LabVIEW - Laser Range Finder Bricklet

Note

This Bricklet is currently in the prototype stage and the software/hardware as well as the documentation is in an incomplete state.

This is the description of the LabVIEW API bindings for the Laser Range Finder Bricklet. General information and technical specifications for the Laser Range Finder Bricklet are summarized in its hardware description.

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

Examples

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

API

Generally, every method of the LabVIEW bindings that outputs a value can report a Tinkerforge.TimeoutException. This error gets reported if the device did not respond. If a cable based connection is used, it is unlikely that this exception gets thrown (assuming nobody plugs the device out). However, if a wireless connection is used, timeouts will occur if the distance to the device gets too big.

The namespace for all Brick/Bricklet bindings and the IPConnection is Tinkerforge.*.

Basic Functions

BrickletLaserRangeFinder(uid, ipcon) → laserRangeFinder
Input:
  • uid -- String
  • ipcon -- .NET Refnum (IPConnection)
Output:
  • laserRangeFinder -- .NET Refnum (BrickletLaserRangeFinder)

Creates an object with the unique device ID uid. This object can then be used after the IP Connection is connected (see examples above).

BrickletLaserRangeFinder.GetDistance() → distance
Output:
  • distance -- Int32

Returns the measured distance. The value has a range of 0 to 4000 and is given in cm.

The Laser Range Finder Bricklet knows different modes. Distances are only measured in the distance measurement mode, see SetMode(). Also the laser has to be enabled, see EnableLaser().

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

BrickletLaserRangeFinder.GetVelocity() → velocity
Output:
  • velocity -- Int16

Returns the measured velocity. The value has a range of 0 to 12700 and is given in 1/100 m/s.

The Laser Range Finder Bricklet knows different modes. Velocity is only measured in the velocity measurement modes, see SetMode(). Also the laser has to be enabled, see EnableLaser().

If you want to get the velocity periodically, it is recommended to use the callback Velocity and set the period with SetVelocityCallbackPeriod().

BrickletLaserRangeFinder.SetMode(mode)
Input:
  • mode -- Byte

The LIDAR has five different modes. One mode is for distance measurements and four modes are for velocity measurements with different ranges.

The following modes are available:

  • 0: Distance is measured with resolution 1.0 cm and range 0-400 cm
  • 1: Velocity is measured with resolution 0.1 m/s and range is 0-12.7 m/s
  • 2: Velocity is measured with resolution 0.25 m/s and range is 0-31.75 m/s
  • 3: Velocity is measured with resolution 0.5 m/s and range is 0-63.5 m/s
  • 4: Velocity is measured with resolution 1.0 m/s and range is 0-127 m/s

The default mode is 0 (distance is measured).

The following constants are available for this function:

  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.MODE_DISTANCE = 0
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.MODE_VELOCITY_MAX_13MS = 1
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.MODE_VELOCITY_MAX_32MS = 2
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.MODE_VELOCITY_MAX_64MS = 3
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.MODE_VELOCITY_MAX_127MS = 4
BrickletLaserRangeFinder.GetMode() → mode
Output:
  • mode -- Byte

Returns the mode as set by SetMode().

The following constants are available for this function:

  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.MODE_DISTANCE = 0
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.MODE_VELOCITY_MAX_13MS = 1
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.MODE_VELOCITY_MAX_32MS = 2
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.MODE_VELOCITY_MAX_64MS = 3
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.MODE_VELOCITY_MAX_127MS = 4
BrickletLaserRangeFinder.EnableLaser()

Activates the laser of the LIDAR.

We recommend that you wait 250ms after enabling the laser before the first call of GetDistance() to ensure stable measurements.

BrickletLaserRangeFinder.DisableLaser()

Deactivates the laser of the LIDAR.

BrickletLaserRangeFinder.IsLaserEnabled() → laserEnabled
Output:
  • laserEnabled -- Boolean

Returns true if the laser is enabled, false otherwise.

Advanced Functions

BrickletLaserRangeFinder.SetMovingAverage(distanceAverageLength, velocityAverageLength)
Input:
  • distanceAverageLength -- Byte
  • velocityAverageLength -- Byte

Sets the length of a moving averaging for the distance and velocity.

Setting the length to 0 will turn the averaging completely off. With less averaging, there is more noise on the data.

The range for the averaging is 0-30.

The default value is 10.

BrickletLaserRangeFinder.GetMovingAverage() → distanceAverageLength, velocityAverageLength
Output:
  • distanceAverageLength -- Byte
  • velocityAverageLength -- Byte

Returns the length moving average as set by SetMovingAverage().

BrickletLaserRangeFinder.GetAPIVersion() → apiVersion
Output:
  • apiVersion -- Byte[3]

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.

BrickletLaserRangeFinder.GetResponseExpected(functionId) → responseExpected
Input:
  • functionId -- Byte
Output:
  • responseExpected -- 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 send and errors are silently ignored, because they cannot be detected.

