MATLAB/Octave - Ambient Light Bricklet

This is the description of the MATLAB/Octave API bindings for the Ambient Light Bricklet. General information and technical specifications for the Ambient Light Bricklet are summarized in its hardware description.

An installation guide for the MATLAB/Octave API bindings is part of their general description.

Examples

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

Simple (MATLAB)

Download (matlab_example_simple.m)

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function matlab_example_simple()
    import com.tinkerforge.IPConnection;
    import com.tinkerforge.BrickletAmbientLight;

    HOST = 'localhost';
    PORT = 4223;
    UID = 'XYZ'; % Change XYZ to the UID of your Ambient Light Bricklet

    ipcon = IPConnection(); % Create IP connection
    al = handle(BrickletAmbientLight(UID, ipcon), 'CallbackProperties'); % Create device object

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

    % Get current illuminance
    illuminance = al.getIlluminance();
    fprintf('Illuminance: %g lx\n', illuminance/10.0);

    input('Press key to exit\n', 's');
    ipcon.disconnect();
end

Callback (MATLAB)

Download (matlab_example_callback.m)

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function matlab_example_callback()
    import com.tinkerforge.IPConnection;
    import com.tinkerforge.BrickletAmbientLight;

    HOST = 'localhost';
    PORT = 4223;
    UID = 'XYZ'; % Change XYZ to the UID of your Ambient Light Bricklet

    ipcon = IPConnection(); % Create IP connection
    al = handle(BrickletAmbientLight(UID, ipcon), 'CallbackProperties'); % Create device object

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

    % Register illuminance callback to function cb_illuminance
    set(al, 'IlluminanceCallback', @(h, e) cb_illuminance(e));

    % Set period for illuminance callback to 1s (1000ms)
    % Note: The illuminance callback is only called every second
    %       if the illuminance has changed since the last call!
    al.setIlluminanceCallbackPeriod(1000);

    input('Press key to exit\n', 's');
    ipcon.disconnect();
end

% Callback function for illuminance callback
function cb_illuminance(e)
    fprintf('Illuminance: %g lx\n', e.illuminance/10.0);
end

Threshold (MATLAB)

Download (matlab_example_threshold.m)

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function matlab_example_threshold()
    import com.tinkerforge.IPConnection;
    import com.tinkerforge.BrickletAmbientLight;

    HOST = 'localhost';
    PORT = 4223;
    UID = 'XYZ'; % Change XYZ to the UID of your Ambient Light Bricklet

    ipcon = IPConnection(); % Create IP connection
    al = handle(BrickletAmbientLight(UID, ipcon), 'CallbackProperties'); % 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)
    al.setDebouncePeriod(10000);

    % Register illuminance reached callback to function cb_illuminance_reached
    set(al, 'IlluminanceReachedCallback', @(h, e) cb_illuminance_reached(e));

    % Configure threshold for illuminance "greater than 200 lx"
    al.setIlluminanceCallbackThreshold('>', 200*10, 0);

    input('Press key to exit\n', 's');
    ipcon.disconnect();
end

% Callback function for illuminance reached callback
function cb_illuminance_reached(e)
    fprintf('Illuminance: %g lx\n', e.illuminance/10.0);
    fprintf('Too bright, close the curtains!\n');
end

Simple (Octave)

Download (octave_example_simple.m)

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function octave_example_simple()
    more off;

    HOST = "localhost";
    PORT = 4223;
    UID = "XYZ"; % Change XYZ to the UID of your Ambient Light Bricklet

    ipcon = javaObject("com.tinkerforge.IPConnection"); % Create IP connection
    al = javaObject("com.tinkerforge.BrickletAmbientLight", UID, ipcon); % Create device object

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

    % Get current illuminance
    illuminance = al.getIlluminance();
    fprintf("Illuminance: %g lx\n", illuminance/10.0);

    input("Press key to exit\n", "s");
    ipcon.disconnect();
end

Callback (Octave)

Download (octave_example_callback.m)

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function octave_example_callback()
    more off;

    HOST = "localhost";
    PORT = 4223;
    UID = "XYZ"; % Change XYZ to the UID of your Ambient Light Bricklet

    ipcon = javaObject("com.tinkerforge.IPConnection"); % Create IP connection
    al = javaObject("com.tinkerforge.BrickletAmbientLight", UID, ipcon); % Create device object

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

    % Register illuminance callback to function cb_illuminance
    al.addIlluminanceCallback(@cb_illuminance);

