bindings can throw an tinkerforge.ip_connection.Error exception that has a value and a description property. value can have different values:

  • Error.TIMEOUT = -1
  • Error.ALREADY_CONNECTED = -7
  • Error.NOT_CONNECTED = -8
  • Error.INVALID_PARAMETER = -9
  • Error.NOT_SUPPORTED = -10
  • Error.UNKNOWN_ERROR_CODE = -11

All methods listed below are thread-safe.

Basic Functions

AnalogIn(uid, ipcon)
Parameters:
  • uid -- string
  • ipcon -- IPConnection

Creates an object with the unique device ID uid:

analog_in = AnalogIn("YOUR_DEVICE_UID", ipcon)

This object can then be used after the IP Connection is connected (see examples above).

AnalogIn.get_voltage()
Return type:int

Returns the voltage of the sensor. The value is in mV and between 0V and 45V. The resolution between 0 and 6V is about 2mV. Between 6 and 45V the resolution is about 10mV.

If you want to get the voltage periodically, it is recommended to use the callback CALLBACK_VOLTAGE and set the period with set_voltage_callback_period().

AnalogIn.set_range(range)
Parameters:range -- int
Return type:None

Sets the measurement range. Possible ranges:

  • 0: Automatically switched
  • 1: 0V - 6.05V,  1.48mV resolution
  • 2: 0V - 10.32V,  2.52mV resolution
  • 3: 0V - 36.30V,  8.86mV resolution
  • 4: 0V - 45.00V,  11.25mV resolution
  • 5: 0V - 3.3V,  0.81mV resolution, new in version 2.0.3 (Plugin)

The default measurement range is 0.

The following constants are available for this function:

  • AnalogIn.RANGE_AUTOMATIC = 0
  • AnalogIn.RANGE_UP_TO_6V = 1
  • AnalogIn.RANGE_UP_TO_10V = 2
  • AnalogIn.RANGE_UP_TO_36V = 3
  • AnalogIn.RANGE_UP_TO_45V = 4
  • AnalogIn.RANGE_UP_TO_3V = 5

New in version 2.0.1 (Plugin).

AnalogIn.get_range()
Return type:int

Returns the measurement range as set by set_range().

The following constants are available for this function:

  • AnalogIn.RANGE_AUTOMATIC = 0
  • AnalogIn.RANGE_UP_TO_6V = 1
  • AnalogIn.RANGE_UP_TO_10V = 2
  • AnalogIn.RANGE_UP_TO_36V = 3
  • AnalogIn.RANGE_UP_TO_45V = 4
  • AnalogIn.RANGE_UP_TO_3V = 5

New in version 2.0.1 (Plugin).

Advanced Functions

AnalogIn.get_analog_value()
Return type:int

Returns the value as read by a 12-bit analog-to-digital converter. The value is between 0 and 4095.

Note

The value returned by get_voltage() is averaged over several samples to yield less noise, while get_analog_value() gives back raw unfiltered analog values. The only reason to use get_analog_value() 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 callback CALLBACK_ANALOG_VALUE and set the period with set_analog_value_callback_period().

AnalogIn.set_averaging(average)
Parameters:average -- int
Return type:None

Set the length of a averaging for the voltage value.

Setting the length to 0 will turn the averaging completely off. If the averaging is off, there is more noise on the data, but the data is without delay.

The default value is 50.

New in version 2.0.3 (Plugin).

AnalogIn.get_averaging()
Return type:int

Returns the averaging configuration as set by set_averaging().

New in version 2.0.3 (Plugin).

AnalogIn.get_api_version()
Return type:[int, int, int]

Returns the version of the API definition (major, minor, revision) 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.

AnalogIn.get_response_expected(function_id)
Parameters:function_id -- int
Return type:bool

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 set_response_expected(). 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 send and errors are silently ignored, because they cannot be detected.

See set_response_expected() for the list of function ID constants available for this function.

AnalogIn.set_response_expected(function_id, response_expected)
Parameters:
  • function_id -- int
  • response_expected -- bool
Return type:

None

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 and callbacks it is always disabled.

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 send and errors are silently ignored, because they cannot be detected.

The following function ID constants are available for this function:

  • AnalogIn.FUNCTION_SET_VOLTAGE_CALLBACK_PERIOD = 3
  • AnalogIn.FUNCTION_SET_ANALOG_VALUE_CALLBACK_PERIOD = 5
  • AnalogIn.FUNCTION_SET_VOLTAGE_CALLBACK_THRESHOLD = 7
  • AnalogIn.FUNCTION_SET_ANALOG_VALUE_CALLBACK_THRESHOLD = 9
  • AnalogIn.FUNCTION_SET_DEBOUNCE_PERIOD = 11
  • AnalogIn.FUNCTION_SET_RANGE = 17
  • AnalogIn.FUNCTION_SET_AVERAGING = 19
AnalogIn.set_response_expected_all(response_expected)
Parameters:response_expected -- bool
Return type:None

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

AnalogIn.get_identity()
Return type:(str, str, chr, [int, int, int], [int, int, int], int)

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' or 'd'.

