Output Devices

This week was a blast. I trust myself to debug codes theat don't work which is why I took the help of ChatGPT, to generate a basic code and then i built upon the previous version and added complexities wherever I could. I entered exactly what output I was expecting and with which component. The rest, as they say, was history!

4-digit display

I have worked with single seven segment displays before with an Arduino Uno. This is the first time i got to tinker with a 4-digit display. Connections are simple Vcc to 5v, GND to GND, DIO to digital pin 3 and CLk to digital pin 2.

First I just installed the Library for the 4-Digit Display and tried displaying a single 1234.

Code for displaying 1234

Display 1234.cpp

#include <TM1637Display.h>

// Define the pins for the 4-digit 7-segment display
#define CLK D2  // Clock pin
#define DIO D3  // Data pin

// Create a TM1637 display object
TM1637Display display(CLK, DIO);

void setup() {
  // Set the brightness to maximum
  display.setBrightness(0x0f);  
}

void loop() {
  // Display a simple number (e.g., 1234)
  display.showNumberDec(1234, false);  // Display number 1234 without leading zeros
  delay(1000);  // Wait for 1 second

  // Display another number (e.g., 5678)
  display.showNumberDec(5678, false);  // Display number 5678 without leading zeros
  delay(1000);  // Wait for 1 second
}

Then I moved onto to using the millis function to create a timer.

Code to start a counter

Display counter.cpp

#include <TM1637Display.h>

// Define the pins for the 4-digit 7-segment display
#define CLK 2  // Clock pin
#define DIO 3  // Data pin

// Create a TM1637 display object
TM1637Display display(CLK, DIO);

unsigned long previousMillis = 0;  // stores the last time the display was updated
const long interval = 1000;  // interval to update time (in milliseconds)

int seconds = 0;  // Keep track of seconds
int minutes = 0;  // Keep track of minutes

void setup() {
  // Initialize the 7-segment display
  display.setBrightness(0x0f);  // Set brightness to maximum
}

void loop() {
  unsigned long currentMillis = millis();  // Get the current time in milliseconds

  // If 1 second has passed, update the display and the time
  if (currentMillis - previousMillis >= interval) {
    previousMillis = currentMillis;  // Save the last time the display was updated

    // Increment seconds
    seconds++;

    // If seconds reach 60, increment minutes and reset seconds
    if (seconds >= 60) {
      seconds = 0;
      minutes++;
    }

    // Display the time in MMSS format (e.g., 0259 for 2 minutes and 59 seconds)
    int timeToShow = minutes * 100 + seconds;
    display.showNumberDec(timeToShow, false);  // Display without leading zeros
  }
}

Finally, I used the previous code to create a clock that runs based on the system time.

Code to display the current time

Display time.cpp

#include <TM1637Display.h>

// Define the pins for the 4-digit 7-segment display
#define CLK 2  // Clock pin
#define DIO 3  // Data pin

// Create a TM1637 display object
TM1637Display display(CLK, DIO);

// Time variables to simulate system time
int startHour = 12;  // Starting hour (e.g., 12:00:00)
int startMinute = 0; // Starting minute
int startSecond = 0; // Starting second

unsigned long previousMillis = 0;  // Stores the last time the display was updated
const long interval = 1000;  // Interval to update time (in milliseconds)

void setup() {
  // Initialize the 7-segment display
  display.setBrightness(0x0f);  // Set brightness to maximum
}

void loop() {
  unsigned long currentMillis = millis();  // Get the current time in milliseconds

  // If 1 second has passed, update the simulated system time and the display
  if (currentMillis - previousMillis >= interval) {
    previousMillis = currentMillis;  // Save the last time the display was updated

    // Increment seconds
    startSecond++;

    // If seconds reach 60, reset seconds and increment minutes
    if (startSecond >= 60) {
      startSecond = 0;
      startMinute++;
    }

    // If minutes reach 60, reset minutes and increment hours
    if (startMinute >= 60) {
      startMinute = 0;
      startHour++;
    }

    // If hours reach 24, reset to 00 (simulating a 24-hour clock)
    if (startHour >= 24) {
      startHour = 0;
    }

    // Display the time in HHMM format (e.g., 12:34 for 12 hours and 34 minutes)
    int timeToShow = startHour * 100 + startMinute;
    display.showNumberDec(timeToShow, false);  // Display without leading zeros
  }
}

Neopixels

I have alwasy wanted to play around with Neopixels and this week was just that, these are the 3 experiments I did with neopixels this week.

