Advanced Examples

Advanced packet handling

In the usual flow of SFB affairs, packets are input from any of the four faces and are reacted to, and output packets are sent out to any of the four faces, from packet handlers, Alarm handlers, or the loop() method. But sometimes more fine-grained control over packet handling is needed, and the core software provides more advanced mechanisms for that purpose.

• Reacting to conscious packets

• Creating packets in memory

Advanced EEPROM usage

In the basic tutorials, Using the EEPROM illustrated the primary functions used for accessing the EEPROM. Here we touch on one additional function -- eepromWait() -- and look at an advanced mechanism for initializing EEPROM data.

• Waiting for EEPROM writes to finish

• Use a checksum to validate/initialize EEPROM

Using hardware timers

As an advanced technique, if you need more accurate timing than the Alarms system provides, you can use a hardware timer. There are three hardware timers specifically reserved for sketch use, named Timer1, Timer2, and Timer3. In addition, there is a fourth timer (named Timer4, naturally) also available, but that hardware is shared with the hardware PWM (Pulse Width Modulation, see Using the hardware PWM module) system, so a single sketch cannot use both hardware PWM and Timer4.

Hardware timers are a more advanced topic, primarily because (unlike with Alarms) the 'handler' functions you write are executed with interrupts disabled, meaning that while your handler is running, nothing else is happening -- no input is being read, no output is being shipped, the millis() clock isn't ticking, and so on. So you need to keep your timer handler functions relatively short and simple as much as possible.

But, that said, don't be afraid! Sometimes a hardware timer is just the right tool for the job!

• Blink an LED using a hardware timer

• Configure a twelve hour clock

• Red light Green light

• A whiter shade of blinky

Using the hardware PWM module

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Controlling power

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