@tibbotech/web-serial-library
v2.0.0
Published
JavaScript API to access serial devices using a Tibbo Web232/Web485 board
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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
| Function | Parameter | Description | Return Value |
| --------------------------- | ------------------------------------- | :----------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| setBaud(Baud) | Number | Sets 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) | String | Sends 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.RTS | Toggles the line that is passed as a parameter. | - |
| disconnect() | - | Disconnects from the Web232/Web485 board | |
Callbacks
| Callback | Description | | ---------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | | 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. |