The rainbow stick is very straightforward, a marquee type output is something I was looking for, and achieved it eventually!

Code for Rainbow Stick

Rainbow LEDs

#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>

#define LED_PIN D2      // Neopixel data pin
#define LED_COUNT 8    // Number of LEDs in strip

Adafruit_NeoPixel strip(LED_COUNT, LED_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

void setup() {
  strip.begin();
  strip.show(); // Initialize all pixels to 'off'

  setRainbowColors(); // Set each NeoPixel to a color of the rainbow
}

void loop() {
  // Nothing in loop, the rainbow pattern is static
}

void setRainbowColors() {
  // Define the colors of the rainbow
  uint32_t rainbow[] = {
    strip.Color(255, 0, 0),    // Red
    strip.Color(255, 127, 0),  // Orange
    strip.Color(255, 255, 0),  // Yellow
    strip.Color(0, 255, 0),    // Green
    strip.Color(0, 0, 255),    // Blue
    strip.Color(75, 0, 130),   // Indigo
    strip.Color(148, 0, 211),  // Violet
  };

  // Loop through each LED and assign a rainbow color
  for (int i = 0; i < LED_COUNT; i++) {
    if (i < 7) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, rainbow[i]);  // Assign rainbow colors to the LEDs
    } else {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, 0);  // Turn off remaining LEDs if there are more than 7 LEDs
    }
  }
  strip.show();  // Display the color pattern
}

Then I asked ChatGPT to move the colour down one LED every 0.01 seconds, and the last color moves to the first LED

Code for Moving Rainbow

Moving Rainbow

 #include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>

#define LED_PIN D2      // Neopixel data pin
#define LED_COUNT 8    // Number of LEDs in strip

Adafruit_NeoPixel strip(LED_COUNT, LED_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

void setup() {
  strip.begin();
  strip.show(); // Initialize all pixels to 'off'
  setRainbowColors(); // Set initial rainbow colors
}

void loop() {
  moveRainbow(10); // Call the function to move rainbow every 10 milliseconds
}

void moveRainbow(int wait) {
  // Shift colors one step to the right
  uint32_t lastColor = strip.getPixelColor(LED_COUNT - 1);  // Save the last color

  // Move all colors one step to the right
  for (int i = LED_COUNT - 1; i > 0; i--) {
    strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.getPixelColor(i - 1));
  }

  // The first pixel takes the last color (circular effect)
  strip.setPixelColor(0, lastColor);

  strip.show(); // Display the updated colors
  delay(wait); // Delay to create smooth movement
}

void setRainbowColors() {
  // Define the colors of the rainbow
  uint32_t rainbow[] = {
    strip.Color(255, 0, 0),    // Red
    strip.Color(255, 127, 0),  // Orange
    strip.Color(255, 255, 0),  // Yellow
    strip.Color(0, 255, 0),    // Green
    strip.Color(0, 0, 255),    // Blue
    strip.Color(75, 0, 130),   // Indigo
    strip.Color(148, 0, 211),  // Violet
  };

  // Loop through each LED and assign a rainbow color
  for (int i = 0; i < LED_COUNT; i++) {
    if (i < 7) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, rainbow[i]);  // Assign rainbow colors to the LEDs
    } else {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, 0);  // Turn off remaining LEDs if there are more than 7 LEDs
    }
  }
  strip.show();  // Display the color pattern
}

I will use the setup in my final project, when I initiate the Plasma blast from my glove I need sound and light output to compliment it. This is a potential option. Maybe with a smaller strip and LEDs but yes! Something very similar to this.

Code for firing sequence light

Firing lights.cpp

#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>

#define LED_PIN D2      // Neopixel data pin
#define LED_COUNT 8    // Number of LEDs in strip

Adafruit_NeoPixel strip(LED_COUNT, LED_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

void setup() {
  strip.begin();
  strip.show(); // Initialize all pixels to 'off'
}

void loop() {
  fireSequence();
  delay(3000); // Delay before the next sequence
}

void fireSequence() {
  // Light up in pairs with blue color
  for (int i = 1; i < LED_COUNT; i += 2) {
    for (int j = 0; j <= i; j++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(j, strip.Color(0, 50, 255)); // Blue light
    }
    strip.show();
    delay(500); // Lights up in pairs
  }

  delay(1000); // Hold all lights on in blue

  // Change all LEDs to red for 2 seconds
  for (int i = 0; i < LED_COUNT; i++) {
    strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(255, 0, 0)); // Red light
  }
  strip.show();
  delay(2000); // Hold red for 2 seconds

  strip.clear(); // Turn all off simultaneously
  strip.show();
}

I couldn't overlook a Neopixel ring lying around the lab, so I uploaded a random code on it.

