💡 Level 1 – Fundamentals

Project 1.8: "Lighting Patterns"

🚀 Project 1.8 – Lighting Patterns

🎯 What You’ll Learn

✅ Goal 1: Create LED patterns with timing and logic.
✅ Goal 2: Use PWM for effects like breathing.
✅ Goal 3: Synchronize LEDs with buzzer and serial control.

Key Ideas

Digital output: Turn LEDs ON/OFF.
PWM: Control brightness.
Loops: Repeat patterns.
Serial input: Control patterns interactively.

🧱 Blocks Glossary (used in this project)

pinX = machine.Pin(X, machine.Pin.OUT) → LED output.
pwmX = machine.PWM(machine.Pin(X)) → LED brightness control.
pinX.value(1) → LED ON.
pinX.value(0) → LED OFF.
pwmX.duty() → Set brightness.
pwmX.freq() → Set PWM frequency.
time.sleep() → Delay.

🧰 What You Need

Part	How many?	Pin connection
D1 R32	1	USB cable
LEDs	5	Pins 2, 4, 5, 12, 13
Buzzer	1	Pin 26

🔌 Wiring tip: Connect LEDs to pins 2, 4, 5, 12, 13. Buzzer to pin 26.
📍 Pin map snapshot: LEDs = pins 2/4/5/12/13, buzzer = pin 26.

✅ Before You Start

USB cable connected
LEDs wired correctly
Test print shows:

print("Ready!")  # Confirm serial is working

🎮 Microprojects (5 Mini Missions)

🎮 Microproject 1.8.1 – LED Race

Blocks used: Digital output, Loop, Delay
Block sequence:

Setup LEDs as outputs
Turn ON one by one
Repeat

MicroPython Code:

import machine, time                          # Import modules

pin2 = machine.Pin(2, machine.Pin.OUT)        # LED on pin 2
pin4 = machine.Pin(4, machine.Pin.OUT)        # LED on pin 4
pin5 = machine.Pin(5, machine.Pin.OUT)        # LED on pin 5
pin12 = machine.Pin(12, machine.Pin.OUT)      # LED on pin 12
pin13 = machine.Pin(13, machine.Pin.OUT)      # LED on pin 13

while True:                                   # Infinite loop
    pin2.value(1)                             # LED pin 2 ON
    print("LED pin2 ON")                      # Serial log
    time.sleep(0.3)                           # Delay
    pin2.value(0)                             # LED pin 2 OFF
    print("LED pin2 OFF")                     # Serial log

    pin4.value(1)                             # LED pin 4 ON
    print("LED pin4 ON")                      # Serial log
    time.sleep(0.3)                           # Delay
    pin4.value(0)                             # LED pin 4 OFF
    print("LED pin4 OFF")                     # Serial log

    pin5.value(1)                             # LED pin 5 ON
    print("LED pin5 ON")                      # Serial log
    time.sleep(0.3)                           # Delay
    pin5.value(0)                             # LED pin 5 OFF
    print("LED pin5 OFF")                     # Serial log

    pin12.value(1)                            # LED pin 12 ON
    print("LED pin12 ON")                     # Serial log
    time.sleep(0.3)                           # Delay
    pin12.value(0)                            # LED pin 12 OFF
    print("LED pin12 OFF")                    # Serial log

    pin13.value(1)                            # LED pin 13 ON
    print("LED pin13 ON")                     # Serial log
    time.sleep(0.3)                           # Delay
    pin13.value(0)                            # LED pin 13 OFF
    print("LED pin13 OFF")                    # Serial log

Reflection: LEDs light up one after another.
Challenge: Try reversing the order.

