Visual Basic .NET - OLED 128x64 Bricklet 2.0

This is the description of the Visual Basic .NET API bindings for the OLED 128x64 Bricklet 2.0. General information and technical specifications for the OLED 128x64 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).

Hello World

Download (ExampleHelloWorld.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
Imports System
Imports Tinkerforge

Module ExampleHelloWorld
    Const HOST As String = "localhost"
    Const PORT As Integer = 4223
    Const UID As String = "XYZ" ' Change XYZ to the UID of your OLED 128x64 Bricklet 2.0

    Sub Main()
        Dim ipcon As New IPConnection() ' Create IP connection
        Dim oled As New BrickletOLED128x64V2(UID, ipcon) ' Create device object

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

        ' Clear display
        oled.ClearDisplay()

        ' Write "Hello World" starting from upper left corner of the screen
        oled.WriteLine(0, 0, "Hello World")

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

Pixel Matrix

Download (ExamplePixelMatrix.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
35
36
37
Imports System
Imports System.Math
Imports Tinkerforge

Module ExamplePixelMatrix
    Const HOST As String = "localhost"
    Const PORT As Integer = 4223
    Const UID As String = "XYZ" ' Change XYZ to the UID of your OLED 128x64 Bricklet 2.0
    Const WIDTH As Integer = 128
    Const HEIGHT As Integer = 64

    Sub Main()
        Dim ipcon As New IPConnection() ' Create IP connection
        Dim oled As New BrickletOLED128x64V2(UID, ipcon) ' Create device object

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

        ' Clear display
        oled.ClearDisplay()

        ' Draw checkerboard pattern
        Dim pixels() As Boolean = New Boolean(HEIGHT*WIDTH) {}

        For row As Integer = 0 To HEIGHT - 1
            For column As Integer = 0 To WIDTH - 1
                pixels(row*WIDTH + column) = (row \ 8) Mod 2 = (column \ 8) Mod 2
            Next column
        Next row

        oled.WritePixels(0, 0, WIDTH-1, HEIGHT-1, pixels)

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

Scribble

Download (ExampleScribble.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
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
Imports System
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Math
Imports System.Threading
Imports Tinkerforge

Module ExampleScribble
    Const HOST As String = "localhost"
    Const PORT As Integer = 4223
    Const UID As String = "XYZ" ' Change XYZ to the UID of your OLED 128x64 Bricklet 2.0
    Const WIDTH As Integer = 128
    Const HEIGHT As Integer = 64

    Sub DrawImage(ByRef oled As BrickletOLED128x64V2, ByVal bitmap As Bitmap)
        Dim pixels() As Boolean = New Boolean(HEIGHT*WIDTH) {}

        For row As Integer = 0 To HEIGHT - 1
            For column As Integer = 0 To WIDTH - 1
                pixels(row*WIDTH + column) = bitmap.GetPixel(column, row).GetBrightness() > 0
            Next column
        Next row

        oled.WritePixels(0, 0, WIDTH-1, HEIGHT-1, pixels)
    End Sub

    Sub Main()
        Dim ipcon As New IPConnection() ' Create IP connection
        Dim oled As New BrickletOLED128x64V2(UID, ipcon) ' Create device object

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

        ' Clear display
        oled.ClearDisplay()

        ' Draw rotating line
        Dim bitmap As New Bitmap(WIDTH, HEIGHT)
        Dim originX As Integer = WIDTH \ 2
        Dim originY As Integer = HEIGHT \ 2
        Dim length As Integer = HEIGHT \ 2 - 2
        Dim angle As Integer = 0

        Console.WriteLine("Press enter to exit")

        While Not Console.KeyAvailable
            Dim radians As Double = Math.PI * angle / 180.0
            Dim x As Integer = Convert.ToInt32(Math.Floor(originX + length * Math.Cos(radians)))
            Dim y As Integer = Convert.ToInt32(Math.Floor(originY + length * Math.Sin(radians)))

            Using g As Graphics = Graphics.FromImage(bitmap)
                g.FillRectangle(Brushes.Black, 0, 0, WIDTH, HEIGHT)
                g.DrawLine(Pens.White, originX, originY, x, y)
            End Using

            DrawImage(oled, bitmap)
            Thread.Sleep(25)

            angle += 1
        End While

        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 BrickletOLED128x64V2(ByVal uid As String, ByVal ipcon As IPConnection)

Creates an object with the unique device ID uid:

Dim oled128x64V2 As New BrickletOLED128x64V2("YOUR_DEVICE_UID", ipcon)

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

Sub BrickletOLED128x64V2.WritePixels(ByVal xStart As Byte, ByVal yStart As Byte, ByVal xEnd As Byte, ByVal yEnd As Byte, ByVal pixels() As Boolean)
Parameters:
  • xStart – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 127]
  • yStart – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 63]
  • xEnd – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 127]
  • yEnd – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 63]
  • pixels – Type: Boolean Array, Length: variable

Writes pixels to the specified window.