    % Set period for illuminance callback to 1s (1000ms)
    % Note: The illuminance callback is only called every second
    %       if the illuminance has changed since the last call!
    al.setIlluminanceCallbackPeriod(1000);

    input("Press key to exit\n", "s");
    ipcon.disconnect();
end

% Callback function for illuminance callback
function cb_illuminance(e)
    fprintf("Illuminance: %g lx\n", e.illuminance/10.0);
end

Threshold (Octave)

Download (octave_example_threshold.m)

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function octave_example_threshold()
    more off;

    HOST = "localhost";
    PORT = 4223;
    UID = "XYZ"; % Change XYZ to the UID of your Ambient Light Bricklet

    ipcon = javaObject("com.tinkerforge.IPConnection"); % Create IP connection
    al = javaObject("com.tinkerforge.BrickletAmbientLight", 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)
    al.setDebouncePeriod(10000);

    % Register illuminance reached callback to function cb_illuminance_reached
    al.addIlluminanceReachedCallback(@cb_illuminance_reached);

    % Configure threshold for illuminance "greater than 200 lx"
    al.setIlluminanceCallbackThreshold(">", 200*10, 0);

    input("Press key to exit\n", "s");
    ipcon.disconnect();
end

% Callback function for illuminance reached callback
function cb_illuminance_reached(e)
    fprintf("Illuminance: %g lx\n", e.illuminance/10.0);
    fprintf("Too bright, close the curtains!\n");
end

API

Generally, every method of the MATLAB bindings that returns a value can throw a TimeoutException. This exception gets thrown if the device did not respond. If a cable based connection is used, it is unlikely that this exception gets thrown (assuming nobody unplugs the device). However, if a wireless connection is used, timeouts will occur if the distance to the device gets too big.

Beside the TimeoutException there is also a NotConnectedException that is thrown if a method needs to communicate with the device while the IP Connection is not connected.

Since the MATLAB bindings are based on Java and Java does not support multiple return values and return by reference is not possible for primitive types, we use small classes that only consist of member variables. The member variables of the returned objects are described in the corresponding method descriptions.

The package for all Brick/Bricklet bindings and the IP Connection is com.tinkerforge.*

All methods listed below are thread-safe.

Basic Functions

class BrickletAmbientLight(String uid, IPConnection ipcon)
Parameters:
  • uid – Type: String
  • ipcon – Type: IPConnection
Returns:
  • ambientLight – Type: BrickletAmbientLight

Creates an object with the unique device ID uid.

In MATLAB:

import com.tinkerforge.BrickletAmbientLight;

ambientLight = BrickletAmbientLight('YOUR_DEVICE_UID', ipcon);

In Octave:

ambientLight = java_new("com.tinkerforge.BrickletAmbientLight", "YOUR_DEVICE_UID", ipcon);

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

int BrickletAmbientLight.getIlluminance()
Returns:
  • illuminance – Type: int, Unit: 1/10 lx, Range: [0 to 9000]

Returns the illuminance of the ambient light sensor.

If you want to get the illuminance periodically, it is recommended to use the IlluminanceCallback callback and set the period with setIlluminanceCallbackPeriod().

Advanced Functions

int BrickletAmbientLight.getAnalogValue()
Returns:
  • value – Type: int, Range: [0 to 212 - 1]

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

Note

The value returned by getIlluminance() 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.

Also, the analog-to-digital converter covers three different ranges that are set dynamically depending on the light intensity. It is impossible to distinguish between these ranges with the analog value.

If you want the analog value periodically, it is recommended to use the AnalogValueCallback callback and set the period with setAnalogValueCallbackPeriod().

BrickletAmbientLight.Identity BrickletAmbientLight.getIdentity()
Return Object:
  • uid – Type: String, Length: up to 8
  • connectedUid – Type: String, Length: up to 8
  • position – Type: char, Range: ['a' to 'h', 'z']
  • hardwareVersion – Type: short[], Length: 3
    • 1: major – Type: short, Range: [0 to 255]
    • 2: minor – Type: short, Range: [0 to 255]
    • 3: revision – Type: short, Range: [0 to 255]
  • firmwareVersion – Type: short[], Length: 3
    • 1: major – Type: short, Range: [0 to 255]
    • 2: minor – Type: short, Range: [0 to 255]
    • 3: revision – Type: short, Range: [0 to 255]
  • deviceIdentifier – Type: int, 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

void BrickletAmbientLight.setIlluminanceCallbackPeriod(long period)
Parameters:
  • period – Type: long, Unit: 1 ms, Range: [0 to 232 - 1], Default: 0

