setBrightness : enhancement

[stef-ladefense]

I noticed that in the code, when you change the brightness or simply turn off the display, you have to do a setBrightness followed by rewriting the message. It's counterproductive. If for example I want to flash the display, at worst I have to do either:

for (uint8_t i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
display.setBrightness(7, false);
display.showNumber(_num, true);
delay(250);
display.setBrightness(7, true);
display.showNumber(_num, true);
delay(250);
}

or better not using setBrightness but rewriting the message all the same

for (uint8_t i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
display.clear();
delay(250);
display.showNumber(_num, true);
delay(250);
}

By simply moving the writing of the TM1637_I2C_COMM3 into the setBrightness, the command becomes instantaneous and allows the brightness to be varied or the display to be turned off or on without rewriting a message after the setBrightness. this command doesn't need anything else to work.

display.showNumber(_num, true);
for (uint8_t i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
display.setBrightness(7, false);
delay(250) ;
display.setBrightness(7, true);
delay(250) ;
}

change in TM1637TinyDisplay.cpp

void TM1637TinyDisplay::setBrightness(uint8_t brightness, bool on)
{
  m_brightness = (brightness & 0x07) | (on? 0x08 : 0x00);

  start();
  writeByte(TM1637_I2C_COMM3 + (m_brightness & 0x0f));
  stop();
}

void TM1637TinyDisplay::setSegments(const uint8_t segments[], uint8_t length, uint8_t pos)
{
...
  // Write COMM3 + brightness
  //start();
  //writeByte(TM1637_I2C_COMM3 + (m_brightness & 0x0f));
  //stop();
}

tested on my current project and works without any observed side effects. What do you think ?

Stephane

[jasonacox]

I love it! ❤️ You are absolutely right. This is more intuitive.

Do you want to submit a pull request with your changes? I can make the change myself but would prefer if you get the credit.

[stef-ladefense]

thank ❤ voila !

[jasonacox]

Thank you! This is a great upgrade! This will be part of release v1.6.0, coming soon.

[jasonacox]

v1.6.0 Released: https://www.arduino.cc/reference/en/libraries/tm1637tinydisplay/

You code is now live. Thanks for your contribution and help!