Code for NeoRing

Experimenting with Neo.cpp

#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>

#define NUM_PIXELS_1 8    // Number of LEDs in the first circular NeoPixel (D1)
#define NUM_PIXELS_2 8    // Number of LEDs in the second circular NeoPixel (D0)

#define PIN_1 D1           // Pin connected to the first NeoPixel strip (circular)
#define PIN_2 D0           // Pin connected to the second NeoPixel strip (circular)

Adafruit_NeoPixel strip1(NUM_PIXELS_1, PIN_1, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800); // First NeoPixel object
Adafruit_NeoPixel strip2(NUM_PIXELS_2, PIN_2, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800); // Second NeoPixel object

void setup() {
  strip1.begin();    // Initialize first NeoPixel
  strip1.show();     // Clear all pixels on strip 1
  strip2.begin();    // Initialize second NeoPixel
  strip2.show();     // Clear all pixels on strip 2
}

void loop() {
  // Create wave effect on first strip (D1)
  for (int i = 0; i < NUM_PIXELS_1; i++) {
    // Set all LEDs to off
    clearPixels(strip1);
    // Set current LED to a color (can change color if needed)
    strip1.setPixelColor(i, randomColor());
    strip1.show();
    delay(100); // Control speed of the wave on strip 1
  }

  // Create wave effect on second strip (D0)
  for (int i = 0; i < NUM_PIXELS_2; i++) {
    // Set all LEDs to off
    clearPixels(strip2);
    // Set current LED to a color (can change color if needed)
    strip2.setPixelColor(i, randomColor());
    strip2.show();
    delay(100); // Control speed of the wave on strip 2
  }
}

// Function to turn off all LEDs in the strip
void clearPixels(Adafruit_NeoPixel &strip) {
  for (int i = 0; i < strip.numPixels(); i++) {
    strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.Color(0, 0, 0));  // Set LED to off
  }
  strip.show();  // Update strip
}

// Function to generate a random color
uint32_t randomColor() {
  int r = random(0, 256);  // Random Red value (0-255)
  int g = random(0, 256);  // Random Green value (0-255)
  int b = random(0, 256);  // Random Blue value (0-255)
  return strip1.Color(r, g, b);  // Return the random color
}

Buzzer

I had this code lying around for my arduino board. I just asked chatgpt to replce the tone() function to a PWM function for the Seeed Xiao RP2040

Code for Playing Game of Thrones Theme

Game of thrones buzz.cpp

// Game of Thrones
// Connect a piezo buzzer or speaker to pin 11 (or choose a different pin)
// More songs available at https://github.com/robsoncouto/arduino-songs

#define NOTE_B0  31
#define NOTE_C1  33
#define NOTE_CS1 35
#define NOTE_D1  37
#define NOTE_DS1 39
#define NOTE_E1  41
#define NOTE_F1  44
#define NOTE_FS1 46
#define NOTE_G1  49
#define NOTE_GS1 52
#define NOTE_A1  55
#define NOTE_AS1 58
#define NOTE_B1  62
#define NOTE_C2  65
#define NOTE_CS2 69
#define NOTE_D2  73
#define NOTE_DS2 78
#define NOTE_E2  82
#define NOTE_F2  87
#define NOTE_FS2 93
#define NOTE_G2  98
#define NOTE_GS2 104
#define NOTE_A2  110
#define NOTE_AS2 117
#define NOTE_B2  123
#define NOTE_C3  131
#define NOTE_CS3 139
#define NOTE_D3  147
#define NOTE_DS3 156
#define NOTE_E3  165
#define NOTE_F3  175
#define NOTE_FS3 185
#define NOTE_G3  196
#define NOTE_GS3 208
#define NOTE_A3  220
#define NOTE_AS3 233
#define NOTE_B3  247
#define NOTE_C4  262
#define NOTE_CS4 277
#define NOTE_D4  294
#define NOTE_DS4 311
#define NOTE_E4  330
#define NOTE_F4  349
#define NOTE_FS4 370
#define NOTE_G4  392
#define NOTE_GS4 415
#define NOTE_A4  440
#define NOTE_AS4 466
#define NOTE_B4  494
#define NOTE_C5  523
#define NOTE_CS5 554
#define NOTE_D5  587
#define NOTE_DS5 622
#define NOTE_E5  659
#define NOTE_F5  698
#define NOTE_FS5 740
#define NOTE_G5  784
#define NOTE_GS5 831
#define NOTE_A5  880
#define NOTE_AS5 932
#define NOTE_B5  988
#define NOTE_C6  1047
#define NOTE_CS6 1109
#define NOTE_D6  1175
#define NOTE_DS6 1245
#define NOTE_E6  1319
#define NOTE_F6  1397
#define NOTE_FS6 1480
#define NOTE_G6  1568
#define NOTE_GS6 1661
#define NOTE_A6  1760
#define NOTE_AS6 1865
#define NOTE_B6  1976
#define NOTE_C7  2093
#define NOTE_CS7 2217
#define NOTE_D7  2349
#define NOTE_DS7 2489
#define NOTE_E7  2637
#define NOTE_F7  2794
#define NOTE_FS7 2960
#define NOTE_G7  3136
#define NOTE_GS7 3322
#define NOTE_A7  3520
#define NOTE_AS7 3729
#define NOTE_B7  3951
#define NOTE_C8  4186
#define NOTE_CS8 4435
#define NOTE_D8  4699
#define NOTE_DS8 4978
#define REST      0

