Light Sensor Sets LED Strip Brightness

Use the ‘Parts List’ image along with the component cards in your box to correctly plug in the electronic hardware to your Maker Board. The colorful dots next to the legs of the components match up to the ports where that leg should go on Maker Board’s ports.

Code

The code in the editor below is ready to run! Plug in the electronic components just like the Parts List card above, connect Maker Board to your computer's USB port with the cable, and hit 'Upload Your Code!'. Tinker with the code and change something! If you get stuck, you can hit the 'Restore' button to make the code go back to the working example.


/* Use the light sensor to set the brightness of the LED strip */ #include "LEDStrip.h" //The LEDStrip.h library gives your code access to special functions exclusive to the LED Strip LEDStrip strip = LEDStrip(15, 13, 12); //Set up the strip by defining how many pixels (15) and where the wires are connected (green = 13, blue = 12) void setup() { pinMode(A2,INPUT); //light sensor in the smaller block of ports with the + and - ports } void loop() { int brightness = analogRead(A2); //Create a variable called 'brightness' that is an integer (whole number) brightness = map(brightness,0,1023,100,0); //map the brightness readings (0-1023) onto the LED strip brightness range (0-100) //This mapping means a low light reading = a high LED strip brightness. 0 light = 100 brightness, 1023 light = 0 brightness strip.setPixel(strip.ALL,200,brightness); //set all pixels to a color value of 200 and a brightness value of 'brightness' variable. strip.draw(); //send the setPixel data to the strip } // (c) 2019 Let's Start Coding. License: www.letsstartcoding.com/bsdlicense
 

Walkthrough Video

Watch the video for a line-by-line explanation of how the example program works. Then you'll be ready to make some changes of your own!

Use this spectrum to estimate the color values you'll need for your 'setPixel' arguments to achieve your favorite color!

This graphic represents how some values from the light sensor will be 'mapped' onto the pixels of the LED strip.

Challenges

Can you complete the challenge? Change the code in your code editor above. Upload your code to see the effect when you're finished. Complete a challenge? Check it off the list!

Concepts

These are the new code concepts covered in this example program. To become a great coder, read through these concepts to learn new vocabulary.

Quiz

If you're having trouble, try to run an experimental program or look at the example code to help you find the answer.

1. Which syntax ends the entire 'void loop' function?




2. Which syntax ends a single code command?