How to contribute

OhmPi is an open source system and contributions in terms of hardware and software are welcome. However, in order to maintain the project on tracks and promote exchange and reuse, it is necessary that contributors wishing to develop new software or hardware components follow a few basic steps detailed below. Contributors are also kindly asked to get in touch with the OhmPi developing team.

Developing hardware components

Here is a non exhaustive wish list of new hardware features that are planned/hoped to be developed in the future. Contributors are welcomed to join forces to make this list come true, or propose new ideas by creating a new issue in the Gitlab repository.

Developing software features

If the new developments purely concern the software (e.g. bug fix, new acquisition strategy, etc.), then please follow the git best practices by first creating an new issue and then create a local branch linked to this issue. Once the new feature is implemented, a pull request can be initiated.

Software interface to new hardware components

This section is intended for developers of a new hardware component as part of an OhmPi system.

It presents some advices and best practices that should help developing new hardware components to work within an OhmPi system.

Two cases should be distinguished when dealing with hardware development components:

1- Developments of a hardware component that comply with the way the OhmPi Hardware System works. Such developments typically focus on improving an existing component (reduce cost, improve performance, adapt range to specific applications, design with easily available parts…). The newly created hardware component will expose the minimal functionalities required by hardware_system for this type of component.

2- Developments of a hardware component that introduce changes in the way the OhmPi Hardware System works. Such developments do not only focus on improving a single component but also on the way to operate the system. A discussion with developers of the OhmPi_Hardware and OhmPi classes should be initiated at a very early stage to investigate the best ways to design and implement a working solution.

If you are dealing with case 1 or have designed a development path and strategy, you are ready to start.

First the hardware board/device should be conceived and designed. The Ohmpi team recommends that contributors design or import their boards within KiCAD and that both schemas and PCB are shared.

When developing a new component Class, always start your development in a new branch. 1- Create a new python file or make a copy and modify an existing similar component file. All hardware component modules are stored in the ohmpi/hardware_component directory. In the newly created python file, define a new class based on the relevant abstract class of abstract_hardware_components.py. Implement the abstract methods to interact with your hardware. Name the file according to the name of the component. Make sure to place this new python module in the ohmpi/hardware_component directory.

2- Create a new configuration file or make a copy and modify an existing configuration file. All existing config files are stored in the ohmpi/hardware_component directory. In this newly created config file, describe your system including the new component in the HARDWARE_CONFIG dictionary. Name it config_XXX.py where XXX should be replaced by an expression describing the system. Make sure to place your new config file in the ohmpi/configs directory.

3- Create a new script or make a copy and modify of an existing script for testing the component. In this script, write python code where you will conduct the tests of the required functionalities of the new component.

Hardware components API

class ohmpi.hardware_components.abstract_hardware_components.CtlAbstract(**kwargs)

CTlAbstract Class Abstract class for controller

Attributes:
cpu_temperature
class ohmpi.hardware_components.abstract_hardware_components.MuxAbstract(**kwargs)

MUXAbstract Class Abstract class for MUX

Attributes:
barrier

Methods

switch([elec_dict, state, bypass_check, ...])

Switch a given list of electrodes with different roles.

switch_one([elec, role, state])

Switches one single relay.

test(elec_dict[, activation_time])

Method to test the multiplexer.

reset

switch(elec_dict=None, state='off', bypass_check=False, bypass_ab_check=False)

Switch a given list of electrodes with different roles. Electrodes with a value of 0 will be ignored.

Parameters:
elec_dictdictionary, optional

Dictionary of the form: {role: [list of electrodes]}.

statestr, optional

Either ‘on’ or ‘off’.

bypass_check: bool, optional

Bypasses checks for A==M or A==M or B==M or B==N (i.e. used for rs-check)

bypass_ab_check: bool, optional

Bypasses checks for A==B (i.e. used for testing r_shunt). Should be used with caution.

abstract switch_one(elec=None, role=None, state=None)

Switches one single relay.

Parameters:
elec
role
statestr, optional

Either ‘on’ or ‘off’.

test(elec_dict, activation_time=1.0)

Method to test the multiplexer.

Parameters:
elec_dictdictionary, optional

Dictionary of the form: {role: [list of electrodes]}.

activation_timefloat, optional

Time in seconds during which the relays are activated.

class ohmpi.hardware_components.abstract_hardware_components.PwrAbstract(**kwargs)

PwrAbstract Class Abstract class for Power module

Attributes:
current
pwr_state
voltage

Methods

battery_voltage

reload_settings

reset_voltage

class ohmpi.hardware_components.abstract_hardware_components.RxAbstract(**kwargs)

RXAbstract Class Abstract class for RX

Attributes:
bias

Gets the RX bias

gain
latency

Gets the Rx latency

sampling_rate
voltage

Gets the voltage VMN in Volts

Methods

gain_auto

reset_gain

property bias

Gets the RX bias

property latency

Gets the Rx latency

abstract property voltage

Gets the voltage VMN in Volts

class ohmpi.hardware_components.abstract_hardware_components.TxAbstract(**kwargs)

TxAbstract Class Abstract class for TX module

Attributes:
current

Gets the current IAB in Amps

gain
injection_duration
latency

Gets the Tx latency

measuring
polarity
pwr_state
tx_bat
voltage

Gets the voltage VAB in Volts

Methods

inject([polarity, injection_duration, ...])

Abstract method to define injection.

voltage_pulse([voltage, length, polarity])

Generates a square voltage pulse

current_pulse

discharge_pwr

reset_gain

abstract property current

Gets the current IAB in Amps

abstract inject(polarity=1, injection_duration=None, switch_pwr=False)

Abstract method to define injection.