// Change this to make the song slower or faster
int tempo = 85;

// Change this to whichever pin you want to use
int buzzer = 11;

// Notes of the melody followed by the duration
int melody[] = {
  // Game of Thrones
  NOTE_G4,8, NOTE_C4,8, NOTE_DS4,16, NOTE_F4,16, NOTE_G4,8, NOTE_C4,8, NOTE_DS4,16, NOTE_F4,16,
  NOTE_G4,8, NOTE_C4,8, NOTE_DS4,16, NOTE_F4,16, NOTE_G4,8, NOTE_C4,8, NOTE_DS4,16, NOTE_F4,16,
  NOTE_G4,8, NOTE_C4,8, NOTE_E4,16, NOTE_F4,16, NOTE_G4,8, NOTE_C4,8, NOTE_E4,16, NOTE_F4,16,
  NOTE_G4,8, NOTE_C4,8, NOTE_E4,16, NOTE_F4,16, NOTE_G4,8, NOTE_C4,8, NOTE_E4,16, NOTE_F4,16,
  NOTE_G4,-4, NOTE_C4,-4, //5
  NOTE_DS4,16, NOTE_F4,16, NOTE_G4,4, NOTE_C4,4, NOTE_DS4,16, NOTE_F4,16, //6
  NOTE_D4,-1, //7 and 8
  NOTE_F4,-4, NOTE_AS3,-4,
  NOTE_DS4,16, NOTE_D4,16, NOTE_F4,4, NOTE_AS3,-4,
  NOTE_DS4,16, NOTE_D4,16, NOTE_C4,-1, //11 and 12
  NOTE_G4,-4, NOTE_C4,-4, //5
  NOTE_DS4,16, NOTE_F4,16, NOTE_G4,4, NOTE_C4,4, NOTE_DS4,16, NOTE_F4,16, //6
  NOTE_D4,-1, //7 and 8
  NOTE_F4,-4, NOTE_AS3,-4,
  NOTE_DS4,16, NOTE_D4,16, NOTE_F4,4, NOTE_AS3,-4,
  NOTE_DS4,16, NOTE_D4,16, NOTE_C4,-1, //11 and 12
  NOTE_G4,-4, NOTE_C4,-4,
  NOTE_DS4,16, NOTE_F4,16, NOTE_G4,4,  NOTE_C4,4, NOTE_DS4,16, NOTE_F4,16,
  NOTE_D4,-2, //15
  NOTE_F4,-4, NOTE_AS3,-4,
  NOTE_D4,-8, NOTE_DS4,-8, NOTE_D4,-8, NOTE_AS3,-8,
  NOTE_C4,-1,
  NOTE_C5,-2,
  NOTE_AS4,-2,
  NOTE_C4,-2,
  NOTE_G4,-2,
  NOTE_DS4,-2,
  NOTE_DS4,-4, NOTE_F4,-4, 
  NOTE_G4,-1,
  NOTE_C5,-2, //28
  NOTE_AS4,-2,
  NOTE_C4,-2,
  NOTE_G4,-2, 
  NOTE_DS4,-2,
  NOTE_DS4,-4, NOTE_D4,-4,
  NOTE_C5,8, NOTE_G4,8, NOTE_GS4,16, NOTE_AS4,16, NOTE_C5,8, NOTE_G4,8, NOTE_GS4,16, NOTE_AS4,16,
  NOTE_C5,8, NOTE_G4,8, NOTE_GS4,16, NOTE_AS4,16, NOTE_C5,8, NOTE_G4,8, NOTE_GS4,16, NOTE_AS4,16,

