Changing timer period at runtime in FreeRTOS - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to create a FreeRTOS timer named myTimer.

FreeRTOS

TimerHandle_t myTimer = xTimerCreate("Timer", [1], pdTRUE, NULL, TimerCallback);

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

ApdFALSE

B1000 / portTICK_PERIOD_MS

C1000

DNULL

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using milliseconds directly without converting to ticks.

Setting the timer to not auto-reload when it should.

The timer period must be specified in ticks, so we convert 1000 milliseconds to ticks using 1000 / portTICK_PERIOD_MS.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to start the timer myTimer.

FreeRTOS

xTimerStart([1], 0);

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

ApdTRUE

BNULL

CTimerCallback

DmyTimer

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Passing NULL instead of the timer handle.

Passing the callback function instead of the timer handle.

To start the timer, pass its handle myTimer to xTimerStart.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the code to change the timer period at runtime.

FreeRTOS

xTimerChangePeriod(myTimer, [1], 0);

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A500

BpdTRUE

C500 / portTICK_PERIOD_MS

DNULL

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Passing milliseconds directly without conversion.

Using incorrect constants for the period.

The new timer period must be in ticks, so convert 500 milliseconds using 500 / portTICK_PERIOD_MS.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to check if the timer period change was successful and handle failure.

FreeRTOS

if (xTimerChangePeriod(myTimer, [1], 0) == [2]) {
    // Period changed successfully
} else {
    // Handle error
}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A1000 / portTICK_PERIOD_MS

BpdPASS

CpdFAIL

D500 / portTICK_PERIOD_MS

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Not checking the return value.

Using milliseconds instead of ticks for the period.

The function returns pdPASS on success. The new period must be in ticks.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a timer, start it, and then change its period at runtime.

FreeRTOS

TimerHandle_t timer = xTimerCreate("MyTimer", [1], pdTRUE, NULL, TimerCallback);

xTimerStart([2], 0);

xTimerChangePeriod(timer, [3], 0);

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A2000 / portTICK_PERIOD_MS

Btimer

C1000 / portTICK_PERIOD_MS

DmyTimer

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using different variable names inconsistently.

Passing milliseconds directly without conversion.

First, create the timer with a 2000 ms period converted to ticks. Then start the timer by passing its handle timer. Finally, change the period to 1000 ms converted to ticks.

Practice

1.

What function is used in FreeRTOS to change the period of a timer while it is running?

easy

A. xTimerStop()

B. xTimerStart()

C. xTimerReset()

D. xTimerChangePeriod()

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand timer period change in FreeRTOS

   FreeRTOS allows changing a timer's period without stopping it.

2. Step 2: Identify the correct API function

   The function xTimerChangePeriod() is designed to change the timer period at runtime.

3. Final Answer:

   xTimerChangePeriod() -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Change timer period = xTimerChangePeriod() [OK]

Hint: Use xTimerChangePeriod() to update timer period on the fly [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing xTimerStart() with changing period
• Trying to stop and restart timer instead
• Using xTimerReset() which resets but doesn't change period

2.

Which of the following is the correct syntax to change a FreeRTOS timer period to 100 ticks?

?

easy

A. xTimerChangePeriod(timerHandle, 0, 100);

B. xTimerChangePeriod(100, timerHandle, 0);

C. xTimerChangePeriod(timerHandle, 100, 0);

D. xTimerChangePeriod(0, 100, timerHandle);

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall function parameter order

   The function xTimerChangePeriod() takes parameters as (TimerHandle_t xTimer, TickType_t xNewPeriod, TickType_t xTicksToWait).

2. Step 2: Match parameters to example

   To set period to 100 ticks, pass timerHandle, 100, and 0 for no wait.

3. Final Answer:

   xTimerChangePeriod(timerHandle, 100, 0); -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Correct parameter order = xTimerChangePeriod(timerHandle, 100, 0); [OK]

Hint: Remember: timer handle first, then new period, then wait ticks [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Swapping timer handle and period parameters
• Passing wait time before period
• Using wrong parameter types or order

3.