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

The returned namedtuple has the variables uid, connected_uid, position, hardware_version, firmware_version and device_identifier.

Callback Configuration Functions

AnalogIn.register_callback(id, callback)
Parameters:
  • id -- int
  • callback -- callable
Return type:

None

Registers a callback with ID id to the function callback. The available IDs with corresponding function signatures are listed below.

AnalogIn.set_voltage_callback_period(period)
Parameters:period -- int
Return type:None

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

CALLBACK_VOLTAGE is only triggered if the voltage has changed since the last triggering.

The default value is 0.

AnalogIn.get_voltage_callback_period()
Return type:int

Returns the period as set by set_voltage_callback_period().

AnalogIn.set_analog_value_callback_period(period)
Parameters:period -- int
Return type:None

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

CALLBACK_ANALOG_VALUE is only triggered if the analog value has changed since the last triggering.

The default value is 0.

AnalogIn.get_analog_value_callback_period()
Return type:int

Returns the period as set by set_analog_value_callback_period().

AnalogIn.set_voltage_callback_threshold(option, min, max)
Parameters:
  • option -- chr
  • min -- int
  • max -- int
Return type:

None

Sets the thresholds for the CALLBACK_VOLTAGE_REACHED callback.

The following options are possible:

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

The default value is ('x', 0, 0).

The following constants are available for this function:

  • AnalogIn.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = 'x'
  • AnalogIn.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = 'o'
  • AnalogIn.THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = 'i'
  • AnalogIn.THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = '<'
  • AnalogIn.THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = '>'
AnalogIn.get_voltage_callback_threshold()
Return type:(chr, int, int)

Returns the threshold as set by set_voltage_callback_threshold().

The following constants are available for this function:

  • AnalogIn.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = 'x'
  • AnalogIn.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = 'o'
  • AnalogIn.THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = 'i'
  • AnalogIn.THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = '<'
  • AnalogIn.THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = '>'

The returned namedtuple has the variables option, min and max.

AnalogIn.set_analog_value_callback_threshold(option, min, max)
Parameters:
  • option -- chr
  • min -- int
  • max -- int
Return type:

None

Sets the thresholds for the CALLBACK_ANALOG_VALUE_REACHED 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 default value is ('x', 0, 0).

The following constants are available for this function:

  • AnalogIn.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = 'x'
  • AnalogIn.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = 'o'
  • AnalogIn.THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = 'i'
  • AnalogIn.THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = '<'
  • AnalogIn.THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = '>'
AnalogIn.get_analog_value_callback_threshold()
Return type:(chr, int, int)

Returns the threshold as set by set_analog_value_callback_threshold().

The following constants are available for this function:

  • AnalogIn.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = 'x'
  • AnalogIn.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = 'o'
  • AnalogIn.THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = 'i'
  • AnalogIn.THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = '<'
  • AnalogIn.THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = '>'

The returned namedtuple has the variables option, min and max.

AnalogIn.set_debounce_period(debounce)
Parameters:debounce -- int
Return type:None

Sets the period in ms with which the threshold callbacks

are triggered, if the thresholds

keep being reached.

The default value is 100.

AnalogIn.get_debounce_period()
Return type:int

Returns the debounce period as set by set_debounce_period().

Callbacks

Callbacks can be registered to receive time critical or recurring data from the device. The registration is done with the register_callback() function of the device object. The first parameter is the callback ID and the second parameter the callback function:

def my_callback(param):
    print(param)

analog_in.register_callback(AnalogIn.CALLBACK_EXAMPLE, my_callback)

The available constants with inherent number and 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.

AnalogIn.CALLBACK_VOLTAGE
Parameters:voltage -- int

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

CALLBACK_VOLTAGE is only triggered if the voltage has changed since the last triggering.

AnalogIn.CALLBACK_ANALOG_VALUE
Parameters:value -- int

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

CALLBACK_ANALOG_VALUE is only triggered if the voltage has changed since the last triggering.

AnalogIn.CALLBACK_VOLTAGE_REACHED
Parameters:voltage -- int

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

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

AnalogIn.CALLBACK_ANALOG_VALUE_REACHED
Parameters:value -- int

This callback is triggered when the threshold as set by set_analog_value_callback_threshold() 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 set_debounce_period().

Constants

AnalogIn.DEVICE_IDENTIFIER

This constant is used to identify a Analog In Bricklet.

The get_identity() function and the CALLBACK_ENUMERATE callback of the IP Connection have a device_identifier parameter to specify the Brick's or Bricklet's type.

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