🎮 Microproject 1.8.2 – Breathing effect with PWM

Blocks used: PWM, Duty cycle, Loop
Block sequence:

Setup LED with PWM
Increase duty gradually
Decrease duty gradually

MicroPython Code:

import machine, time                          # Import modules

pwm2 = machine.PWM(machine.Pin(2))            # LED on pin 2 with PWM
pwm2.freq(1000)                               # Set frequency to 1 kHz

while True:                                   # Infinite loop
    for duty in range(0, 1024, 32):           # Increase brightness
        pwm2.duty(duty)                       # Set duty cycle
        print("Brightness:", duty)            # Serial log
        time.sleep(0.05)                      # Delay
    for duty in range(1023, -1, -32):         # Decrease brightness
        pwm2.duty(duty)                       # Set duty cycle
        print("Brightness:", duty)            # Serial log
        time.sleep(0.05)                      # Delay

Reflection: LED brightness fades in and out.
Challenge: Try faster breathing by reducing delay.

🎮 Microproject 1.8.3 – Random pattern

Blocks used: Digital output, Delay
Block sequence:

Setup LEDs
Randomly choose ON/OFF manually (no Python random)
Blink pattern

MicroPython Code:

import machine, time                          # Import modules

pin2 = machine.Pin(2, machine.Pin.OUT)        # LED pin 2
pin4 = machine.Pin(4, machine.Pin.OUT)        # LED pin 4

while True:                                   # Infinite loop
    pin2.value(1)                             # LED pin 2 ON
    pin4.value(0)                             # LED pin 4 OFF
    print("Pattern: pin2 ON, pin4 OFF")       # Serial log
    time.sleep(0.5)                           # Delay

    pin2.value(0)                             # LED pin 2 OFF
    pin4.value(1)                             # LED pin 4 ON
    print("Pattern: pin2 OFF, pin4 ON")       # Serial log
    time.sleep(0.5)                           # Delay

Reflection: LEDs alternate ON/OFF.
Challenge: Add more LEDs to the alternating pattern.

🎮 Microproject 1.8.4 – Buzzer synchronization

Blocks used: Digital output, External actuator (music.MIDI), Delay
Block sequence:

Setup LED and buzzer
Turn ON LED + play tone
Synchronize timing

MicroPython Code:

import machine, time, music                   # Import modules

pin2 = machine.Pin(2, machine.Pin.OUT)        # LED pin 2
midi = music.MIDI(26)                         # Buzzer on pin 26

while True:                                   # Infinite loop
    pin2.value(1)                             # LED ON
    midi.pitch_time(440, 500)                 # Play tone 440 Hz for 500 ms
    print("LED ON + Tone 440 Hz")             # Serial log
    time.sleep(0.5)                           # Delay
    pin2.value(0)                             # LED OFF
    print("LED OFF")                          # Serial log
    time.sleep(0.5)                           # Delay

Reflection: LED and buzzer work together.
Challenge: Try different tones for each LED.

🎮 Microproject 1.8.5 – Serial pattern control

Blocks used: Digital output, Serial input, Logic
Block sequence:

Setup LEDs as outputs
Read serial input
Control LEDs ON/OFF

MicroPython Code:

import machine, time                          # Import modules

pin2 = machine.Pin(2, machine.Pin.OUT)        # LED pin 2
pin4 = machine.Pin(4, machine.Pin.OUT)        # LED pin 4

while True:                                   # Infinite loop
    cmd = input("Enter command (on/off): ")   # Read serial input
    if cmd == "on":                           # If user types "on"
        pin2.value(1)                         # LED pin 2 ON
        pin4.value(1)                         # LED pin 4 ON
        print("LEDs ON")                      # Serial log
    elif cmd == "off":                        # If user types "off"
        pin2.value(0)                         # LED pin 2 OFF
        pin4.value(0)                         # LED pin 4 OFF
        print("LEDs OFF")                     # Serial log
    time.sleep(0.2)                           # Delay for stability

Reflection: User controls LEDs via serial input.
Challenge: Add more commands like “race” or “blink.”

✨ Main Project – Lighting Patterns

🔧 Blocks Steps (with glossary)

Digital output: Control LEDs.
PWM: Control brightness.
Serial input: Interactive control.

