Ruby - RS232 Bricklet 2.0

This is the description of the Ruby API bindings for the RS232 Bricklet 2.0. General information and technical specifications for the RS232 Bricklet 2.0 are summarized in its hardware description.

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

Examples

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

Loopback

Download (example_loopback.rb)

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#!/usr/bin/env ruby
# -*- ruby encoding: utf-8 -*-

# For this example connect the RX1 and TX pin to receive the send message

require 'tinkerforge/ip_connection'
require 'tinkerforge/bricklet_rs232_v2'

include Tinkerforge

HOST = 'localhost'
PORT = 4223
UID = 'XYZ' # Change XYZ to the UID of your RS232 Bricklet 2.0

ipcon = IPConnection.new # Create IP connection
rs232 = BrickletRS232V2.new UID, ipcon # Create device object

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

# Register read callback
rs232.register_callback(BrickletRS232V2::CALLBACK_READ) do |message|
  # Assume that the message consists of ASCII characters and convert it
  # from an array of chars to a string
  puts "Message: #{message.join('')}"
end

# Enable read callback
rs232.enable_read_callback

# Write "test" string
rs232.write 'test'.split ''

puts 'Press key to exit'
$stdin.gets
ipcon.disconnect

API

All functions listed below are thread-safe.

Basic Functions

BrickletRS232V2::new(uid, ipcon) → rs232_v2
Parameters:
  • uid – Type: str
  • ipcon – Type: IPConnection
Returns:
  • rs232_v2 – Type: BrickletRS232V2

Creates an object with the unique device ID uid:

rs232_v2 = BrickletRS232V2.new 'YOUR_DEVICE_UID', ipcon

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

BrickletRS232V2#write(message) → int
Parameters:
  • message – Type: [chr, ...], Length: variable
Returns:
  • message_written – Type: int, Range: [0 to 216 - 1]

Writes characters to the RS232 interface. The characters can be binary data, ASCII or similar is not necessary.

The return value is the number of characters that were written.

See #set_configuration for configuration possibilities regarding baud rate, parity and so on.

BrickletRS232V2#read(length) → [chr, ...]
Parameters:
  • length – Type: int, Range: [0 to 216 - 1]
Returns:
  • message – Type: [chr, ...], Length: variable

Returns up to length characters from receive buffer.

Instead of polling with this function, you can also use callbacks. But note that this function will return available data only when the read callback is disabled. See #enable_read_callback and ::CALLBACK_READ callback.

BrickletRS232V2#set_configuration(baudrate, parity, stopbits, wordlength, flowcontrol) → nil
Parameters:
  • baudrate – Type: int, Unit: 1 Bd, Range: [100 to 2000000], Default: 115200
  • parity – Type: int, Range: See constants, Default: 0
  • stopbits – Type: int, Range: See constants, Default: 1
  • wordlength – Type: int, Range: See constants, Default: 8
  • flowcontrol – Type: int, Range: See constants, Default: 0

Sets the configuration for the RS232 communication.

The following constants are available for this function:

For parity:

  • BrickletRS232V2::PARITY_NONE = 0
  • BrickletRS232V2::PARITY_ODD = 1
  • BrickletRS232V2::PARITY_EVEN = 2

For stopbits:

  • BrickletRS232V2::STOPBITS_1 = 1
  • BrickletRS232V2::STOPBITS_2 = 2

For wordlength:

  • BrickletRS232V2::WORDLENGTH_5 = 5
  • BrickletRS232V2::WORDLENGTH_6 = 6
  • BrickletRS232V2::WORDLENGTH_7 = 7
  • BrickletRS232V2::WORDLENGTH_8 = 8

For flowcontrol:

  • BrickletRS232V2::FLOWCONTROL_OFF = 0
  • BrickletRS232V2::FLOWCONTROL_SOFTWARE = 1
  • BrickletRS232V2::FLOWCONTROL_HARDWARE = 2
BrickletRS232V2#get_configuration → [int, int, int, int, int]
Return Array:
  • 0: baudrate – Type: int, Unit: 1 Bd, Range: [100 to 2000000], Default: 115200
  • 1: parity – Type: int, Range: See constants, Default: 0
  • 2: stopbits – Type: int, Range: See constants, Default: 1
  • 3: wordlength – Type: int, Range: See constants, Default: 8
  • 4: flowcontrol – Type: int, Range: See constants, Default: 0

Returns the configuration as set by #set_configuration.

