2.0.0 • Published 4 years ago

@tibbotech/web-serial-library v2.0.0

Weekly downloads
-
License
MIT
Repository
github
Last release
4 years ago

Tibbo WebSerial Library

Introduction

The Tibbo Web232 and Tibbo Web485 boards work as standard USB-to-RS232/USB-to-RS485 adaptors, but with WebUSB support.

This JavaScript API allows web-based applications to access USB devices. WebUSB is supported by the Google Chrome browser and is also included in the Chromium open-source browser builds. If you are using Chrome (or a Chromium-based) browser, your web pages will be able to access an RS232 device connected to a Web232 board or an RS485 device connected to a Web485 board.

Installation

To use this library, the following lines should be included in the <head> section of the HTML file.

<script type="text/javascript" src="TibboWebSerial.min.js"></script>

Initialization

Instantiating Serial Object

In order to use this library, it is necessary to first instantiate the TibboWebSerial.Serial object, passing the correct device as a parameter. This is best done through an onclick event. The code below shows the most basic example of how to do this:

<body>
    <button onclick="connectToDevice()">Connect to Device</button><br /><br />
</body>

<script>
    var serial;
    function connectToDevice() {
        const filters = [];
        navigator.usb.requestDevice({ filters: filters })
            .then(device => {
                serial = new TibboWebSerial.Serial(device);
                serial.connect();
            })
            .catch(e => {
                console.log("There is no device. " + e);
            });
    }
</script>

When the button is clicked, a list of available USB devices will be displayed. The device called "Web232" or "Web485" should be selected. An instance of TibboWebSerial.Serial called serial has now been created!

Declaring Callbacks

There are a number of callbacks functions available, each one is detailed here. To use a callback, it must first be declared. A good time to do this would be just after instantiating the serial object. For example, to generate a callback when a successful connection is made to the device, the connectOK callback could be used. First, the callback should be declared after the serial object is instantiated using the following line of code:

serial.connectOK = this.onConnectOK;

Next, the body of the callback must be added. In order to display an alert when the connection is ok, the following function could be added:

function onConnectOK() {
	alert("Successfully connected to device");
}

Thus, the previous example becomes:

<body>
    <button onclick="connectToDevice()">Connect to Device</button><br /><br />
</body>

<script>
    var serial;
    function connectToDevice() {
        const filters = [];
        navigator.usb.requestDevice({ filters: filters })
            .then(device => {
                serial = new TibboWebSerial.Serial(device);
                serial.connectOK = this.onConnectOK;
                serial.connect();
            })
            .catch(e => {
                console.log("There is no device. " + e);
            });
    }

    function onConnectOK() {
        alert("Successfully connected to device");
    }
</script>

Functions

FunctionParameterDescriptionReturn Value
setBaud(Baud)NumberSets baud to value passed in parameterTested on all of the standard bauds between 110 and 921600.-
setFlowControl(Flowcontrol)"OFF","CTS_RTS""XON_XOFF"Sets the flow control according to value passed passed as parameter-
write(data)StringSends data passed as parameter through the serial port-
getFlowControl()-Returns the currently set flow control"OFF","CTS_RTS""XON_XOFF"
toggleLINE(Line)LINE_STATES.RTSLINE_STATES.RTSToggles the line that is passed as a parameter.-
disconnect()-Disconnects from the Web232/Web485 board

Callbacks

CallbackDescription
modemStateChanged(DTR, RTS, CTS, DSR, RI, DCD)Triggered when modem state changesArguments provide the updated state of each of the 6 lines
flowControlChanged(flowControl)Triggered when flow control changesArgument provides the updated flow control value
baudChangeOK(baud)Triggered when baud successfully changesArgument provides the updated baud value
onSerDataArrival(data)Triggered when data arrives from the serial portArgument provides the received data
onSerDataSent(data)Triggered when data is sent from the serial portArgument provides the sent data
onConnectOK()Triggered when a connection to the Web232/Web485 board is successfully established
onDisconnectOK()Triggered when a connection to the Web232/Web485 board is successfully terminated
onConnectionError()Triggered when a connection to the Web232/Web485 board is unexpectedly terminated, for example when the cable is unplugged
onConnectFail()Triggered when a connection to the Web232/Web485 board is not able to be established, for example if a connection to an incompatible device is attempted.