The pixels are written into the window line by line top to bottom and each line is written from left to right.

If automatic draw is enabled (default) the pixels are directly written to the screen. Only pixels that have actually changed are updated on the screen, the rest stays the same.

If automatic draw is disabled the pixels are written to an internal buffer and the buffer is transferred to the display only after DrawBufferedFrame() is called. This can be used to avoid flicker when drawing a complex frame in multiple steps.

Automatic draw can be configured with the SetDisplayConfiguration() function.

Function BrickletOLED128x64V2.ReadPixels(ByVal xStart As Byte, ByVal yStart As Byte, ByVal xEnd As Byte, ByVal yEnd As Byte) As Boolean()
Parameters:
  • xStart – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 127]
  • yStart – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 63]
  • xEnd – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 127]
  • yEnd – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 63]
Returns:
  • pixels – Type: Boolean Array, Length: variable

Reads pixels from the specified window.

The pixels are read from the window line by line top to bottom and each line is read from left to right.

If automatic draw is enabled (default) the pixels that are read are always the same that are shown on the display.

If automatic draw is disabled the pixels are read from the internal buffer (see DrawBufferedFrame()).

Automatic draw can be configured with the SetDisplayConfiguration() function.

Sub BrickletOLED128x64V2.ClearDisplay()

Clears the complete content of the display.

If automatic draw is enabled (default) the pixels are directly cleared.

If automatic draw is disabled the the internal buffer is cleared and the buffer is transferred to the display only after DrawBufferedFrame() is called. This can be used to avoid flicker when drawing a complex frame in multiple steps.

Automatic draw can be configured with the SetDisplayConfiguration() function.

Sub BrickletOLED128x64V2.WriteLine(ByVal line As Byte, ByVal position As Byte, ByVal text As String)
Parameters:
  • line – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 7]
  • position – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 21]
  • text – Type: String, Length: up to 22

Writes text to a specific line with a specific position. The text can have a maximum of 22 characters.

For example: (1, 10, "Hello") will write Hello in the middle of the second line of the display.

The display uses a special 5x7 pixel charset. You can view the characters of the charset in Brick Viewer.

If automatic draw is enabled (default) the text is directly written to the screen. Only pixels that have actually changed are updated on the screen, the rest stays the same.

If automatic draw is disabled the text is written to an internal buffer and the buffer is transferred to the display only after DrawBufferedFrame() is called. This can be used to avoid flicker when drawing a complex frame in multiple steps.

Automatic draw can be configured with the SetDisplayConfiguration() function.

The font conforms to code page 437.

Sub BrickletOLED128x64V2.DrawBufferedFrame(ByVal forceCompleteRedraw As Boolean)
Parameters:
  • forceCompleteRedraw – Type: Boolean

Draws the currently buffered frame. Normally each call of WritePixels() and WriteLine() draws directly onto the display. If you turn automatic draw off (SetDisplayConfiguration()), the data is written in an internal buffer and only transferred to the display by calling this function. This can be used to avoid flicker when drawing a complex frame in multiple steps.

Set the force complete redraw to true to redraw the whole display instead of only the changed parts. Normally it should not be necessary to set this to true. It may only become necessary in case of stuck pixels because of errors.

Advanced Functions

Sub BrickletOLED128x64V2.SetDisplayConfiguration(ByVal contrast As Byte, ByVal invert As Boolean, ByVal automaticDraw As Boolean)
Parameters:
  • contrast – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 255], Default: 143
  • invert – Type: Boolean, Default: false
  • automaticDraw – Type: Boolean, Default: true

Sets the configuration of the display.

You can set a contrast value from 0 to 255 and you can invert the color (white/black) of the display.

If automatic draw is set to true, the display is automatically updated with every call of WritePixels() or WriteLine(). If it is set to false, the changes are written into an internal buffer and only shown on the display after a call of DrawBufferedFrame().

