Visual Basic .NET - IO-4 Bricklet – Tinkerforge

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# Visual Basic .NET - IO-4 Bricklet

This is the description of the Visual Basic .NET API bindings for the IO-4 Bricklet. General information and technical specifications for the IO-4 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).

### Output

Download (ExampleOutput.vb)

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    Imports Tinkerforge

    Module ExampleSimple
        Const HOST As String = "localhost"
        Const PORT As Integer = 4223
        Const UID As String = "adL" ' Change to your UID

        Sub Main()
            Dim ipcon As New IPConnection() ' Create IP connection
            Dim io4 As New BrickletIO4(UID, ipcon) ' Create device object

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

            ' Set pin 1 to output low
            io4.SetConfiguration(1 << 1, "o"C, false)

            ' Set pin 2 and 3 to output high
            io4.SetConfiguration((1 << 2) or (1 << 3), "o"C, true)

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

### Interrupt

Download (ExampleInterrupt.vb)

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    Imports Tinkerforge

    Module ExampleInterrupt
        Const HOST As String = "localhost"
        Const PORT As Integer = 4223
        Const UID As String = "adL" ' Change to your UID

        ' Callback function for interrupts
        Sub InterruptCB(ByVal sender As BrickletIO4, _
                        ByVal interruptMask As Byte, ByVal valueMask As Byte)
            Dim interruptBinary As String = System.Convert.ToString(interruptMask, 2)
            Dim valueBinary As String = System.Convert.ToString(valueMask, 2)

            System.Console.WriteLine("Interrupt by: " + interruptBinary)
            System.Console.WriteLine("Value: " + valueBinary)
        End Sub

        Sub Main()
            Dim ipcon As New IPConnection() ' Create IP connection
            Dim io4 As New BrickletIO4(UID, ipcon) ' Create device object

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

            ' Register callback for interrupts
            AddHandler io4.Interrupt, AddressOf InterruptCB

            ' Enable interrupt on pin 0
            io4.SetInterrupt(1 << 0)

            System.Console.WriteLine("Press key to exit")
            System.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 `BrickletIO4`(ByVal uid As String, ByVal ipcon As IPConnection)

  Creates an object with the unique device ID `uid`:

      Dim io4 As New BrickletIO4("YOUR_DEVICE_UID", ipcon)

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

Sub `BrickletIO4.``SetValue`(ByVal valueMask As Byte)

  Sets the output value (high or low) with a bitmask (4bit). A 1 in the bitmask means high and a 0 in the bitmask means low.

  For example: The value 3 or 0b0011 will turn the pins 0-1 high and the pins 2-3 low.

  Note

  This function does nothing for pins that are configured as input. Pull-up resistors can be switched on with `SetConfiguration()`.

Function `BrickletIO4.``GetValue`() As Byte

  Returns a bitmask of the values that are currently measured. This function works if the pin is configured to input as well as if it is configured to output.

Sub `BrickletIO4.``SetConfiguration`(ByVal selectionMask As Byte, ByVal direction As Char, ByVal value As Boolean)

  Configures the value and direction of the specified pins. Possible directions are 'i' and 'o' for input and output.

  If the direction is configured as output, the value is either high or low (set as true or false).

  If the direction is configured as input, the value is either pull-up or default (set as true or false).

  For example:

  - (15, 'i', true) or (0b1111, 'i', true) will set all pins of as input pull-up.
  - (8, 'i', false) or (0b1000, 'i', false) will set pin 3 of as input default (floating if nothing is connected).
  - (3, 'o', false) or (0b0011, 'o', false) will set pins 0 and 1 as output low.
  - (4, 'o', true) or (0b0100, 'o', true) will set pin 2 of as output high.

  The default configuration is input with pull-up.

  The following constants are available for this function:

  - BrickletIO4.DIRECTION_IN = "i"C
  - BrickletIO4.DIRECTION_OUT = "o"C

Sub `BrickletIO4.``GetConfiguration`(ByRef directionMask As Byte, ByRef valueMask As Byte)

  Returns a value bitmask and a direction bitmask. A 1 in the direction bitmask means input and a 0 in the bitmask means output.

  For example: A return value of (3, 5) or (0b0011, 0b0101) for direction and value means that:

  - pin 0 is configured as input pull-up,
  - pin 1 is configured as input default,
  - pin 2 is configured as output high and
  - pin 3 is are configured as output low.

Function `BrickletIO4.``GetEdgeCount`(ByVal pin As Byte, ByVal resetCounter As Boolean) As Long

  Returns the current value of the edge counter for the selected pin. You can configure the edges that are counted with `SetEdgeCountConfig()`.

  If you set the reset counter to true, the count is set back to 0 directly after it is read.

  New in version 2.0.1 (Plugin).

### Advanced Functions

Sub `BrickletIO4.``SetMonoflop`(ByVal selectionMask As Byte, ByVal valueMask As Byte, ByVal time As Long)

  Configures a monoflop of the pins specified by the first parameter as 4 bit long bitmask. The specified pins must be configured for output. Non-output pins will be ignored.

  The second parameter is a bitmask with the desired value of the specified output pins. A 1 in the bitmask means high and a 0 in the bitmask means low.

  The third parameter indicates the time (in ms) that the pins should hold the value.

  If this function is called with the parameters (9, 1, 1500) or (0b1001, 0b0001, 1500): Pin 0 will get high and pin 3 will get low. In 1.5s pin 0 will get low and pin 3 will get high again.

  A monoflop can be used as a fail-safe mechanism. For example: Lets assume you have a RS485 bus and an IO-4 Bricklet connected to one of the slave stacks. You can now call this function every second, with a time parameter of two seconds and pin 0 set to high. Pin 0 will be high all the time. If now the RS485 connection is lost, then pin 0 will get low in at most two seconds.

