Component: Timed Interval (Timing)

Author	Matrix TSL
Version	1.1
Category	Timing

Timed Interval component

Allows you to setup a specific timed interval via the use of a hardware timer peripheral. Useful for regular time accurate periodic polling and sampling.

Component Source Code

Please click here to download the component source project: FC_Comp_Source_TimerIntervalComponent.fcfx

Please click here to view the component source code (Beta): FC_Comp_Source_TimerIntervalComponent.fcfx

Detailed description

The Timed Interval component takes the headache out of setting up timer interrupts to interrupt an amount of fixed microseconds, milliseconds, seconds, minutes, hours or days.

After selecting the Time Unit, and entering Time Period, the estimated best will show the exact time the callback macro is accessed.

You can even send the required delay within simulation (Timer Delay (ms).

Unfortunately there is a small simulation only bug that is preventing the global variable within callback macro from updating, it all works on your embedded hardware.

The workaround (included within the example) for your own project is as follows.

First set up your timed interval component within properties along with the callback macro

Within the timed interval example, select the TimedInterval callback macro ,then select the Built-in Function::Debug.PrintLn(" ")

Right-click then select copy.

Paste the Built-in Function within the callback macro of your new project.

Now the interval timer component will simulate correctly.

Examples

Example program showing how to use the Timed component to trigger a callback macro at precise intervals e.g. 1 second.

One second timed interval component example

Macro reference

StartTimerInterval

	StartTimerInterval
Starts the timer interval.
- VOID	Return

StopTimerInterval

	StopTimerInterval
Stops the timer interval.
- VOID	Return

Property reference

	Properties
	Interval Properties
	Time Unit
Unit of time used for the time period. For example you might want every 4 milliseconds or every 3 hours.
	Time Period
Value of time used for the time period. For example you might want every 4 milliseconds or every 3 hours.
	Estimated Best Period
The closest we can get to the required time period based on prescaler and postscaler settings. Smaller scalers provide finer resolution but impose limits on the maximum delay.
	Max Time Measurement
The maximum time we can do based on the current timer and scaler settings.
	Callback Macro
User defined macro automatically called on a periodic basis.
	Timer Properties
	Timer
Timer Peripheral to use to monitor the passage of time.
	Bit Depth
Number of bits in the timer peripheral. 8-bit timers can count from 0-255 before overflowing. 16-bit timers can count from 0 to 65535 before overflowing.
	Prescaler
Scaler applied to the timer, Small scalers allow for finer resolution but will limit the max time and also put more load on the microcontroller. Recommended to use as large a setting as possible which still provides enough accuracy.
	PostScaler
Scaler applied to the timer, Small scalers allow for finer resolution but will limit the max time and also put more load on the microcontroller. Recommended to use as large a setting as possible which still provides enough accuracy.
	Simulation
	Timer Delay (ms)
Number of milliseconds between timer events which increment the simulated timer counter variable. 10ms will yield the highest resolution. Values less than this will likely just increase the error and making the timer run slow. Higher delays will yield greater accuracy.