  REST,4, NOTE_GS5,16, NOTE_AS5,16, NOTE_C6,8, NOTE_G5,8, NOTE_GS5,16, NOTE_AS5,16,
  NOTE_C6,8, NOTE_G5,16, NOTE_GS5,16, NOTE_AS5,16, NOTE_C6,8, NOTE_G5,8, NOTE_GS5,16, NOTE_AS5,16,  
};

// sizeof gives the number of bytes, each int value is composed of two bytes (16 bits)
// there are two values per note (pitch and duration), so for each note there are four bytes
int notes = sizeof(melody) / sizeof(melody[0]) / 2;

// this calculates the duration of a whole note in ms
int wholenote = (60000 * 4) / tempo;

int divider = 0, noteDuration = 0;

void setup() {
  // Set the buzzer pin to output
  pinMode(buzzer, OUTPUT);

  // Iterate over the notes of the melody
  for (int thisNote = 0; thisNote < notes * 2; thisNote = thisNote + 2) {
    // Calculates the duration of each note
    divider = melody[thisNote + 1];
    if (divider > 0) {
      // Regular note, just proceed
      noteDuration = (wholenote) / divider;
    } else if (divider < 0) {
      // Dotted notes are represented with negative durations
      noteDuration = (wholenote) / abs(divider);
      noteDuration *= 1.5; // Increase the duration in half for dotted notes
    }

    // Generate PWM signal to play the note
    if (melody[thisNote] != REST) {
      analogWrite(buzzer, (melody[thisNote] / 2)); // Scale down the frequency
      delay(noteDuration); // Wait for the specified duration
      analogWrite(buzzer, 0); // Stop the note
    }

    // Wait for a brief pause after each note
    delay(noteDuration * 0.1);
  }
}

void loop() {
  // No need to repeat the melody
}

Relay

I couldn't find any device to fit into the plugs on the actual relay board, but for exploring I tried setting an On & Off function every 5 seconds.

Code for the relay

Relay Code

// Define the relay control pin
const int relayPin = 15;  // Use GPIO 15 for controlling the relay (IN1 pin)

void setup() {
  // Set relayPin as an output pin
  pinMode(relayPin, OUTPUT);

  // Start with the relay turned off
  digitalWrite(relayPin, LOW);
}

void loop() {
  // Turn on the lamp (relay closes, AC power flows)
  digitalWrite(relayPin, HIGH); 
  delay(5000); // Keep the lamp on for 5 seconds

  // Turn off the lamp (relay opens, cuts power to the lamp)
  digitalWrite(relayPin, LOW);
  delay(5000); // Keep the lamp off for 5 seconds
}

8x8Matrix

I had to go retro with output devices and thats why I chose the 8x8 Matrix. It displays how life is going after 10 weeks of Fab,lol ;).

Code for 8x8 Matrix

8x8 Matrix.cpp

#include <MD_Parola.h>
#include <MD_MAX72XX.h>
#include <SPI.h>

#define MAX_DEVICES 1
#define DATA_PIN D2
#define CS_PIN D4
#define CLK_PIN D3

MD_Parola P = MD_Parola(MD_MAX72XX::PAROLA_HW, DATA_PIN, CLK_PIN, CS_PIN, MAX_DEVICES);

void setup() {
  P.begin();
  P.setIntensity(8);  // Brightness
  P.displayText("STILL ALIVE", PA_CENTER, 100, 1000, PA_SCROLL_LEFT, PA_SCROLL_LEFT);
}

void loop() {
  if (P.displayAnimate()) {
    P.displayReset();
  }
}

I used this code first but the text appeared mirrored. That's why I edited a line in the code to get an unmirrored output.

Unmirror the output.cpp

MD_Parola P = MD_Parola(MD_MAX72XX::FC16_HW, DATA_PIN, CLK_PIN, CS_PIN, MAX_DEVICES);