Visual Basic .NET - Hall Effect Bricklet 2.0

This is the description of the Visual Basic .NET API bindings for the Hall Effect Bricklet 2.0. General information and technical specifications for the Hall Effect Bricklet 2.0 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).

Counter

Download (ExampleCounter.vb)

 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Imports System
Imports Tinkerforge

Module ExampleCounter
    Const HOST As String = "localhost"
    Const PORT As Integer = 4223
    Const UID As String = "XYZ" ' Change XYZ to the UID of your Hall Effect Bricklet 2.0

    Sub Main()
        Dim ipcon As New IPConnection() ' Create IP connection
        Dim he As New BrickletHallEffectV2(UID, ipcon) ' Create device object

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

        ' Get current count without counter reset
        Dim count As Long = he.GetCounter(False)
        Console.WriteLine("Count: " + count.ToString())

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

Magnetic Flux Density

Download (ExampleMagneticFluxDensity.vb)

 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Imports System
Imports Tinkerforge

Module ExampleMagneticFluxDensity
    Const HOST As String = "localhost"
    Const PORT As Integer = 4223
    Const UID As String = "XYZ" ' Change XYZ to the UID of your Hall Effect Bricklet 2.0

    Sub Main()
        Dim ipcon As New IPConnection() ' Create IP connection
        Dim he As New BrickletHallEffectV2(UID, ipcon) ' Create device object

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

        ' Get current Magnetic Flux Density
        Dim magneticFluxDensity As Short = he.GetMagneticFluxDensity()
        Console.WriteLine("Magnetic Flux Density: " + magneticFluxDensity.ToString() + " µT")

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

Counter Callback

Download (ExampleCounterCallback.vb)

 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
Imports System
Imports Tinkerforge

Module ExampleCounterCallback
    Const HOST As String = "localhost"
    Const PORT As Integer = 4223
    Const UID As String = "XYZ" ' Change XYZ to the UID of your Hall Effect Bricklet 2.0

    ' Callback subroutine for counter callback
    Sub CounterCB(ByVal sender As BrickletHallEffectV2, ByVal counter As Long)
        Console.WriteLine("Counter: " + counter.ToString())
    End Sub

    Sub Main()
        Dim ipcon As New IPConnection() ' Create IP connection
        Dim he As New BrickletHallEffectV2(UID, ipcon) ' Create device object

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

        ' Configure counter with ±3000µT threshold and 10ms debounce
        he.SetCounterConfig(3000, -3000, 10000)

        ' Register counter callback to subroutine CounterCB
        AddHandler he.CounterCallback, AddressOf CounterCB

        ' Set period for counter callback to 0.1s (100ms)
        he.SetCounterCallbackConfiguration(100, True)

        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 BrickletHallEffectV2(ByVal uid As String, ByVal ipcon As IPConnection)

Creates an object with the unique device ID uid:

Dim hallEffectV2 As New BrickletHallEffectV2("YOUR_DEVICE_UID", ipcon)

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

Function BrickletHallEffectV2.GetMagneticFluxDensity() As Short
Returns:
  • magneticFluxDensity – Type: Short, Unit: 1 µT, Range: [-7000 to 7000]

Returns the magnetic flux density (magnetic induction).

If you want to get the value periodically, it is recommended to use the MagneticFluxDensityCallback callback. You can set the callback configuration with SetMagneticFluxDensityCallbackConfiguration().

Function BrickletHallEffectV2.GetCounter(ByVal resetCounter As Boolean) As Long
Parameters:
  • resetCounter – Type: Boolean
Returns:
  • count – Type: Long, Range: [0 to 232 - 1]

Returns the current value of the counter.

You can configure the low/high thresholds and the debounce time with SetCounterConfig().

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

If you want to get the count periodically, it is recommended to use the CounterCallback callback. You can set the callback configuration with SetCounterCallbackConfiguration().

Sub BrickletHallEffectV2.SetCounterConfig(ByVal highThreshold As Short, ByVal lowThreshold As Short, ByVal debounce As Long)
Parameters:
  • highThreshold – Type: Short, Unit: 1 µT, Range: [-215 to 215 - 1], Default: 2000
  • lowThreshold – Type: Short, Unit: 1 µT, Range: [-215 to 215 - 1], Default: -2000
  • debounce – Type: Long, Unit: 1 µs, Range: [0 to 1000000], Default: 100000

Sets a high and a low threshold as well as a debounce time.

If the measured magnetic flux density goes above the high threshold or below the low threshold, the count of the counter is increased by 1.

The debounce time is the minimum time between two count increments.

