LED Lights

What it’s About

The LED lights in your kit are similar to those commonly used in products to display the device’s status.  They can be found on keyboards, monitors, alarm system control panels, and printers like the ones below.

The micro:bit has 25 red LEDs in its pixel array.  Those red LEDs contain the same elements; they just come in smaller packages.  Larger LED lights are used in traffic lights and automobile break and turn signal lights.

These activities introduce ways to control indicator light behaviors, including rate, timing, and sequencing.  You will also use your measuring skills to test the LED light’s micro:bit controlled supply voltage with a voltmeter, and learn to use a new device called an oscilloscope to see the relationship between the LED’s supply voltage over time.

Before you Start

These lessons use a specific kit and build on earlier tutorials.

You will need:

• A What’s a Microcontroller with Python and micro:bit kit (#32750).
• A computer with a Chrome browser and available USB 2.0 compatible port.

Complete these tutorials first:

• Get Started with micro:bit and Python
• Writing micro:bit programs
• Computer – micro:bit Talk
• Breadboard Setup and Testing for micro:bit.
• Electrical Measurements

After You Finish

You will be able to:

• Write scripts to control individual LED light blink rates
• Write scripts to control the timing and sequence of multiple LED lights
• Understand and be able to calculate an on/off signal’s frequency, period, and duty cycle
• Measure on/off voltages with a voltmeter
• Probe and display a signal with an oscilloscope

In later activities, you will apply these approaches to “indicate” something that has been sensed.  You will also use them to create slow motion versions of signals that control other devices like position controlling servo motors.