Create a GPIO "pin" router in Pathfinder CorePro

Updated by Brett Patram

Scope

In the previous Pathfinder PC Server, it was possible to create a GPIO Pin router. This router allowed the user to route individual GPI pins to any GPO pin.

CorePro does not have a specific router type just for GPIO pin routing. Instead, there is a router type called "Sap Property Router". This router type will allow pin-to-pin routing to take place.

If you are needing to get the same functionality as the Pathfinder PC Server GPIO Pin Router had, this doc will show you how to do it in CorePro

The already existing Axia GPIO router (not GPIO Pin router) is a router type that will route an entire GPIO port to another GPIO port. Setting routes will allow you to map all 5 GPI Pins of the Source GPIO port and have them appear as GPO pins of the Destination GPIO port. This creates a one way GPI to GPO snake. Make a complimetry route in the oposite direction for bi-directional behavior. Pathfinder PC Server and Pathfinder CorePro both have this type of router in common, and they both behave in the same way. If you are only needing to route ports to ports, look into the already existing Axia GPIO Router

Adding a new Sap Property Router
  1. In CorePro web UI, go to the Routers page. Near the bottom right of the router's list, you will see a Plus icon. Click this icon to add a new router to the system

  1. Select Router Type "Sap Property Router". Provide a Router name and optional description, then click Add button

  1. The new router will be added to the router list. Find the new router in the list and click the details link to edit the router

Add GPI pins as router Sources

The newly created Sap Property Router will be empty. We need to first add our GPI pins as Sources in the router.

  1. Click on the Points tab
  2. Click on Import Sources

  1. To add the first GPI pin to the router we must locate it. First look under Gpio menu, this lists all devices with GPIO ports on them, find the device and expand that menu. Under the device's menu, find the GPIO port and expand that. Under the GPIO port menu, find the GPI Pin and expand that. Lastly, select PinState from that menu. Set a name and description and then click the Select button to add it to the router.

GPIO -> GPIO Device Name -> GPIO Port Name -> GPI Pin # ->PinState

  1. Repeat this step to add in all the GPI pins of interest to the router. The example below shows all 5 GPI pins added from the same GPIO port. However, these can be any mix of pins from any port.

Add GPO Pins as Router destinations

Similar to the previous section. Now we need to add our GPO pins as Destinations in the router.

  1. Click on the Points tab
  2. Click on Import Destinations

  1. To add the first GPO pin to the router we must locate it. First, look under Gpio menu, this lists all devices with GPIO ports on them, find the device and expand that menu. Under the device's menu, find the GPIO port and expand that. Under the GPIO port menu, find the GPO Pin and expand that. Lastly, select PinState from that menu. Set a name and description and then click the Select button to add it to the router.

GPIO -> GPIO Device Name -> GPIO Port Name -> GPO Pin # ->PinState

  1. Repeat this step to add in all the GPO pins of interest to the router. The example below shows all 3 GPO pins added from the same GPIO port. However, these can be any mix of pins from any port.

Set or view routes with XY tab

Click on the XY tab to see the XY router view

To set a route simply click at the cross-section between the X(source/GPI pin) and the Y(destination/GPO pin) and then click the Take button

Here we have the "GPI" pin states from a button panel mapped to GPO pin states that will control a CD deck

Set or view routes with Routes tab

The Routes tab offers a table-based view of current routes in the place. This view is especially helpful as it makes the "direction" of the routed signal clear to see. Click on any of the currently set routes and click Change Route to modify, or Clear Route to disconnect

Additional thoughts and resources

  • The Sap Property Router has many more uses beyond simple pin routing. See Pathfinder CorePro documentation here
  • It is possible to route a GPO pin to another GPO pin, if you include GPO pins for your router Sources. In some cases it is also possible to route a GPI pin to another GPI pin, if you include GPI pins for your router destinations. However GPI to GPI will only be allowed when the Destination GPI pin is a software based GPIO port (Axia IP Driver, CorePro GPIO Node). A hardware GPI Pin can only be set by a physical wired connection to the pin. A software GPI pin can be set regardless
  • You may create multiple routers for specific pin routing tasks
  • For GPO pins, instead of selecting PinState you may also use PulseLow or PulseHigh to translate the GPI pin state into a predefined pulse to control the length of Low to High state transition of the GPO Pin
  • Like all routers, routes can be set via logic flows or user panel interactions
  • Utilizing "Scenes" in CorePro can let you recall preset routing matrices for the pin router. See Pathfinder CorePro documentation here

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