Parameters:
polarity: int, default 1

Injection polarity, can be eiter 1, 0 or -1.

injection_duration: float, default None

Injection duration in seconds.

switch_pwr: bool

Switch on and off tx.pwr.

property latency

Gets the Tx latency

property voltage

Gets the voltage VAB in Volts

voltage_pulse(voltage=0.0, length=None, polarity=1)

Generates a square voltage pulse

Parameters:
voltage: float, optional

Voltage to apply in volts, tx_v_def is applied if omitted.

length: float, optional

Length of the pulse in seconds

polarity: 1,0,-1

Polarity of the pulse

class ohmpi.hardware_components.mb_2023_0_X.Rx(**kwargs)

RX class

Attributes:
bias

Gets the RX bias

gain
latency

Gets the Rx latency

sampling_rate
voltage

Gets the voltage VMN in Volts

Methods

gain_auto

reset_ads

reset_gain

property voltage

Gets the voltage VMN in Volts

class ohmpi.hardware_components.mb_2023_0_X.Tx(**kwargs)

Tx Class

Attributes:
current

Gets the current IAB in Amps

gain
injection_duration
latency

Gets the Tx latency

measuring
polarity
pwr_state
tx_bat
voltage

Gets the voltage VAB in Volts

Methods

inject([polarity, injection_duration, ...])

Abstract method to define injection.

voltage_pulse([voltage, length, polarity])

Generates a square voltage pulse

current_pulse

discharge_pwr

gain_auto

reset_ads

reset_gain

reset_mcp

property current

Gets the current IAB in Amps

inject(polarity=1, injection_duration=None, switch_pwr=False)

Abstract method to define injection.

Parameters:
polarity: int, default 1

Injection polarity, can be eiter 1, 0 or -1.

injection_duration: float, default None

Injection duration in seconds.

switch_pwr: bool

Switch on and off tx.pwr.

voltage_pulse(voltage=None, length=None, polarity=1)

Generates a square voltage pulse

Parameters:
voltage: float, optional

Voltage to apply in volts, tx_v_def is applied if omitted.

length: float, optional

Length of the pulse in seconds

polarity: 1,0,-1

Polarity of the pulse

class ohmpi.hardware_components.mb_2024_0_2.Rx(**kwargs)

RX Class

Attributes:
bias

Gets the RX bias

gain
latency

Gets the Rx latency

sampling_rate
voltage

Gets the voltage VMN in Volts

Methods

gain_auto

reset_ads

reset_gain

reset_mcp

property voltage

Gets the voltage VMN in Volts

class ohmpi.hardware_components.mb_2024_0_2.Tx(**kwargs)

TX Class

Attributes:
current

Gets the current IAB in Amps

gain
injection_duration
latency

Gets the Tx latency

measuring
polarity
pwr_state
tx_bat
voltage

Gets the voltage VAB in Volts

Methods

current_pulse([current, length, polarity])

Generates a square current pulse.

inject([polarity, injection_duration])

Abstract method to define injection.

voltage_pulse([voltage, length, polarity])

Generates a square voltage pulse

discharge_pwr

gain_auto

reset_ads

reset_gain

reset_mcp

current_pulse(current=None, length=None, polarity=1)

Generates a square current pulse. Currently no DPS can handle this…

Parameters:
voltage: float, optional

Voltage to apply in volts, tx_v_def is applied if omitted.

length: float, optional

Length of the pulse in seconds.

polarity: 1,0,-1

Polarity of the pulse.

inject(polarity=1, injection_duration=None)

Abstract method to define injection.

Parameters:
polarity: int, default 1

Injection polarity, can be eiter 1, 0 or -1.

injection_duration: float, default None

Injection duration in seconds.

switch_pwr: bool

Switch on and off tx.pwr.

class ohmpi.hardware_components.mux_2023_0_X.Mux(**kwargs)
Attributes:
barrier

Methods

switch([elec_dict, state, bypass_check, ...])

Switch a given list of electrodes with different roles.

switch_one([elec, role, state])

Switches one single relay.

test(elec_dict[, activation_time])

Method to test the multiplexer.

reset

reset_i2c_ext_tca

reset_one

reset_tca

switch_one(elec=None, role=None, state=None)

Switches one single relay.

Parameters:
elec
role
statestr, optional

Either ‘on’ or ‘off’.

class ohmpi.hardware_components.mux_2024_0_X.Mux(**kwargs)
Attributes:
barrier

Methods

switch([elec_dict, state, bypass_check, ...])

Switch a given list of electrodes with different roles.

switch_one([elec, role, state])

Switches one single relay.

test(elec_dict[, activation_time])

Method to test the multiplexer.

reset

reset_i2c_ext_tca

reset_one

switch_one(elec=None, role=None, state=None)

Switches one single relay.

Parameters:
elec
role
statestr, optional

Either ‘on’ or ‘off’.

class ohmpi.hardware_components.pwr_batt.Pwr(**kwargs)
Attributes:
current
pwr_state
voltage

Methods

battery_voltage

reload_settings

reset_voltage

class ohmpi.hardware_components.pwr_dph5005.Pwr(**kwargs)
Attributes:
current
current_max
current_overload
pwr_state
voltage
voltage_max

Methods

battery_voltage

current_max_default

power_max

reload_settings

reset_voltage

voltage_default

class ohmpi.hardware_components.raspberry_pi.Ctl(**kwargs)
Attributes:
cpu_temperature