How to: PIR Module

The PIR module is mostly used as motion detector. Thanks to its low power consumption it can safely be used with batteries acting as the only power source.

Tip

Visit documentation for this SDK module

How It Works

Thanks to the SDK, setting up and using the PIR module is very simple. You have to do only two things:

  • initialize the PIR module and set its sensitivity

  • program the event handler (what should happen when PIR senses movement)

Initialization is as simple as for other modules from HARDWARIO TOWER ecosystem. You have to instantiate variable with type twr_module_pir_t which represents the PIR module for SDK.

Inside your application_init function comes the initialization and first setting of sensitivity (can be later changed in the code).

Example of initialization:

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#include <application.h>

twr_module_pir_t pir;

void application_init(void)
{
    twr_module_pir_init(&pir);
    twr_module_pir_set_sensitivity(&pir, TWR_MODULE_PIR_SENSITIVITY_MEDIUM);
    twr_module_pir_set_event_handler(&pir, pir_event_handler, NULL);
}

Sensitivity

SDK offers you four types of sensitivity defined as enum type, so you can use simple names:

  • TWR_MODULE_PIR_SENSITIVITY_LOW

  • TWR_MODULE_PIR_SENSITIVITY_MEDIUM

  • TWR_MODULE_PIR_SENSITIVITY_HIGH

  • TWR_MODULE_PIR_SENSITIVITY_VERY_HIGH

It is very hard to predict how exactly the PIR sensor will act in your particular use case, it is always a good idea to test every type of sensitivity to find out which one to use for the best results.

Recognizable PIR Module Events

For now there are only two events - error and motion detection.

  • TWR_MODULE_PIR_EVENT_ERROR - occurs when error was encountered

  • TWR_MODULE_PIR_EVENT_MOTION - occurs when motion is detected

Example

This example uses medium sensitivity. When movement is detected, message Movement! is sent to your computer.

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#include <application.h>

twr_module_pir_t pir;
twr_button_t button;

void pir_event_handler(twr_module_pir_t *self, twr_module_pir_event_t event, void *event_param)
{
    (void) self;
    (void) event_param;

    if (event == TWR_MODULE_PIR_EVENT_MOTION)
    {
        twr_log_debug("Movement detected!");
    }
}

void application_init(void)
{
    twr_log_init(TWR_LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG, TWR_LOG_TIMESTAMP_ABS);

    twr_module_pir_init(&pir);
    twr_module_pir_set_sensitivity(&pir, TWR_MODULE_PIR_SENSITIVITY_MEDIUM);
    twr_module_pir_set_event_handler(&pir, pir_event_handler, NULL);
}