Block sequence:

Setup LEDs and buzzer.
Create race pattern.
Add breathing effect.
Synchronize with buzzer.
Control via serial.

MicroPython Code (mirroring blocks):

# Project 1.8 – Lighting Patterns

import machine, time, music                   # Import required modules

# Setup LEDs
pin2 = machine.Pin(2, machine.Pin.OUT)        # LED pin 2
pin4 = machine.Pin(4, machine.Pin.OUT)        # LED pin 4
pin5 = machine.Pin(5, machine.Pin.OUT)        # LED pin 5

# Setup buzzer
midi = music.MIDI(26)                         # Buzzer on pin 26

# Setup PWM LED
pwm2 = machine.PWM(machine.Pin(2))            # PWM LED on pin 2
pwm2.freq(1000)                               # Frequency for breathing effect

while True:                                   # Infinite loop
    # LED race
    pin2.value(1); print("Race: pin2 ON")     # LED pin 2 ON
    time.sleep(0.3)
    pin2.value(0); print("Race: pin2 OFF")    # LED pin 2 OFF

    pin4.value(1); print("Race: pin4 ON")     # LED pin 4 ON
    time.sleep(0.3)
    pin4.value(0); print("Race: pin4 OFF")    # LED pin 4 OFF

    pin5.value(1); print("Race: pin5 ON")     # LED pin 5 ON
    time.sleep(0.3)
    pin5.value(0); print("Race: pin5 OFF")    # LED pin 5 OFF

    # Breathing effect
    for duty in range(0, 1024, 64):           # Increase brightness
        pwm2.duty(duty)
        print("Breathing brightness:", duty)
        time.sleep(0.05)
    for duty in range(1023, -1, -64):         # Decrease brightness
        pwm2.duty(duty)
        print("Breathing brightness:", duty)
        time.sleep(0.05)

    # Buzzer sync
    pin2.value(1)                             # LED pin 2 ON
    midi.pitch_time(440, 500)                 # Play tone 440 Hz for 500 ms
    print("LED pin2 ON + Tone 440 Hz")
    pin2.value(0)                             # LED pin 2 OFF
    print("LED pin2 OFF")
    time.sleep(0.5)

📖 External Explanation

This project teaches how to create lighting effects with LEDs.

Race pattern shows sequential control.
Breathing effect uses PWM for smooth brightness changes.
Synchronization links LEDs with buzzer tones.
Serial input allows interactive control.

✨ Story Time

Your robot becomes a performer 🎆. It can race lights, breathe softly, blink randomly, and even play music while flashing. With serial commands, you become the DJ controlling the show.

🕵️ Debugging (2 Common Problems)

🐞 Debugging 1.8.A – Pattern stops

Problem: LEDs stop mid‑sequence.
Clues: Missing loop or delay too long.
Broken code:

pin2.value(1)
time.sleep(5)   # Delay too long

Fixed code:

pin2.value(1)
time.sleep(0.3) # Correct delay

Why it works: Short delays keep the sequence flowing.
Avoid next time: Always use small delays for patterns.

🐞 Debugging 1.8.B – Unsynchronized LEDs

Problem: LEDs blink out of sync with buzzer.
Clues: LED and buzzer not triggered together.
Broken code:

pin2.value(1)
time.sleep(0.5)
midi.pitch_time(440, 500)

Fixed code:

pin2.value(1)
midi.pitch_time(440, 500)

Why it works: LED and buzzer start at the same time.
Avoid next time: Trigger both actions together.

✅ Final Checklist

LED race works.
Breathing effect works.
Random pattern alternates.
Buzzer synchronized.
Serial control implemented.

📚 Extras

🧠 Student tip: Try combining race + buzzer for a “light show.”
🧑‍🏫 Instructor tip: Show how PWM changes brightness smoothly.
📖 Glossary: PWM, duty cycle, breathing effect, synchronization.
💡 Mini tip: Always test one LED before adding more.