The following constants are available for this function:

For parity:

  • BrickletRS232V2::PARITY_NONE = 0
  • BrickletRS232V2::PARITY_ODD = 1
  • BrickletRS232V2::PARITY_EVEN = 2

For stopbits:

  • BrickletRS232V2::STOPBITS_1 = 1
  • BrickletRS232V2::STOPBITS_2 = 2

For wordlength:

  • BrickletRS232V2::WORDLENGTH_5 = 5
  • BrickletRS232V2::WORDLENGTH_6 = 6
  • BrickletRS232V2::WORDLENGTH_7 = 7
  • BrickletRS232V2::WORDLENGTH_8 = 8

For flowcontrol:

  • BrickletRS232V2::FLOWCONTROL_OFF = 0
  • BrickletRS232V2::FLOWCONTROL_SOFTWARE = 1
  • BrickletRS232V2::FLOWCONTROL_HARDWARE = 2

Advanced Functions

BrickletRS232V2#set_buffer_config(send_buffer_size, receive_buffer_size) → nil
Parameters:
  • send_buffer_size – Type: int, Unit: 1 B, Range: [210 to 9216], Default: 5120
  • receive_buffer_size – Type: int, Unit: 1 B, Range: [210 to 9216], Default: 5120

Sets the send and receive buffer size in byte. In total the buffers have to be 10240 byte (10KiB) in size, the minimum buffer size is 1024 byte (1KiB) for each.

The current buffer content is lost if this function is called.

The send buffer holds data that is given by #write and can not be written yet. The receive buffer holds data that is received through RS232 but could not yet be send to the user, either by #read or through ::CALLBACK_READ callback.

BrickletRS232V2#get_buffer_config → [int, int]
Return Array:
  • 0: send_buffer_size – Type: int, Unit: 1 B, Range: [210 to 9216], Default: 5120
  • 1: receive_buffer_size – Type: int, Unit: 1 B, Range: [210 to 9216], Default: 5120

Returns the buffer configuration as set by #set_buffer_config.

BrickletRS232V2#get_buffer_status → [int, int]
Return Array:
  • 0: send_buffer_used – Type: int, Unit: 1 B, Range: [0 to 9216]
  • 1: receive_buffer_used – Type: int, Unit: 1 B, Range: [0 to 9216]

Returns the currently used bytes for the send and received buffer.

See #set_buffer_config for buffer size configuration.

BrickletRS232V2#get_error_count → [int, int]
Return Array:
  • 0: error_count_overrun – Type: int, Range: [0 to 232 - 1]
  • 1: error_count_parity – Type: int, Range: [0 to 232 - 1]

Returns the current number of overrun and parity errors.

BrickletRS232V2#get_spitfp_error_count → [int, int, int, int]
Return Array:
  • 0: error_count_ack_checksum – Type: int, Range: [0 to 232 - 1]
  • 1: error_count_message_checksum – Type: int, Range: [0 to 232 - 1]
  • 2: error_count_frame – Type: int, Range: [0 to 232 - 1]
  • 3: error_count_overflow – Type: int, 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.

BrickletRS232V2#set_status_led_config(config) → nil
Parameters:
  • config – Type: int, 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:

  • BrickletRS232V2::STATUS_LED_CONFIG_OFF = 0
  • BrickletRS232V2::STATUS_LED_CONFIG_ON = 1
  • BrickletRS232V2::STATUS_LED_CONFIG_SHOW_HEARTBEAT = 2
  • BrickletRS232V2::STATUS_LED_CONFIG_SHOW_STATUS = 3
BrickletRS232V2#get_status_led_config → int
Returns:
  • config – Type: int, Range: See constants, Default: 3

Returns the configuration as set by #set_status_led_config

The following constants are available for this function:

For config:

  • BrickletRS232V2::STATUS_LED_CONFIG_OFF = 0
  • BrickletRS232V2::STATUS_LED_CONFIG_ON = 1
  • BrickletRS232V2::STATUS_LED_CONFIG_SHOW_HEARTBEAT = 2
  • BrickletRS232V2::STATUS_LED_CONFIG_SHOW_STATUS = 3
BrickletRS232V2#get_chip_temperature → int
Returns:
  • temperature – Type: int, 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.

BrickletRS232V2#reset → nil

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!

BrickletRS232V2#get_identity → [str, str, chr, [int, ...], [int, ...], int]
Return Array:
  • 0: uid – Type: str, Length: up to 8
  • 1: connected_uid – Type: str, Length: up to 8
  • 2: position – Type: chr, Range: ['a' to 'h', 'z']
  • 3: hardware_version – Type: [int, ...], Length: 3
    • 0: major – Type: int, Range: [0 to 255]
    • 1: minor – Type: int, Range: [0 to 255]
    • 2: revision – Type: int, Range: [0 to 255]
  • 4: firmware_version – Type: [int, ...], Length: 3
    • 0: major – Type: int, Range: [0 to 255]
    • 1: minor – Type: int, Range: [0 to 255]
    • 2: revision – Type: int, Range: [0 to 255]
  • 5: device_identifier – 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

BrickletRS232V2#register_callback(callback_id) { |param [, ...]| block } → nil
Parameters:
  • callback_id – Type: int

Registers the given block with the given callback_id.

