baseunit.py

#!/bin/env python


"""
Module simtk.unit.baseunit

Contains BaseUnit class, which is a component of the
Unit class.
"""

__author__ = "Christopher M. Bruns"
__version__ = "0.6"

class BaseUnit(object):
    '''
    Physical unit expressed in exactly one BaseDimension.
    
    For example, meter_base_unit could be a BaseUnit for the length dimension.
    The BaseUnit class is used internally in the more general Unit class.
    '''

    def __init__(self, base_dim, name, symbol):
        """Creates a new BaseUnit.
        
        Parameters
         - self: The newly created BaseUnit.
         - base_dim: (BaseDimension) The dimension of the new unit, e.g. 'mass'
         - name: (string) Name of the unit, e.g. "kilogram"
         - symbol: (string) Symbol for the unit, e.g. 'kg'.  This symbol will appear in
            Quantity string descriptions.
        """
        self.dimension = base_dim
        self.name = name
        self.symbol = symbol
        self._conversion_factor_to = {}
        self._conversion_factor_to[self] = 1.0
        self._conversion_factor_to_by_name = {}
        self._conversion_factor_to_by_name[self.name] = 1.0
    
    def __lt__(self, other):
        """
        Comparison function that sorts BaseUnits by BaseDimension
        """
        # First sort on dimension
        if self.dimension != other.dimension:
            return self.dimension < other.dimension
        # Second on conversion factor
        return self.conversion_factor_to(other) < 1.0

    def iter_base_dimensions(self):
        """
        Returns a dictionary of BaseDimension:exponent pairs, describing the dimension of this unit.
        """
        yield (self.dimension, 1)
        
    def iter_base_units(self):
        yield (self, 1)
        
    def get_dimension_tuple(self):
        """
        Returns a sorted tuple of (BaseDimension, exponent) pairs, that can be used as a dictionary key.
        """
        l = list(self.iter_base_dimensions())
        l.sort()
        return tuple(l)
        
    def __str__(self):
        """Returns a string with the name of this BaseUnit
        """
        return self.name

    def __repr__(self):
        return 'BaseUnit(base_dim=%s, name="%s", symbol="%s")' % (self.dimension, self.name, self.symbol)
        
    def define_conversion_factor_to(self, other, factor):
        """
        Defines a conversion factor between two BaseUnits.
        
        self * factor = other
        
        Parameters:
         - self: (BaseUnit) 'From' unit in conversion.
         - other: (BaseUnit) 'To' unit in conversion.
         - factor: (float) Conversion factor.
        
        After calling this method, both self and other will have stored
        conversion factors for one another, plus all other BaseUnits which
        self and other have previously defined.
        
        Both self and other must have the same dimension, otherwise a TypeError
        will be raised.
        
        Returns None.
        """
        if self.dimension != other.dimension:
            raise TypeError('Cannot define conversion for BaseUnits with different dimensions.')
        assert(factor != 0)
        assert(not self is other)        
        # import all transitive conversions
        self._conversion_factor_to[other] = factor
        self._conversion_factor_to_by_name[other.name] = factor
        for (unit, cfac) in other._conversion_factor_to.items():
            if unit is self: continue
            if self._conversion_factor_to.has_key(unit): continue
            self._conversion_factor_to[unit] = factor * cfac                
            unit._conversion_factor_to[self] = pow(factor * cfac, -1)
            self._conversion_factor_to_by_name[unit.name] = factor * cfac                
            unit._conversion_factor_to_by_name[self.name] = pow(factor * cfac, -1)
        # and for the other guy
        invFac = pow(factor, -1.0)
        other._conversion_factor_to[self] = invFac
        other._conversion_factor_to_by_name[self.name] = invFac
        for (unit, cfac) in self._conversion_factor_to.items():
            if unit is other: continue
            if other._conversion_factor_to.has_key(unit): continue
            other._conversion_factor_to[unit] = invFac * cfac
            unit._conversion_factor_to[other] = pow(invFac * cfac, -1)
            other._conversion_factor_to_by_name[unit.name] = invFac * cfac
            unit._conversion_factor_to_by_name[other.name] = pow(invFac * cfac, -1)

    def conversion_factor_to(self, other):
        """Returns a conversion factor from this BaseUnit to another BaseUnit.
        
        It does not matter which existing BaseUnit you define the conversion factor to.
        Conversions for all other known BaseUnits will be computed at the same time.
        
        Raises TypeError if dimension does not match.
        Raises LookupError if no conversion has been defined. (see define_conversion_factor_to).
        
        """
        if self is other: return 1.0
        if self.dimension != other.dimension:
            raise TypeError('Cannot get conversion for BaseUnits with different dimensions.')
        if not other.name in self._conversion_factor_to_by_name:
            raise LookupError('No conversion defined from BaseUnit "%s" to "%s".' % (self, other))
        return self._conversion_factor_to_by_name[other.name]

# run module directly for testing
if __name__=='__main__':
    # Test the examples in the docstrings
    import doctest, sys
    doctest.testmod(sys.modules[__name__])