Sub BrickletHallEffectV2.GetCounterConfig(ByRef highThreshold As Short, ByRef lowThreshold As Short, ByRef debounce As Long)
Output Parameters:
  • highThreshold – Type: Short, Unit: 1 µT, Range: [-215 to 215 - 1], Default: 2000
  • lowThreshold – Type: Short, Unit: 1 µT, Range: [-215 to 215 - 1], Default: -2000
  • debounce – Type: Long, Unit: 1 µs, Range: [0 to 1000000], Default: 100000

Returns the counter config as set by SetCounterConfig().

Advanced Functions

Sub BrickletHallEffectV2.GetSPITFPErrorCount(ByRef errorCountAckChecksum As Long, ByRef errorCountMessageChecksum As Long, ByRef errorCountFrame As Long, ByRef errorCountOverflow As Long)
Output Parameters:
  • errorCountAckChecksum – Type: Long, Range: [0 to 232 - 1]
  • errorCountMessageChecksum – Type: Long, Range: [0 to 232 - 1]
  • errorCountFrame – Type: Long, Range: [0 to 232 - 1]
  • errorCountOverflow – Type: Long, Range: [0 to 232 - 1]

Returns the error count for the communication between Brick and Bricklet.

The errors are divided into

  • ACK checksum errors,
  • message checksum errors,
  • framing errors and
  • overflow errors.

The errors counts are for errors that occur on the Bricklet side. All Bricks have a similar function that returns the errors on the Brick side.

Sub BrickletHallEffectV2.SetStatusLEDConfig(ByVal config As Byte)
Parameters:
  • config – Type: Byte, Range: See constants, Default: 3

Sets the status LED configuration. By default the LED shows communication traffic between Brick and Bricklet, it flickers once for every 10 received data packets.

You can also turn the LED permanently on/off or show a heartbeat.

If the Bricklet is in bootloader mode, the LED is will show heartbeat by default.

The following constants are available for this function:

For config:

  • BrickletHallEffectV2.STATUS_LED_CONFIG_OFF = 0
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.STATUS_LED_CONFIG_ON = 1
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.STATUS_LED_CONFIG_SHOW_HEARTBEAT = 2
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.STATUS_LED_CONFIG_SHOW_STATUS = 3
Function BrickletHallEffectV2.GetStatusLEDConfig() As Byte
Returns:
  • config – Type: Byte, Range: See constants, Default: 3

Returns the configuration as set by SetStatusLEDConfig()

The following constants are available for this function:

For config:

  • BrickletHallEffectV2.STATUS_LED_CONFIG_OFF = 0
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.STATUS_LED_CONFIG_ON = 1
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.STATUS_LED_CONFIG_SHOW_HEARTBEAT = 2
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.STATUS_LED_CONFIG_SHOW_STATUS = 3
Function BrickletHallEffectV2.GetChipTemperature() As Short
Returns:
  • temperature – Type: Short, Unit: 1 °C, Range: [-215 to 215 - 1]

Returns the temperature as measured inside the microcontroller. The value returned is not the ambient temperature!

The temperature is only proportional to the real temperature and it has bad accuracy. Practically it is only useful as an indicator for temperature changes.

Sub BrickletHallEffectV2.Reset()

Calling this function will reset the Bricklet. All configurations will be lost.

After a reset you have to create new device objects, calling functions on the existing ones will result in undefined behavior!

Sub BrickletHallEffectV2.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:
  • 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 BrickletHallEffectV2.SetMagneticFluxDensityCallbackConfiguration(ByVal period As Long, ByVal valueHasToChange As Boolean, ByVal option As Char, ByVal min As Short, ByVal max As Short)
Parameters:
  • period – Type: Long, Unit: 1 ms, Range: [0 to 232 - 1], Default: 0
  • valueHasToChange – Type: Boolean, Default: false
  • option – Type: Char, Range: See constants, Default: "x"C
  • min – Type: Short, Unit: 1 µT, Range: [-215 to 215 - 1], Default: 0
  • max – Type: Short, Unit: 1 µT, Range: [-215 to 215 - 1], Default: 0

The period is the period with which the MagneticFluxDensityCallback callback is triggered periodically. A value of 0 turns the callback off.

If the value has to change-parameter is set to true, the callback is only triggered after the value has changed. If the value didn't change within the period, the callback is triggered immediately on change.

If it is set to false, the callback is continuously triggered with the period, independent of the value.

It is furthermore possible to constrain the callback with thresholds.

The option-parameter together with min/max sets a threshold for the MagneticFluxDensityCallback callback.