The available callback IDs with corresponding function signatures are listed below.

BrickletRS232V2#enable_read_callback → nil

Enables the ::CALLBACK_READ callback. This will disable the ::CALLBACK_FRAME_READABLE callback.

By default the callback is disabled.

BrickletRS232V2#disable_read_callback → nil

Disables the ::CALLBACK_READ callback.

By default the callback is disabled.

BrickletRS232V2#is_read_callback_enabled → bool
Returns:
  • enabled – Type: bool, Default: false

Returns true if the ::CALLBACK_READ callback is enabled, false otherwise.

BrickletRS232V2#set_frame_readable_callback_configuration(frame_size) → nil
Parameters:
  • frame_size – Type: int, Unit: 1 B, Range: [0 to 9216], Default: 0

Configures the ::CALLBACK_FRAME_READABLE callback. The frame size is the number of bytes, that have to be readable to trigger the callback. A frame size of 0 disables the callback. A frame size greater than 0 enables the callback and disables the ::CALLBACK_READ callback.

By default the callback is disabled.

New in version 2.0.3 (Plugin).

BrickletRS232V2#get_frame_readable_callback_configuration → int
Returns:
  • frame_size – Type: int, Unit: 1 B, Range: [0 to 9216], Default: 0

Returns the callback configuration as set by #set_frame_readable_callback_configuration.

New in version 2.0.3 (Plugin).

Callbacks

Callbacks can be registered to receive time critical or recurring data from the device. The registration is done with the #register_callback function of the device object. The first parameter is the callback ID and the second parameter is a block:

rs232_v2.register_callback BrickletRS232V2::CALLBACK_EXAMPLE, do |param|
  puts "#{param}"
end

The available constants with inherent number and 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.

BrickletRS232V2::CALLBACK_READ
Callback Parameters:
  • message – Type: [chr, ...], Length: variable

This callback is called if new data is available.

To enable this callback, use #enable_read_callback.

Note

If reconstructing the value fails, the callback is triggered with nil for message.

BrickletRS232V2::CALLBACK_ERROR_COUNT
Callback Parameters:
  • error_count_overrun – Type: int, Range: [0 to 232 - 1]
  • error_count_parity – Type: int, Range: [0 to 232 - 1]

This callback is called if a new error occurs. It returns the current overrun and parity error count.

BrickletRS232V2::CALLBACK_FRAME_READABLE
Callback Parameters:
  • frame_count – Type: int, Range: [0 to 216 - 1]

This callback is called if at least one frame of data is readable. The frame size is configured with #set_frame_readable_callback_configuration. The frame count parameter is the number of frames that can be read. This callback is triggered only once until #read is called. This means, that if you have configured a frame size of X bytes, you can read exactly X bytes using the #read function, every time the callback triggers without checking the frame count parameter.

New in version 2.0.3 (Plugin).

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.

BrickletRS232V2#get_api_version → [int, ...]
Return Array:
  • 0: api_version – Type: [int, ...], Length: 3
    • 0: major – Type: int, Range: [0 to 255]
    • 1: minor – Type: int, Range: [0 to 255]
    • 2: revision – Type: int, 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.

BrickletRS232V2#get_response_expected(function_id) → bool
Parameters:
  • function_id – Type: int, Range: See constants
Returns:
  • response_expected – Type: bool

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 #set_response_expected. 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 function_id:

  • BrickletRS232V2::FUNCTION_ENABLE_READ_CALLBACK = 3
  • BrickletRS232V2::FUNCTION_DISABLE_READ_CALLBACK = 4
  • BrickletRS232V2::FUNCTION_SET_CONFIGURATION = 6
  • BrickletRS232V2::FUNCTION_SET_BUFFER_CONFIG = 8
  • BrickletRS232V2::FUNCTION_SET_FRAME_READABLE_CALLBACK_CONFIGURATION = 14
  • BrickletRS232V2::FUNCTION_SET_WRITE_FIRMWARE_POINTER = 237
  • BrickletRS232V2::FUNCTION_SET_STATUS_LED_CONFIG = 239
  • BrickletRS232V2::FUNCTION_RESET = 243
  • BrickletRS232V2::FUNCTION_WRITE_UID = 248
BrickletRS232V2#set_response_expected(function_id, response_expected) → nil
Parameters:
  • function_id – Type: int, Range: See constants
  • response_expected – Type: bool