Given the code snippet below, what will be the output if the timer callback prints the timer period each time it runs?

TimerHandle_t timer = xTimerCreate("MyTimer", pdMS_TO_TICKS(500), pdTRUE, NULL, TimerCallback);
xTimerStart(timer, 0);
xTimerChangePeriod(timer, pdMS_TO_TICKS(1000), 0);
// TimerCallback prints current period in ms

medium

A. The callback prints 500 ms once, then 1000 ms repeatedly

B. The callback prints 1000 ms repeatedly from start

C. The callback prints 500 ms repeatedly without change

D. The callback never runs due to period change

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze timer creation and start

   The timer is created with 500 ms period and started, scheduling first callback in 500 ms.

2. Step 2: Effect of period change

   xTimerChangePeriod() removes the pending expiration, updates the period to 1000 ms, and schedules the next callback in 1000 ms from the change time. Thus, all callbacks print 1000 ms repeatedly.

3. Final Answer:

   The callback prints 1000 ms repeatedly from start -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Period change cancels pending expiry = prints 1000 ms repeatedly [OK]

Hint: xTimerChangePeriod cancels pending expiry and starts new full period [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking first callback uses old 500 ms period
• Assuming period change preserves pending expiration time
• Believing the timer prints 500 ms first then switches

4.

Identify the error in the following code that attempts to change a timer period at runtime:

TimerHandle_t timer = xTimerCreate("Timer", pdMS_TO_TICKS(200), pdTRUE, NULL, TimerCallback);
xTimerChangePeriod(200, timer, 0);

medium

A. Parameters to xTimerChangePeriod are in wrong order

B. Timer was not started before changing period

C. Timer callback function is missing

D. pdMS_TO_TICKS() cannot be used in timer period

Solution

1. Step 1: Check function parameter order

   xTimerChangePeriod() expects (TimerHandle_t, TickType_t, TickType_t), but code passes (TickType_t, TimerHandle_t, TickType_t).

2. Step 2: Confirm other code parts

   Timer is created correctly and callback is provided; pdMS_TO_TICKS() is valid for period conversion.

3. Final Answer:

   Parameters to xTimerChangePeriod are in wrong order -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Correct parameter order is timer handle first [OK]

Hint: Timer handle always comes first in xTimerChangePeriod() [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Swapping timer handle and period parameters
• Not starting timer before changing period (not required)
• Misunderstanding pdMS_TO_TICKS usage

5.

You have a FreeRTOS timer running with a 200 ms period. You want to double the period each time the timer callback runs, up to a maximum of 1600 ms. Which code snippet correctly changes the timer period at runtime inside the callback?

void TimerCallback(TimerHandle_t xTimer) {
    TickType_t currentPeriod = xTimerGetPeriod(xTimer);
    TickType_t newPeriod = currentPeriod * 2;
    if (newPeriod <= pdMS_TO_TICKS(1600)) {
        ?
    }
}

hard

A. xTimerChangePeriod(xTimer, newPeriod, 0);

B. xTimerStart(xTimer, 0);

C. xTimerStop(xTimer, 0); xTimerChangePeriod(xTimer, newPeriod, 0);

D. xTimerReset(xTimer, 0); xTimerChangePeriod(xTimer, newPeriod, 0);

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand timer period update inside callback

   Inside the callback, you can call xTimerChangePeriod() to update the timer period dynamically.

2. Step 2: Choose correct function usage

   Calling xTimerChangePeriod(xTimer, newPeriod, 0); changes the period without stopping or restarting the timer.

3. Final Answer:

   xTimerChangePeriod(xTimer, newPeriod, 0); -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Change period directly inside callback = xTimerChangePeriod(xTimer, newPeriod, 0); [OK]

Hint: Use xTimerChangePeriod inside callback to update period safely [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Stopping timer before changing period unnecessarily
• Starting timer again inside callback
• Resetting timer which restarts count instead of changing period