docs: def persistent_read_multibyte(self, address, count=None, dtype=np.uint8):
          '''
          Read a chunk of data from persistent memory.
  
          Parameters
          ----------
          address : int
              Address in persistent memory (e.g., EEPROM).
          count : int, optional
              Number of values to read.
  
              If not set, read a single value of the specified :data:`dtype`.
          dtype : numpy.dtype, optional
              The type of the value(s) to read.
  
          Returns
          -------
          dtype or numpy.array(dtype=dtype)
              If :data:`count` is ``None``, return single value.
  
              Otherwise, return array of values.
          '''
          nbytes = np.dtype(dtype).itemsize
          if count is not None:
              nbytes *= count
  
          # Read enough bytes starting at specified address to match the
          # requested number of the specified data type.
          data_bytes = np.array([self.persistent_read(address + i)
                                 for i in xrange(nbytes)], dtype=np.uint8)
  
          # Cast byte array as array of specified data type.
          result = data_bytes.view(dtype)
  
          # If no count was specified, we return a scalar value rather than the
          # resultant array.
          if count is None:
              return result[0]
          return result