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Byte Pack

Convert input signals to uint8 vector

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  • Byte Pack block

Libraries:
Embedded Coder / Embedded Targets / Host Communication

Description

The Byte Pack block receives input signals of one or more data types and converts the data to one uint8 vector for output. Use block parameters to specify data types of the input signals and the alignment of the data in the vector that the block outputs. Because the UDP protocol transmits data in uint8 format, you can use this block to reformat data for UDP transmission by connecting the output of this block to the input of a UDP Send block.

Ports

Input

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Array of input signals of one or more data types.

Data Types: single | double | int8 | int16 | int32 | int64 | uint8 | uint16 | uint32 | uint64 | Boolean | fixed point | enumerated | bus

Output

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Converted block input, returned as a vector of uint8 data.

Data Types: uint8

Parameters

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Specify the Simulink data types of input signals that the block receives in a cell array. In the cell array, specify data types in the order in which the block input port receives the signal data. For example, if the block receives data in the order uint32, uint32, uint16, double, uint8, double, and single, specify this cell array:

 {'uint32','uint32','uint16','double','uint8','double','single'}

The block then provides the number of block inputs.

Specify how to align the data types of input data to form the uint8 vector output in bytes. Alignment can occur on 1, 2, 4, or 8-byte boundaries. Based on the alignment value, each signal data value begins on multiples of the alignment value. The alignment algorithms for each element in the output vector begin on a byte boundary specified by the alignment value. Byte alignment sets the boundaries relative to the starting point of the vector.

To get the tightest packing without holes between data types in the various combinations of data types, select 1.

You can have multiple data types of varying lengths. In such cases, a 2-byte alignment can produce 1–byte gaps between uint8 or int8 values and another data type. In the pack implementation, the block copies data to the output data buffer 1 byte at a time.

For example, assume that you specify this cell array for Input port data types (cell array):

 {'uint32','uint32','uint16','double','uint8','double','single'}

Assume that you set Byte alignment to 2. Each new value begins 2 bytes from the previous data boundary. When the signals are scalar values, the:

  • First signal value in the vector starts at 0 bytes.

  • Second signal value starts at 2 bytes.

  • Third signal value starts at 4 bytes.

  • Fourth signal value starts at 6 bytes.

  • Fifth signal value starts at 8 bytes.

  • Sixth signal value starts at 10 bytes

  • Seventh signal value starts at 12 bytes.

The packing algorithm leaves a 1-byte gap between the uint8 data value and the double value.

Version History

Introduced in R2011a

See Also

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