Level Developments LCH-360 - Version 2.0.1#

Module Summary#

Receives angle values from the Level Developments LCH-360 Single Axis Inclinometer Sensor, over an RS232 serial port.

Module Status#

This IO Module is stable and has been tested internally.

If you encounter any issues with this module, or have any feedback regarding its operation, please contact our support team.

Release Notes#

Version 2.0#

  •  Updated module documentation.

  •  Added Set Transmission Rate action.

  •  Added status variables.

  •  Added Maximum Forward Step and Maximum Backwards Step to smooth anomalous values.

Minor point releases (eg. 1.1.x) will be for small fixes and may not be listed here.

Configuration#

Connect the LCH-360 sensor via the RS232 port of either the Controller or a connected RIO Remote Device. Note the serial port number the LCH-360 sensor has been connected to as this will be needed in the Instance Properties.

It is recommended to set the controller log to Extended to prevent the Serial Input log messages from being displayed as often as the Transmission Rate set within the Instance Properties.

Operation#

Once connected the LCH-360 sensor is capable of sending both a stream of constant angle values at a regular interval, and provide an angle value when requested.

The regular interval of angle value transmission can be set by adjusting the Transmission Rate value in the Instance Properties. Whereas, running the Get Angle Action will send a request for a single angle value.

If the Transmission Rate is set to 0s then the LCH-360 sensor will not transmit any angle values unless requested to do so by the Get Angle Action.

All angle values received will fire the Get Angle Input Trigger and can be passed as variables.

Instance Properties#

Specify the Serial Port to which the LCH-360 sensor has been connected by selecting the device and port number of the used RS232 connection used.

When the Transmission Rate is set to a non-zero value this specifies the time interval, or rate, at which the LCH-360 sensor will send angle values. In such a case the LCH-360 sensor will begin sending values as soon as the Controller has started up and transmitted the Transmission Rate request to the LCH-360 sensor.

The Transmission Rate can be either 0s, or a value between 0.100s and 9.999s. If the Transmission Rate is set to 0s then the LCH-360 sensor will only provide angle values when requested by the Get Angle Action.

The Offset parameter allows the specification of a constant angle offset from the received value. The offset adds degrees in the specified Offset degrees in a clockwise direction. This can be useful to correctly align lighting displays that have a required orientation.

Whenever smooth image rotation is key, it is possible to dial in the Maximum Forward Step and Maximum Backward Step possible in degrees for each new value received from the LCH-360. The default value is 180 degrees which allows any new value received from the LCH-360 to be accepted. These parameters also ensure that any momentary anomalous value that could be received is prevented from causing an image rotation to flicker or back track in an undesirable manner.

NOTE that the Maximum Forward Step and Maximum Backward Step are advanced Instance Properties that will require fine tuning to make them perform as desired, especially when working with small angle margins. It is also worth taking extra care in such a situation that if the installation is knocked in a way that advances the degrees by a value greater than the maximum step values, then it will be out of sync and would need to be reset.

Triggers#

This Trigger fires when the Controller receives an angle value from the LCH-360 sensor.

The angle received is a percentage value expressed as a number between 0 to 1, corresponding to 0 and 360 degrees.

Actions#

Enable#

This Action will request the LCH-360 sensor to begin transmitting a constant stream of angle values according at the rate specified by the Transmission Rate within the Instance Properties.

Disable#

This Action will request the LCH-360 sensor to stop transmitting a constant stream of angle values.

It will still be possible to receive angle values by using the Get Angle Action.

Get Angle#

This Action sends a request to the LCH-360 sensor to provide an angle value. Once this has been sent by the LCH-360 sensor it can be received by the Get Angle Input Trigger.

Support#

If you encounter any issues with this module, please contact our support team.