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

BrickletLaserRangeFinder.SetResponseExpected(functionId, responseExpected)
Input:
  • functionId -- Byte
  • responseExpected -- 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 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:

  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.FUNCTION_SET_DISTANCE_CALLBACK_PERIOD = 3
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.FUNCTION_SET_VELOCITY_CALLBACK_PERIOD = 5
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.FUNCTION_SET_DISTANCE_CALLBACK_THRESHOLD = 7
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.FUNCTION_SET_VELOCITY_CALLBACK_THRESHOLD = 9
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.FUNCTION_SET_DEBOUNCE_PERIOD = 11
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.FUNCTION_SET_MOVING_AVERAGE = 13
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.FUNCTION_SET_MODE = 15
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.FUNCTION_ENABLE_LASER = 17
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.FUNCTION_DISABLE_LASER = 18
BrickletLaserRangeFinder.SetResponseExpectedAll(responseExpected)
Input:
  • responseExpected -- Boolean

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

BrickletLaserRangeFinder.GetIdentity() → uid, connectedUid, position, hardwareVersion, firmwareVersion, deviceIdentifier
Output:
  • uid -- String
  • connectedUid -- String
  • position -- Char
  • hardwareVersion -- Byte[3]
  • firmwareVersion -- Byte[3]
  • deviceIdentifier -- Int32

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.

Callback Configuration Functions

BrickletLaserRangeFinder.SetDistanceCallbackPeriod(period)
Input:
  • period -- Int64

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

Distance is only triggered if the distance value has changed since the last triggering.

The default value is 0.

BrickletLaserRangeFinder.GetDistanceCallbackPeriod() → period
Output:
  • period -- Int64

Returns the period as set by SetDistanceCallbackPeriod().

BrickletLaserRangeFinder.SetVelocityCallbackPeriod(period)
Input:
  • period -- Int64

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

Velocity is only triggered if the velocity value has changed since the last triggering.

The default value is 0.

BrickletLaserRangeFinder.GetVelocityCallbackPeriod() → period
Output:
  • period -- Int64

Returns the period as set by SetVelocityCallbackPeriod().

BrickletLaserRangeFinder.SetDistanceCallbackThreshold(option, min, max)
Input:
  • option -- Char
  • min -- Int32
  • max -- Int32

Sets the thresholds for the DistanceReached callback.

The following options are possible:

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

  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = 'x'
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = 'o'
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = 'i'
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = '<'
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = '>'
BrickletLaserRangeFinder.GetDistanceCallbackThreshold() → option, min, max
Output:
  • option -- Char
  • min -- Int32
  • max -- Int32

Returns the threshold as set by SetDistanceCallbackThreshold().

The following constants are available for this function:

  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = 'x'
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = 'o'
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = 'i'
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = '<'
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = '>'
BrickletLaserRangeFinder.SetVelocityCallbackThreshold(option, min, max)
Input:
  • option -- Char
  • min -- Int16
  • max -- Int16

Sets the thresholds for the VelocityReached callback.

The following options are possible:

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

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

The following constants are available for this function:

  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = 'x'
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = 'o'
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = 'i'
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = '<'
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = '>'
BrickletLaserRangeFinder.GetVelocityCallbackThreshold() → option, min, max
Output:
  • option -- Char
  • min -- Int16
  • max -- Int16

Returns the threshold as set by SetVelocityCallbackThreshold().

The following constants are available for this function:

  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = 'x'
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = 'o'
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = 'i'
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = '<'
  • BrickletLaserRangeFinder.THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = '>'
BrickletLaserRangeFinder.SetDebouncePeriod(debounce)
Input:
  • debounce -- Int64

Sets the period in ms with which the threshold callbacks

are triggered, if the thresholds

keep being reached.

The default value is 100.

BrickletLaserRangeFinder.GetDebouncePeriod() → debounce
Output:
  • debounce -- Int64

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 function to a callback property of the device object. 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 BrickletLaserRangeFinder.Distance(sender, distance)
Input:
  • sender -- .NET Refnum (BrickletLaserRangeFinder)
  • distance -- Int32

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

Distance is only triggered if the distance value has changed since the last triggering.

event BrickletLaserRangeFinder.Velocity(sender, velocity)
Input:
  • sender -- .NET Refnum (BrickletLaserRangeFinder)
  • velocity -- Int16

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

Velocity is only triggered if the velocity has changed since the last triggering.

event BrickletLaserRangeFinder.DistanceReached(sender, distance)
Input:
  • sender -- .NET Refnum (BrickletLaserRangeFinder)
  • distance -- Int32

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

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

event BrickletLaserRangeFinder.VelocityReached(sender, velocity)
Input:
  • sender -- .NET Refnum (BrickletLaserRangeFinder)
  • velocity -- Int16

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

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

Constants

BrickletLaserRangeFinder.DEVICE_IDENTIFIER

This constant is used to identify a Laser Range Finder Bricklet.

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

Creative Commons Licence The content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.