Sub BrickletOLED128x64V2.GetDisplayConfiguration(ByRef contrast As Byte, ByRef invert As Boolean, ByRef automaticDraw As Boolean)
Output Parameters:
  • contrast – Type: Byte, Range: [0 to 255], Default: 143
  • invert – Type: Boolean, Default: false
  • automaticDraw – Type: Boolean, Default: true

Returns the configuration as set by SetDisplayConfiguration().

Sub BrickletOLED128x64V2.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 BrickletOLED128x64V2.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:

  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.STATUS_LED_CONFIG_OFF = 0
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.STATUS_LED_CONFIG_ON = 1
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.STATUS_LED_CONFIG_SHOW_HEARTBEAT = 2
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.STATUS_LED_CONFIG_SHOW_STATUS = 3
Function BrickletOLED128x64V2.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:

  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.STATUS_LED_CONFIG_OFF = 0
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.STATUS_LED_CONFIG_ON = 1
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.STATUS_LED_CONFIG_SHOW_HEARTBEAT = 2
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.STATUS_LED_CONFIG_SHOW_STATUS = 3
Function BrickletOLED128x64V2.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 BrickletOLED128x64V2.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 BrickletOLED128x64V2.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.

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 BrickletOLED128x64V2.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 BrickletOLED128x64V2.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:

  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.FUNCTION_WRITE_PIXELS = 1
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.FUNCTION_CLEAR_DISPLAY = 3
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.FUNCTION_SET_DISPLAY_CONFIGURATION = 4
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.FUNCTION_WRITE_LINE = 6
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.FUNCTION_DRAW_BUFFERED_FRAME = 7
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.FUNCTION_SET_WRITE_FIRMWARE_POINTER = 237
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.FUNCTION_SET_STATUS_LED_CONFIG = 239
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.FUNCTION_RESET = 243
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.FUNCTION_WRITE_UID = 248
Sub BrickletOLED128x64V2.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:

  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.FUNCTION_WRITE_PIXELS = 1
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.FUNCTION_CLEAR_DISPLAY = 3
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.FUNCTION_SET_DISPLAY_CONFIGURATION = 4
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.FUNCTION_WRITE_LINE = 6
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.FUNCTION_DRAW_BUFFERED_FRAME = 7
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.FUNCTION_SET_WRITE_FIRMWARE_POINTER = 237
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.FUNCTION_SET_STATUS_LED_CONFIG = 239
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.FUNCTION_RESET = 243
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.FUNCTION_WRITE_UID = 248
Sub BrickletOLED128x64V2.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 BrickletOLED128x64V2.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:

  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.BOOTLOADER_MODE_BOOTLOADER = 0
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.BOOTLOADER_MODE_FIRMWARE = 1
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.BOOTLOADER_MODE_BOOTLOADER_WAIT_FOR_REBOOT = 2
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.BOOTLOADER_MODE_FIRMWARE_WAIT_FOR_REBOOT = 3
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.BOOTLOADER_MODE_FIRMWARE_WAIT_FOR_ERASE_AND_REBOOT = 4

For status:

  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.BOOTLOADER_STATUS_OK = 0
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.BOOTLOADER_STATUS_INVALID_MODE = 1
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.BOOTLOADER_STATUS_NO_CHANGE = 2
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.BOOTLOADER_STATUS_ENTRY_FUNCTION_NOT_PRESENT = 3
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.BOOTLOADER_STATUS_DEVICE_IDENTIFIER_INCORRECT = 4
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.BOOTLOADER_STATUS_CRC_MISMATCH = 5
Function BrickletOLED128x64V2.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:

  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.BOOTLOADER_MODE_BOOTLOADER = 0
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.BOOTLOADER_MODE_FIRMWARE = 1
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.BOOTLOADER_MODE_BOOTLOADER_WAIT_FOR_REBOOT = 2
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.BOOTLOADER_MODE_FIRMWARE_WAIT_FOR_REBOOT = 3
  • BrickletOLED128x64V2.BOOTLOADER_MODE_FIRMWARE_WAIT_FOR_ERASE_AND_REBOOT = 4
Sub BrickletOLED128x64V2.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 BrickletOLED128x64V2.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 BrickletOLED128x64V2.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 BrickletOLED128x64V2.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 BrickletOLED128x64V2.DEVICE_IDENTIFIER

This constant is used to identify a OLED 128x64 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 BrickletOLED128x64V2.DEVICE_DISPLAY_NAME

This constant represents the human readable name of a OLED 128x64 Bricklet 2.0.