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 function_id:

  • BrickletRS232V2::FUNCTION_ENABLE_READ_CALLBACK = 3
  • BrickletRS232V2::FUNCTION_DISABLE_READ_CALLBACK = 4
  • BrickletRS232V2::FUNCTION_SET_CONFIGURATION = 6
  • BrickletRS232V2::FUNCTION_SET_BUFFER_CONFIG = 8
  • BrickletRS232V2::FUNCTION_SET_FRAME_READABLE_CALLBACK_CONFIGURATION = 14
  • BrickletRS232V2::FUNCTION_SET_WRITE_FIRMWARE_POINTER = 237
  • BrickletRS232V2::FUNCTION_SET_STATUS_LED_CONFIG = 239
  • BrickletRS232V2::FUNCTION_RESET = 243
  • BrickletRS232V2::FUNCTION_WRITE_UID = 248
BrickletRS232V2#set_response_expected_all(response_expected) → nil
Parameters:
  • response_expected – Type: bool

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.

BrickletRS232V2#set_bootloader_mode(mode) → int
Parameters:
  • mode – Type: int, Range: See constants
Returns:
  • status – Type: int, 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:

  • BrickletRS232V2::BOOTLOADER_MODE_BOOTLOADER = 0
  • BrickletRS232V2::BOOTLOADER_MODE_FIRMWARE = 1
  • BrickletRS232V2::BOOTLOADER_MODE_BOOTLOADER_WAIT_FOR_REBOOT = 2
  • BrickletRS232V2::BOOTLOADER_MODE_FIRMWARE_WAIT_FOR_REBOOT = 3
  • BrickletRS232V2::BOOTLOADER_MODE_FIRMWARE_WAIT_FOR_ERASE_AND_REBOOT = 4

For status:

  • BrickletRS232V2::BOOTLOADER_STATUS_OK = 0
  • BrickletRS232V2::BOOTLOADER_STATUS_INVALID_MODE = 1
  • BrickletRS232V2::BOOTLOADER_STATUS_NO_CHANGE = 2
  • BrickletRS232V2::BOOTLOADER_STATUS_ENTRY_FUNCTION_NOT_PRESENT = 3
  • BrickletRS232V2::BOOTLOADER_STATUS_DEVICE_IDENTIFIER_INCORRECT = 4
  • BrickletRS232V2::BOOTLOADER_STATUS_CRC_MISMATCH = 5
BrickletRS232V2#get_bootloader_mode → int
Returns:
  • mode – Type: int, Range: See constants

Returns the current bootloader mode, see #set_bootloader_mode.

The following constants are available for this function:

For mode:

  • BrickletRS232V2::BOOTLOADER_MODE_BOOTLOADER = 0
  • BrickletRS232V2::BOOTLOADER_MODE_FIRMWARE = 1
  • BrickletRS232V2::BOOTLOADER_MODE_BOOTLOADER_WAIT_FOR_REBOOT = 2
  • BrickletRS232V2::BOOTLOADER_MODE_FIRMWARE_WAIT_FOR_REBOOT = 3
  • BrickletRS232V2::BOOTLOADER_MODE_FIRMWARE_WAIT_FOR_ERASE_AND_REBOOT = 4
BrickletRS232V2#set_write_firmware_pointer(pointer) → nil
Parameters:
  • pointer – Type: int, Unit: 1 B, Range: [0 to 232 - 1]

Sets the firmware pointer for #write_firmware. 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.

BrickletRS232V2#write_firmware(data) → int
Parameters:
  • data – Type: [int, ...], Length: 64, Range: [0 to 255]
Returns:
  • status – Type: int, Range: [0 to 255]

Writes 64 Bytes of firmware at the position as written by #set_write_firmware_pointer 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.

BrickletRS232V2#write_uid(uid) → nil
Parameters:
  • uid – Type: int, 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.

BrickletRS232V2#read_uid → int
Returns:
  • uid – Type: int, Range: [0 to 232 - 1]

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

Constants

BrickletRS232V2::DEVICE_IDENTIFIER

This constant is used to identify a RS232 Bricklet 2.0.

The #get_identity() function and the IPConnection::CALLBACK_ENUMERATE callback of the IP Connection have a device_identifier parameter to specify the Brick's or Bricklet's type.

BrickletRS232V2::DEVICE_DISPLAY_NAME

This constant represents the human readable name of a RS232 Bricklet 2.0.