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

The IlluminanceCallback callback is only triggered if the illuminance has changed since the last triggering.

long BrickletAmbientLight.getIlluminanceCallbackPeriod()
Returns:
  • period – Type: long, Unit: 1 ms, Range: [0 to 232 - 1], Default: 0

Returns the period as set by setIlluminanceCallbackPeriod().

void BrickletAmbientLight.setAnalogValueCallbackPeriod(long period)
Parameters:
  • period – Type: long, Unit: 1 ms, Range: [0 to 232 - 1], Default: 0

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

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

long BrickletAmbientLight.getAnalogValueCallbackPeriod()
Returns:
  • period – Type: long, Unit: 1 ms, Range: [0 to 232 - 1], Default: 0

Returns the period as set by setAnalogValueCallbackPeriod().

void BrickletAmbientLight.setIlluminanceCallbackThreshold(char option, int min, int max)
Parameters:
  • option – Type: char, Range: See constants, Default: 'x'
  • min – Type: int, Unit: 1/10 lx, Range: [0 to 216 - 1], Default: 0
  • max – Type: int, Unit: 1/10 lx, Range: [0 to 216 - 1], Default: 0

Sets the thresholds for the IlluminanceReachedCallback callback.

The following options are possible:

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

The following constants are available for this function:

For option:

  • BrickletAmbientLight.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = 'x'
  • BrickletAmbientLight.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = 'o'
  • BrickletAmbientLight.THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = 'i'
  • BrickletAmbientLight.THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = '<'
  • BrickletAmbientLight.THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = '>'
BrickletAmbientLight.IlluminanceCallbackThreshold BrickletAmbientLight.getIlluminanceCallbackThreshold()
Return Object:
  • option – Type: char, Range: See constants, Default: 'x'
  • min – Type: int, Unit: 1/10 lx, Range: [0 to 216 - 1], Default: 0
  • max – Type: int, Unit: 1/10 lx, Range: [0 to 216 - 1], Default: 0

Returns the threshold as set by setIlluminanceCallbackThreshold().

The following constants are available for this function:

For option:

  • BrickletAmbientLight.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = 'x'
  • BrickletAmbientLight.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = 'o'
  • BrickletAmbientLight.THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = 'i'
  • BrickletAmbientLight.THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = '<'
  • BrickletAmbientLight.THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = '>'
void BrickletAmbientLight.setAnalogValueCallbackThreshold(char option, int min, int max)
Parameters:
  • option – Type: char, Range: See constants, Default: 'x'
  • min – Type: int, Range: [0 to 216 - 1], Default: 0
  • max – Type: int, Range: [0 to 216 - 1], Default: 0

Sets the thresholds for the AnalogValueReachedCallback 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:

  • BrickletAmbientLight.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = 'x'
  • BrickletAmbientLight.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = 'o'
  • BrickletAmbientLight.THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = 'i'
  • BrickletAmbientLight.THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = '<'
  • BrickletAmbientLight.THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = '>'
BrickletAmbientLight.AnalogValueCallbackThreshold BrickletAmbientLight.getAnalogValueCallbackThreshold()
Return Object:
  • option – Type: char, Range: See constants, Default: 'x'
  • min – Type: int, Range: [0 to 216 - 1], Default: 0
  • max – Type: int, Range: [0 to 216 - 1], Default: 0

Returns the threshold as set by setAnalogValueCallbackThreshold().

The following constants are available for this function:

For option:

  • BrickletAmbientLight.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = 'x'
  • BrickletAmbientLight.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = 'o'
  • BrickletAmbientLight.THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = 'i'
  • BrickletAmbientLight.THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = '<'
  • BrickletAmbientLight.THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = '>'
void BrickletAmbientLight.setDebouncePeriod(long debounce)
Parameters:
  • debounce – Type: long, 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.

long BrickletAmbientLight.getDebouncePeriod()
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 with "set" function of MATLAB. The parameters consist of the IP Connection object, the callback name and the callback function. For example, it looks like this in MATLAB:

function my_callback(e)
    fprintf('Parameter: %s\n', e.param);
end

set(device, 'ExampleCallback', @(h, e) my_callback(e));

Due to a difference in the Octave Java support the "set" function cannot be used in Octave. The registration is done with "add*Callback" functions of the device object. It looks like this in Octave:

function my_callback(e)
    fprintf("Parameter: %s\n", e.param);
end

device.addExampleCallback(@my_callback);

It is possible to add several callbacks and to remove them with the corresponding "remove*Callback" function.