The following options are possible:

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

If the option is set to 'x' (threshold turned off) the callback is triggered with the fixed period.

The following constants are available for this function:

For option:

  • BrickletHallEffectV2.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = "x"C
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = "o"C
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = "i"C
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = "<"C
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = ">"C
Sub BrickletHallEffectV2.GetMagneticFluxDensityCallbackConfiguration(ByRef period As Long, ByRef valueHasToChange As Boolean, ByRef option As Char, ByRef min As Short, ByRef max As Short)
Output Parameters:
  • period – Type: Long, Unit: 1 ms, Range: [0 to 232 - 1], Default: 0
  • valueHasToChange – Type: Boolean, Default: false
  • option – Type: Char, Range: See constants, Default: "x"C
  • min – Type: Short, Unit: 1 µT, Range: [-215 to 215 - 1], Default: 0
  • max – Type: Short, Unit: 1 µT, Range: [-215 to 215 - 1], Default: 0

Returns the callback configuration as set by SetMagneticFluxDensityCallbackConfiguration().

The following constants are available for this function:

For option:

  • BrickletHallEffectV2.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OFF = "x"C
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.THRESHOLD_OPTION_OUTSIDE = "o"C
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.THRESHOLD_OPTION_INSIDE = "i"C
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.THRESHOLD_OPTION_SMALLER = "<"C
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.THRESHOLD_OPTION_GREATER = ">"C
Sub BrickletHallEffectV2.SetCounterCallbackConfiguration(ByVal period As Long, ByVal valueHasToChange As Boolean)
Parameters:
  • period – Type: Long, Unit: 1 ms, Range: [0 to 232 - 1], Default: 0
  • valueHasToChange – Type: Boolean, Default: false

The period is the period with which the CounterCallback callback is triggered periodically. A value of 0 turns the callback off.

If the value has to change-parameter is set to true, the callback is only triggered after at least one of the values has changed. If the values didn't change within the period, the callback is triggered immediately on change.

If it is set to false, the callback is continuously triggered with the period, independent of the value.

Sub BrickletHallEffectV2.GetCounterCallbackConfiguration(ByRef period As Long, ByRef valueHasToChange As Boolean)
Output Parameters:
  • period – Type: Long, Unit: 1 ms, Range: [0 to 232 - 1], Default: 0
  • valueHasToChange – Type: Boolean, Default: false

Returns the callback configuration as set by SetCounterCallbackConfiguration().

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 BrickletHallEffectV2, ByVal value As Short)
    Console.WriteLine("Value: {0}", value)
End Sub

AddHandler hallEffectV2.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 BrickletHallEffectV2.MagneticFluxDensityCallback(ByVal sender As BrickletHallEffectV2, ByVal magneticFluxDensity As Short)
Callback Parameters:
  • sender – Type: BrickletHallEffectV2
  • magneticFluxDensity – Type: Short, Unit: 1 µT, Range: [-7000 to 7000]

This callback is triggered periodically according to the configuration set by SetMagneticFluxDensityCallbackConfiguration().

The parameter is the same as GetMagneticFluxDensity().

Event BrickletHallEffectV2.CounterCallback(ByVal sender As BrickletHallEffectV2, ByVal count As Long)
Callback Parameters:
  • sender – Type: BrickletHallEffectV2
  • count – Type: Long, Range: [0 to 232 - 1]

This callback is triggered periodically according to the configuration set by SetCounterCallbackConfiguration().

The count is the same as you would get with GetCounter().

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 BrickletHallEffectV2.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 BrickletHallEffectV2.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:

  • BrickletHallEffectV2.FUNCTION_SET_MAGNETIC_FLUX_DENSITY_CALLBACK_CONFIGURATION = 2
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.FUNCTION_SET_COUNTER_CONFIG = 6
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.FUNCTION_SET_COUNTER_CALLBACK_CONFIGURATION = 8
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.FUNCTION_SET_WRITE_FIRMWARE_POINTER = 237
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.FUNCTION_SET_STATUS_LED_CONFIG = 239
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.FUNCTION_RESET = 243
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.FUNCTION_WRITE_UID = 248
Sub BrickletHallEffectV2.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.

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:

  • BrickletHallEffectV2.FUNCTION_SET_MAGNETIC_FLUX_DENSITY_CALLBACK_CONFIGURATION = 2
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.FUNCTION_SET_COUNTER_CONFIG = 6
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.FUNCTION_SET_COUNTER_CALLBACK_CONFIGURATION = 8
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.FUNCTION_SET_WRITE_FIRMWARE_POINTER = 237
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.FUNCTION_SET_STATUS_LED_CONFIG = 239
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.FUNCTION_RESET = 243
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.FUNCTION_WRITE_UID = 248
Sub BrickletHallEffectV2.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.