Sub `BrickletIO4.``GetMonoflop`(ByVal pin As Byte, ByRef value As Byte, ByRef time As Long, ByRef timeRemaining As Long)

  Returns (for the given pin) the current value and the time as set by `SetMonoflop()` as well as the remaining time until the value flips.

  If the timer is not running currently, the remaining time will be returned as 0.

Sub `BrickletIO4.``SetSelectedValues`(ByVal selectionMask As Byte, ByVal valueMask As Byte)

  Sets the output value (high or low) with a bitmask, according to the selection mask. The bitmask is 4 bit long, true refers to high and false refers to low.

  For example: The parameters (9, 4) or (0b0110, 0b0100) will turn pin 1 low and pin 2 high, pin 0 and 3 will remain untouched.

  Note

  This function does nothing for pins that are configured as input. Pull-up resistors can be switched on with `SetConfiguration()`.

Sub `BrickletIO4.``SetEdgeCountConfig`(ByVal selectionMask As Byte, ByVal edgeType As Byte, ByVal debounce As Byte)

  Configures the edge counter for the selected pins.

  The edge type parameter configures if rising edges, falling edges or both are counted if the pin is configured for input. Possible edge types are:

  - 0 = rising (default)
  - 1 = falling
  - 2 = both

  The debounce time is given in ms.

  Configuring an edge counter resets its value to 0.

  If you don't know what any of this means, just leave it at default. The default configuration is very likely OK for you.

  Default values: 0 (edge type) and 100ms (debounce time)

  The following constants are available for this function:

  - BrickletIO4.EDGE_TYPE_RISING = 0
  - BrickletIO4.EDGE_TYPE_FALLING = 1
  - BrickletIO4.EDGE_TYPE_BOTH = 2

  New in version 2.0.1 (Plugin).

Sub `BrickletIO4.``GetEdgeCountConfig`(ByVal pin As Byte, ByRef edgeType As Byte, ByRef debounce As Byte)

  Returns the edge type and debounce time for the selected pin as set by `SetEdgeCountConfig()`.

  The following constants are available for this function:

  - BrickletIO4.EDGE_TYPE_RISING = 0
  - BrickletIO4.EDGE_TYPE_FALLING = 1
  - BrickletIO4.EDGE_TYPE_BOTH = 2

  New in version 2.0.1 (Plugin).

Function `BrickletIO4.``GetAPIVersion`() As Byte()

  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.

Function `BrickletIO4.``GetResponseExpected`(ByVal functionId As Byte) As 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.

Sub `BrickletIO4.``SetResponseExpected`(ByVal functionId As Byte, ByVal responseExpected As 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:

  - BrickletIO4.FUNCTION_SET_VALUE = 1
  - BrickletIO4.FUNCTION_SET_CONFIGURATION = 3
  - BrickletIO4.FUNCTION_SET_DEBOUNCE_PERIOD = 5
  - BrickletIO4.FUNCTION_SET_INTERRUPT = 7
  - BrickletIO4.FUNCTION_SET_MONOFLOP = 10
  - BrickletIO4.FUNCTION_SET_SELECTED_VALUES = 13
  - BrickletIO4.FUNCTION_SET_EDGE_COUNT_CONFIG = 15

Sub `BrickletIO4.``SetResponseExpectedAll`(ByVal responseExpected As Boolean)

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

Sub `BrickletIO4.``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)

  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

Sub `BrickletIO4.``SetDebouncePeriod`(ByVal debounce As Long)

  Sets the debounce period of the `Interrupt` callback in ms.

  For example: If you set this value to 100, you will get the interrupt maximal every 100ms. This is necessary if something that bounces is connected to the IO-4 Bricklet, such as a button.

  The default value is 100.

Function `BrickletIO4.``GetDebouncePeriod`() As Long

  Returns the debounce period as set by `SetDebouncePeriod()`.

Sub `BrickletIO4.``SetInterrupt`(ByVal interruptMask As Byte)

  Sets the pins on which an interrupt is activated with a bitmask. Interrupts are triggered on changes of the voltage level of the pin, i.e. changes from high to low and low to high.

  For example: An interrupt bitmask of 10 or 0b1010 will enable the interrupt for pins 1 and 3.

  The interrupt is delivered with the callback `Interrupt`.

Function `BrickletIO4.``GetInterrupt`() As Byte

  Returns the interrupt bitmask as set by `SetInterrupt()`.

### 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 Callback(ByVal sender As BrickletIO4, ByVal value As Short)
>         Console.WriteLine("Value: {0}", value)
>     End Sub

>     AddHandler io4.Example, AddressOf Callback

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 `BrickletIO4.``Interrupt`(ByVal sender As BrickletIO4, ByVal interruptMask As Byte, ByVal valueMask As Byte)

  This callback is triggered whenever a change of the voltage level is detected on pins where the interrupt was activated with `SetInterrupt()`.

  The values are a bitmask that specifies which interrupts occurred and the current value bitmask.

  For example:

  - (1, 1) or (0b0001, 0b0001) means that an interrupt on pin 0 occurred and currently pin 0 is high and pins 1-3 are low.
  - (9, 14) or (0b1001, 0b1110) means that interrupts on pins 0 and 3 occurred and currently pin 0 is low and pins 1-3 are high.

Event `BrickletIO4.``MonoflopDone`(ByVal sender As BrickletIO4, ByVal selectionMask As Byte, ByVal valueMask As Byte)

  This callback is triggered whenever a monoflop timer reaches 0. The parameters contain the involved pins and the current value of the pins (the value after the monoflop).

### Constants

Const `BrickletIO4.``DEVICE_IDENTIFIER`

  This constant is used to identify a IO-4 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.

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