The parameters of the callback are passed to the callback function as fields of the structure e, which is derived from the java.util.EventObject class. The available callback names with corresponding structure fields 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.

callback BrickletAmbientLight.IlluminanceCallback
Event Object:
  • illuminance – Type: int, Unit: 1/10 lx, Range: [0 to 9000]

This callback is triggered periodically with the period that is set by setIlluminanceCallbackPeriod(). The parameter is the illuminance of the ambient light sensor.

The IlluminanceCallback callback is only triggered if the illuminance has changed since the last triggering.

In MATLAB the set() function can be used to register a callback function to this callback.

In Octave a callback function can be added to this callback using the addIlluminanceCallback() function. An added callback function can be removed with the removeIlluminanceCallback() function.

callback BrickletAmbientLight.AnalogValueCallback
Event Object:
  • value – Type: int, 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 ambient light sensor.

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

In MATLAB the set() function can be used to register a callback function to this callback.

In Octave a callback function can be added to this callback using the addAnalogValueCallback() function. An added callback function can be removed with the removeAnalogValueCallback() function.

callback BrickletAmbientLight.IlluminanceReachedCallback
Event Object:
  • illuminance – Type: int, Unit: 1/10 lx, Range: [0 to 9000]

This callback is triggered when the threshold as set by setIlluminanceCallbackThreshold() is reached. The parameter is the illuminance of the ambient light sensor.

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

In MATLAB the set() function can be used to register a callback function to this callback.

In Octave a callback function can be added to this callback using the addIlluminanceReachedCallback() function. An added callback function can be removed with the removeIlluminanceReachedCallback() function.

callback BrickletAmbientLight.AnalogValueReachedCallback
Event Object:
  • value – Type: int, 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 ambient light sensor.

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

In MATLAB the set() function can be used to register a callback function to this callback.

In Octave a callback function can be added to this callback using the addAnalogValueReachedCallback() function. An added callback function can be removed with the removeAnalogValueReachedCallback() function.

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.

short[] BrickletAmbientLight.getAPIVersion()
Return Object:
  • apiVersion – Type: short[], Length: 3
    • 1: major – Type: short, Range: [0 to 255]
    • 2: minor – Type: short, Range: [0 to 255]
    • 3: revision – Type: short, 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.

boolean BrickletAmbientLight.getResponseExpected(byte functionId)
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:

  • BrickletAmbientLight.FUNCTION_SET_ILLUMINANCE_CALLBACK_PERIOD = 3
  • BrickletAmbientLight.FUNCTION_SET_ANALOG_VALUE_CALLBACK_PERIOD = 5
  • BrickletAmbientLight.FUNCTION_SET_ILLUMINANCE_CALLBACK_THRESHOLD = 7
  • BrickletAmbientLight.FUNCTION_SET_ANALOG_VALUE_CALLBACK_THRESHOLD = 9
  • BrickletAmbientLight.FUNCTION_SET_DEBOUNCE_PERIOD = 11
void BrickletAmbientLight.setResponseExpected(byte functionId, boolean responseExpected)
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:

  • BrickletAmbientLight.FUNCTION_SET_ILLUMINANCE_CALLBACK_PERIOD = 3
  • BrickletAmbientLight.FUNCTION_SET_ANALOG_VALUE_CALLBACK_PERIOD = 5
  • BrickletAmbientLight.FUNCTION_SET_ILLUMINANCE_CALLBACK_THRESHOLD = 7
  • BrickletAmbientLight.FUNCTION_SET_ANALOG_VALUE_CALLBACK_THRESHOLD = 9
  • BrickletAmbientLight.FUNCTION_SET_DEBOUNCE_PERIOD = 11
void BrickletAmbientLight.setResponseExpectedAll(boolean responseExpected)
Parameters:
  • responseExpected – Type: boolean

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

Constants

int BrickletAmbientLight.DEVICE_IDENTIFIER

This constant is used to identify a Ambient Light 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.

String BrickletAmbientLight.DEVICE_DISPLAY_NAME

This constant represents the human readable name of a Ambient Light Bricklet.