Analog and Quasi Analog

Analog Input Agent

The Analog Input Component is used to get an analog signal from the outside world and make it available to your embedded application. Analog Input Components are typically connected to sensors and other devices that have more than two states. When an Analog Input is connected to such a device, then its value is the same as the device’s (i.e. reading the Analog Input will give you the value of device). For example, attach an Analog Input to a thermistor sensor via your microcontroller's ADC (analog-to-digital converter) port to get the reading from the sensor.

The Analog Input also allows you to easily enter an offset value to correct any deviation or error introduced by your sensor or hardware.

Detect these Analog Input Agent events using the Event Component:

• Goes less than: Specify a value that Analog Input's reading will drop below. When the Analog Input goes below this value, the event will be triggered.
• Equals: Specify a value for the Analog Input to reach to generate this event.
• Goes greater than: Like "Goes less than" except used to catch when the value is increasing.

View the Analog Input's reading using:

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The Converter Component is used as a convenient way of converting one value into another. In other words, it takes a number as an input and, using a Lookup Table Component, it produces a new number as an output. Most commonly this will be used to translate raw readings from an analog sensor (gotten from an Analog Input, of course) into useful measurements and units such as temperature in °C or °F or weight in Kg or Lbs (for example).

Detect these Converter events using the Event Component:

• Goes less than: Specify a value that the Converter's output will drop below. When the Converter goes below this value, the event will be triggered.
• Equals: Specify a value for Converter to reach to generate this event.
• Goes greater than: Like "Goes less than" except used to catch when the value is increasing.

View the Analog Input's reading using:

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The Analog Operator Component is used to perform simple arithmetical operations on any two Analog Components. The value of the Analog Operator is the numeric result of the operation. Use the Analog Operator's Property Sheet to quickly select the two analog Component operands. Then select the operation; choose any of: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, or find the average, minimum, or maximum of the two values.

Set the Operator's Update Frequency to precisely specify how often the Analog Operator will reevaluate the operation if the operands are changing.

As with other Analog Components, you can detect these events using the Event Component:

• Goes less than: a specified value.
• Equals: a specified value.
• Goes greater than: a specified value.

View the Analog Input's reading using:

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Analog Variable

The Analog Variable Component is used to store an analog value. For example, it can be used to take periodic samples of a continuously changing Analog Input Agent, or a Slider or Knob to manually set the value.

You can also set the Analog Variable's Update Frequency to precisely specify how often the Analog Variable will refresh itself from the value of a selected source.

As with other Analog Components you can detect these events using the Event Component:

• Goes less than: a specified value.
• Equals: a specified value.
• Goes greater than: a specified value.
  
  The Analog Variable can perform the following Job:

• Set to: The Analog Variable will assume the value specified.
  

View the Analog Input's reading using:

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Pulse Train Agent

The Pulse Train Component is used to output an arbitrary stream of pulses on a selected pin. Using a Pulse Table Component to specify a set of possible pulse (bit) sequences, it continuously outputs a chosen sequence. For example, if the chosen sequence contains 10110111, the Pulse Train will pulse by stepping through it one bit at time. Set Pulse Train's Update Frequency to change the frequency that the sequence will be outputted. Typically, a Pulse Train Component will be used to generate quasi-analog output signals for alarms, buzzers, servo motors etc. or complex strobing digital signals.

Use these events to detect when the Pulse Train's to a different sequence (i.e. a row in the Pulse Table):

• Goes less than: a specified row number.
• Equals: a specified row number.
• Goes greater than: a specified number.

View or change the row or sequence the Pulse Train's is output with any of these Visual Controls:

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Pulse Width Modulator Agent

Similar to the Pulse Train Component, the Pulse Width Modulator, or PWM, is used to output a series of pulses to a pin. Unlike the Pulse Train Component, the PWM uses the microcontroller's internal clock to generate different pulse frequencies rather than a pre-generated Pulse Table. Use the PWM's Property Sheet to quickly select the pulse frequency. Attach a Visual Control to change the PWM's duty cycle simply by adjusting a Knob.

Use these events to detect when the PWM's duty cycle is changed:

• Goes less than: a specific modulation.
• Equals: a specific modulation.
• Goes greater than: a specific modulation.
  
  Set the duty cycle of each PWM pulse using this Job:

• Set duty cycle
  
  View or set the PWM's duty cycle using:
  
  

View or set the PWM's duty cycle using:

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Usful Link: microCommander Visual Controls