Fixed Point Signals in Legacy Functions

Open Model

This example shows you how to use the Legacy Code Tool to integrate legacy C functions that pass their inputs and outputs using signals of fixed point data type.

The Legacy Code Tool allows you to:

Provide the legacy function specification,
Generate a C-MEX S-function that is used during simulation to call the legacy code, and
Compile and build the generated S-function for simulation.

Providing the Legacy Function Specification

Functions provided with the Legacy Code Tool take a specific data structure or array of structures as the argument. The data structure is initialized by calling the function legacy_code() using 'initialize' as the first input. After initializing the structure, you have to assign its properties to values corresponding to the legacy code being integrated. The prototype of the legacy functions being called in this example is:

myFixpt timesS16(const myFixpt in1, const myFixpt in2, const uint8_T fracLength)

where myFixpt is logically a fixed point data type which is physically a typedef to a 16-bit integer:

myFixpt = Simulink.NumericType;
myFixpt.DataTypeMode = 'Fixed-point: binary point scaling';
myFixpt.Signed = true;
myFixpt.WordLength = 16;
myFixpt.FractionLength = 10;
myFixpt.IsAlias = true;
myFixpt.HeaderFile = 'timesFixpt.h';

The legacy source code is found in the files timesFixpt.h and timesS16.c.

% sldemo_sfun_times_s16
def = legacy_code('initialize');
def.SFunctionName = 'sldemo_sfun_times_s16';
def.OutputFcnSpec = 'myFixpt y1 = timesS16(myFixpt u1, myFixpt u2, uint8 p1)';
def.HeaderFiles   = {'timesFixpt.h'};
def.SourceFiles   = {'timesS16.c'};
def.IncPaths      = {'sldemo_lct_src'};
def.SrcPaths      = {'sldemo_lct_src'};

Generating and Compiling an S-Function for Use During Simulation

The function legacy_code() is called again with the first input set to 'generate_for_sim' in order to automatically generate and compile the C-MEX S-function according to the description provided by the input argument 'def'. This S-function is used to call the legacy functions in simulation. The source code for the S-function is found in the file sldemo_sfun_times_s16.c.

legacy_code('generate_for_sim', def);

### Start Compiling sldemo_sfun_times_s16
    mex('-I/tmp/Bdoc24b_2725827_2508593/tp1cdd10a1/simulink_features-ex15473442/sldemo_lct_src', '-I/tmp/Bdoc24b_2725827_2508593/tp1cdd10a1/simulink_features-ex15473442', '-c', '-outdir', '/tmp/Bdoc24b_2725827_2508593/tpa0d5961e_4ea6_41b1_85e1_dce776c80378', '/tmp/Bdoc24b_2725827_2508593/tp1cdd10a1/simulink_features-ex15473442/sldemo_lct_src/timesS16.c')
Building with 'gcc'.
MEX completed successfully.
    mex('sldemo_sfun_times_s16.c', '-I/tmp/Bdoc24b_2725827_2508593/tp1cdd10a1/simulink_features-ex15473442/sldemo_lct_src', '-I/tmp/Bdoc24b_2725827_2508593/tp1cdd10a1/simulink_features-ex15473442', '/tmp/Bdoc24b_2725827_2508593/tpa0d5961e_4ea6_41b1_85e1_dce776c80378/timesS16.o')
Building with 'gcc'.
MEX completed successfully.
### Finish Compiling sldemo_sfun_times_s16
### Exit

Generating an rtwmakecfg.m File for Code Generation

After the TLC block file is created, the function legacy_code() can be called again with the first input set to 'rtwmakecfg_generate' in order to generate an rtwmakecfg.m file to support code generation through Simulink® Coder™. Generate the rtwmakecfg.m file if the required source and header files for the S-functions are not in the same directory as the S-functions, and you want to add these dependencies in the makefile produced during code generation.

Note: Complete this step only if you are going to simulate the model in accelerated mode.

legacy_code('rtwmakecfg_generate', def);

Generating a Masked S-Function Block for Calling the Generated S-Function

After the C-MEX S-function source is compiled, the function legacy_code() can be called again with the first input set to 'slblock_generate' in order to generate a masked S-function block that is configured to call that S-function. The block is placed in a new model and can be copied to an existing model.

% legacy_code('slblock_generate', def);

Integration with Legacy Code

The model sldemo_lct_fixpt_signals shows integration with the legacy code. The subsystem TestFixpt serves as a harness for the call to the legacy C function via the generated S-function, and the scope compares the output of the function with the output of the built-in Simulink® product block; the results are identical.

open_system('sldemo_lct_fixpt_signals')
open_system('sldemo_lct_fixpt_signals/TestFixpt')
sim('sldemo_lct_fixpt_signals')

ans = 

  Simulink.SimulationOutput:
                   yout: [101x2 double] 

     SimulationMetadata: [1x1 Simulink.SimulationMetadata] 
           ErrorMessage: [0x0 char]