Energia Reference - Tutorials

Examples > Communication

Serial Event

Demonstrates use of the SerialEvent() function. SerialEvent() is called after a loop(), if there is serial data in the buffer.

Hardware Required

MSP-EXP430G2 LaunchPad

Relevant Groundwork

None.

Circuit

image developed using Fritzing. For more circuit examples, see the Fritzing project page

Schematic

Code Explanation

This code demonstrates the use of the serialEvent() function. In this code, serialEvent() runs after each time loop() processes. Since we are placing characters read from the Serial Monitor into a buffer, the serialEvent will send characters received back into the main loop to be processed. The best way to demonstrate this is to place a delay at the end of the if statement in the main loop. The string read from the Serial monitor will be printed to the serial monitor with a delay. During the delay, if you type more characters into the Serial Monitor, the code will send these characters back into the main loop after the delay to be printed to the Serial Monitor.

Code

/*
  Serial Event example

  When new serial data arrives, this sketch adds it to a String.
  When a newline is received, the loop prints the string and 
  clears it.

  A good test for this is to try it with a GPS receiver 
  that sends out NMEA 0183 sentences. 

  Created 9 May 2011
  by Tom Igoe
  Modified 24 April 2013
  by Sean Alvarado

  This example code is in the public domain.

*/

String inputString = ""; // a string to hold incoming data
boolean stringComplete = false; // whether the string is complete

void setup() {
  // initialize serial:
  Serial.begin(9600);
  // reserve 200 bytes for the inputString:
  inputString.reserve(200);
}

void loop() {
  // print the string when a newline arrives:
  if (stringComplete) {
    Serial.println(inputString); 
    // clear the string:
    inputString = "";
    stringComplete = false;
  }
}

/*
  SerialEvent occurs whenever a new data comes in the
  hardware serial RX. This routine is run between each
  time loop() runs, so using delay inside loop can delay
  response. Multiple bytes of data may be available.
*/
void serialEvent() {
  while (Serial.available()) {
    // get the new byte:
    char inChar = (char)Serial.read(); 
    // add it to the inputString:
    inputString += inChar;
    // if the incoming character is a newline, set a flag
    // so the main loop can do something about it:
    if (inChar == '\n') {
    stringComplete = true;
    } 
  }
}

Working Video

(Insert Video Here)