Internal Functions

Internal functions are used for maintenance tasks such as flashing a new firmware of changing the UID of a Bricklet. These task should be performed using Brick Viewer instead of using the internal functions directly.

Function BrickletHallEffectV2.SetBootloaderMode(ByVal mode As Byte) As Byte
Parameters:
  • mode – Type: Byte, Range: See constants
Returns:
  • status – Type: Byte, Range: See constants

Sets the bootloader mode and returns the status after the requested mode change was instigated.

You can change from bootloader mode to firmware mode and vice versa. A change from bootloader mode to firmware mode will only take place if the entry function, device identifier and CRC are present and correct.

This function is used by Brick Viewer during flashing. It should not be necessary to call it in a normal user program.

The following constants are available for this function:

For mode:

  • BrickletHallEffectV2.BOOTLOADER_MODE_BOOTLOADER = 0
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.BOOTLOADER_MODE_FIRMWARE = 1
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.BOOTLOADER_MODE_BOOTLOADER_WAIT_FOR_REBOOT = 2
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.BOOTLOADER_MODE_FIRMWARE_WAIT_FOR_REBOOT = 3
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.BOOTLOADER_MODE_FIRMWARE_WAIT_FOR_ERASE_AND_REBOOT = 4

For status:

  • BrickletHallEffectV2.BOOTLOADER_STATUS_OK = 0
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.BOOTLOADER_STATUS_INVALID_MODE = 1
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.BOOTLOADER_STATUS_NO_CHANGE = 2
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.BOOTLOADER_STATUS_ENTRY_FUNCTION_NOT_PRESENT = 3
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.BOOTLOADER_STATUS_DEVICE_IDENTIFIER_INCORRECT = 4
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.BOOTLOADER_STATUS_CRC_MISMATCH = 5
Function BrickletHallEffectV2.GetBootloaderMode() As Byte
Returns:
  • mode – Type: Byte, Range: See constants

Returns the current bootloader mode, see SetBootloaderMode().

The following constants are available for this function:

For mode:

  • BrickletHallEffectV2.BOOTLOADER_MODE_BOOTLOADER = 0
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.BOOTLOADER_MODE_FIRMWARE = 1
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.BOOTLOADER_MODE_BOOTLOADER_WAIT_FOR_REBOOT = 2
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.BOOTLOADER_MODE_FIRMWARE_WAIT_FOR_REBOOT = 3
  • BrickletHallEffectV2.BOOTLOADER_MODE_FIRMWARE_WAIT_FOR_ERASE_AND_REBOOT = 4
Sub BrickletHallEffectV2.SetWriteFirmwarePointer(ByVal pointer As Long)
Parameters:
  • pointer – Type: Long, Unit: 1 B, Range: [0 to 232 - 1]

Sets the firmware pointer for WriteFirmware(). The pointer has to be increased by chunks of size 64. The data is written to flash every 4 chunks (which equals to one page of size 256).

This function is used by Brick Viewer during flashing. It should not be necessary to call it in a normal user program.

Function BrickletHallEffectV2.WriteFirmware(ByVal data() As Byte) As Byte
Parameters:
  • data – Type: Byte Array, Length: 64, Range: [0 to 255]
Returns:
  • status – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 255]

Writes 64 Bytes of firmware at the position as written by SetWriteFirmwarePointer() before. The firmware is written to flash every 4 chunks.

You can only write firmware in bootloader mode.

This function is used by Brick Viewer during flashing. It should not be necessary to call it in a normal user program.

Sub BrickletHallEffectV2.WriteUID(ByVal uid As Long)
Parameters:
  • uid – Type: Long, Range: [0 to 232 - 1]

Writes a new UID into flash. If you want to set a new UID you have to decode the Base58 encoded UID string into an integer first.

We recommend that you use Brick Viewer to change the UID.

Function BrickletHallEffectV2.ReadUID() As Long
Returns:
  • uid – Type: Long, Range: [0 to 232 - 1]

Returns the current UID as an integer. Encode as Base58 to get the usual string version.

Constants

Const BrickletHallEffectV2.DEVICE_IDENTIFIER

This constant is used to identify a Hall Effect Bricklet 2.0.

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 BrickletHallEffectV2.DEVICE_DISPLAY_NAME

This constant represents the human readable name of a Hall Effect Bricklet 2.0.