Use Enumerations to Control an LED Display

Enumerations in a MATLAB Function Block

This example shows how MATLAB Function blocks exchange enumerated data with other Simulink® blocks. The model uses enumerations to represent the modes of a device that controls the colors of an LED display. The MATLAB Function block receives an enumerated input signal that represents the mode. The enumerated output signal represents the color that the LED displays.

In this model, the Step block provides the source of the on/off signal. This block outputs an initial value of 0 (off) and, after 10 seconds, steps up to a value of 1 (on). A pair of Data Type Conversion blocks convert this signal, first from type double to type int32, and then from int32 to the numerated type switchmode. The parameters in the second Data Type Conversion block have these settings:

Output minimum: []
Output maximum: []
Output data type: Enum:switchmode

The MATLAB Function block checkState evaluates the enumerated input state to determine the value of the enumerated output ledval. state inherits its enumerated type switchmode from the incoming Simulink signal, while ledval has the type Enum:led. Finally, a Display block displays the value of ledval.

Enumeration Class Definitions

The switchmode enumeration represents the allowed modes for the input to the checkstate block.

classdef switchmode < Simulink.IntEnumType
  enumeration
    OFF(0)
    ON(1)
  end
end

The led enumeration represents the colors that the checkstate block can output.

classdef led < Simulink.IntEnumType
    enumeration
        GREEN(1),
        RED(8)
    end
end

Both enumeration classes inherit from the built-in type Simulink.IntEnumType and reside on the MATLAB^® path.

MATLAB Function Block Function

The function checkState uses enumerations to activate an LED display, based on the state of a device. It lights a green LED display to indicate the ON state. It lights a red LED display to indicate the OFF state.

function ledval = checkState(state)
%#codegen

if state == switchmode.ON
    ledval = led.GREEN;
else
    ledval = led.RED;
end

Simulation

When you simulate the model, the Display block displays the state of the LED display. If you simulate the model for less than 10 seconds, the state is off. The Display block displays RED. If you simulate the model for more than 10 seconds, the state is on. The Display block displays GREEN.