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2.1 Introduction

The Data Logger Module is a C-library for micro controller applications. The Data Logger Module checks if an input pin has been changed (change of state) and stores the new data (event) including a time stamp (also including the date) in a FIFO (First In First Out) buffer. Trigger conditions can be configured by the software. Trigger logic can also be extended very easy by the programmer). The library can be driven by an interrupt or using software polling. The library is able to capture 16 input pins in parallel.

2.2 Funktionalty

Running in an main loop or driven by a ISR (Interrupt Service Routine) pre defined input pins of the rabbit controller module are read in and will be checked by the trigger logic. If a trigger condition has been fulfilled the data will be stored in a FIFO (ring buffer) including a time stamp. A further field, called INFO holds the information if a buffer overflow has been occurred. This information can later be used in the application to investigate what data are valid.

2.3 Field of applications

• If changes of a long time period has to be watched

• If data has to be transmitted e.g. over a network connections in batches

• If input frequency of the input pins is high

• If changes on inputs are not very often. E.g. for a mobile device or a data logger

2.4 Configuration/Parameters

2.4.1 Start of acquisition

Data acquistion can be started by different ways outlined in figure 2.2.:

Figure 2.2: Trigger conditions for data acquistion

2.4.2 Strategy for reading input pins

Scan process	Description
Scan all Inputs	All input pins are captured at the same time
Scan specific Inputs	Selected input pins can be switched of or on (masking).

Figure 2.3: Strategy for reading input pins

2.4.3 Selection of trigger edge

The trigger edge specifies if data acquistion starts on a falling or a risig edge of selected input pins. It can be configured by a method in the library.

Figure 2.4: Selectable trigger edges

2.4.4 Strategy of event buffer

Based on the requirements of the application the event buffer can be configured to allow overwriting of data if an overflow occurs or disallows data storing in the FIFO buffer. The two possible strategies are outlined in figure 2.5.

Buffer sttrategy	Description
Overwrite Buffer	If an overflow occurs, event data will be overwritten.
Do not overwrite Buffer	If an overflow occurs, data storing in the FIFO buffer is disallowed. The event buffer waits until at least one new event can be placed in the buffer.

Figure 2.5: Possible buffer strategies

2.4.5 Detection of buffer overflows

If the count of captured events exceeds the buffer size a buffer overflow will occur. This situation can happen if a lot of events occur in a short time and the system is not able to process the data (e.g. read out the buffer and transmit it to another point). In this case the INFO field indicates the first valid and the last valid event. This data can later on be used by the application. Possible values for an event are outlined in figure 2.6.

2.4.6 Polling vs. Interrupt mode

Following description outlines possibe operation modes for data capturing and shows some advantages and disadvantages of the specific operation mode.

2.4.6.1 Polling mode

Im Polling-Betrieb (Hauptprogrammschleife) werden die Eingänge mit dem Durchlauf der Hauptprogramm¬schleife zyklisch überprüft. Mit dieser Variante wird beim Einsatz des Datenlogger-Moduls gearbeitet.

Advantages	Disadvantages
very good system stability no problems with concurrent writing an reading of event buffer data easy to implement independent on hardware and consequently easy adaptable to other micro controller systems	processor will be used although no changes on input changes occur accuracy of time capturing if trigger by software

Abbildung 2.7: Advantages and disadvantages of polling operation mode

2.4.6.2 Interrupt mode

Using interrupt operation mode data acquistion is only performed on specified changes of input pins or by a accurate timer.

Advantages	Disadvantages
processor ressources ony needed if changes on inputs occur	hardware specific programming necessary event buffer hast to be thread save if program read and writes data at the same timer if a lot of events occurs, the system can hang (system stability)

The Data Logger Module can be integrated very well in the Rabbit Application Framework..

2.5Limitations

2.5.1 Capture frequency

The capture frequency depends on the performance of the other part of the application. By using a RABBIT RCM 3200 micro controller board and an application which only has the task to capture data and to transmit it over network capture frequencies > 1KHz has been measured.

2.5.2 Buffer size

Depending on the available RAM or ROM (e.g. by using a multi media card) the buffer size can vary. For a RCM3200 micro controller module holding 1024 events with 16 bit data a buffer size of 9 bytes (2 byte data, 1 byte info field, 6 byte of date and time), around 10 Kb RAM is necessary.

2.5.3 Program size

The data logger module needs around 1Kb of program memory.

2.5.3 Time stamps

Using the Dynamic C™ compiler with the included libraries a variable SEC_TIMER is available. This variable will automatically be incremented by the system every 1 second. Counting starts on 1.1.1989 00:00:00 a clock. Furthermore a variable MS_TIMER can be accessed. This variable will overflow every 47 days after last reset (unsigned long value). This can be inconvenient if the data logger should capture data over long time period – longer than 47 days. For this reason the Dynamic C™ library vdriver.lib was extended to a ms-timer that is synchronized with the RTC (Real Time Clock) of the controller board and counts each second starting from 0 to 999 ms. Information about the necessary changes can be found here.

2.6 Example Applications

2.6.1 Easy logic analyzer

A micro controller watches 16 digital input pins. The data will be transmitted over a TCP-IP connection in packets to a Personal Computer. On the Personal Computer the data will be processed and plotted.

2.6.2 Acquisition of temperature over a long time period

On each eight input bits an ADC (Analogue to Digital Converter) converts analogue values e.g. of a temperature and an air pressure sensor. Data will be captured every 5 minutes and stored in the FIFO buffer. After one week the data will be read out on the micro controller an processed on a PC.

2.7 Scope of delivery

Buying the Data Logger Module library you get

• the source code of the data logger module,

• a description of the functionality of the essential procedures and methods, also a description of the basic concept as well as

• two or more example applications demonstrating the use of the library..

2.8 Price

2.9 Shipping

The library is available as archive in zip format As it can be downloaded there are no further shipping cost. Alternatively a CD can be ordered for addition Euro 5.- n Austria, shipping to other at cost.

2.10 Links to other related products

Rabbit Application Framework

Log-Server for micro controller networks

Interface-Board for Rabbit RCM3200-Modul (designed together with the data logger module)

TCP-IP control for Visual Studio™