The folks at Adafruit have put out a nice "NeoPixel shield" which is essentially an 8x5 addressable RGB LED strip built into an Arduino shield. They have created a nice library available on github. You can see the project on their
product web page. Here is a picture of the board mounted on an Arduino Uno. The LED in the bottom right corner is LED 0. The LED in the the bottom left corner is node 7. The second row up is node 8-15 and so on. The LED in the upper left corner is node 39.
This picture shows the LED panel on my desktop. It totally overwhelmed the camera to the point that the rest of the room looks dark.
Firmware
I've created simple
Arduino firmware that lets you send LED blinky commands over the Serial Port via USB. You can set each pixel color individually along with one of 10 blink patterns. Pattern 0 is off and pattern 1 is solid on so there are 8 actual blink patterns. The firmware is located on
github.
The LEDs are daisy chained into a single giant shift register. The far end of the strand is updated by serially shifting the values through all the other LEDs. The entire strand is updated on each push operation. The WS2811/2812 controllers have have fairly strict timing requirements when shifting data through and latching data into strand. Adafruit has implemented a nice library that meets all the timing requirements through hand coding and interrupt control. This means that interrupts are disabled for long enough periods of time that I had to turn down the serial port rate to 9600 to avoid character loss.
TFS Build Watcher Application Driver
I've also added a driver to the TFS Build Watcher
software on github. Individual build statuses are mapped to individual LEDs so you can get an overall feel of your various builds.
/*
Written by Freemansoft Inc.
Exercise Neopixel (WS2811 or WS2812) shield using the adafruit NeoPixel library
You need to download the Adafruit NeoPixel library from github,
unzip it and put it in your arduino libraries directory
commands include
rgb <led 0..39> <red 0..255> <green 0..255> <blue 0..255> <pattern 0..9>: set RGB pattern to pattern <0:off, 1:continuous>
rgb <all -1> <red 0..255> <green 0..255> <blue 0..255> <pattern 0..9>: set RGB pattern to pattern <0:off, 1:continuous>
debug <true|false> log all input to serial
blank clears all
demo random colors
*/
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
#include <MsTimer2.h>
boolean logDebug = false;
// pin used to talk to NeoPixel
#define PIN 6
// Parameter 1 = number of pixels in strip
// Parameter 2 = pin number (most are valid)
// Parameter 3 = pixel type flags, add together as needed:
// NEO_RGB Pixels are wired for RGB bitstream
// NEO_GRB Pixels are wired for GRB bitstream
// NEO_KHZ400 400 KHz bitstream (e.g. FLORA pixels)
// NEO_KHZ800 800 KHz bitstream (e.g. High Density LED strip)
// using the arduino shield which is 5x8
const int NUM_PIXELS = 40;
Adafruit_NeoPixel strip = Adafruit_NeoPixel(NUM_PIXELS, PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
typedef struct
{
uint32_t activeValues; // packed 32 bit created by Strip.Color
uint32_t lastWrittenValues; //for fade in the future
byte currentState; // used for blink
byte pattern;
unsigned long lastChangeTime; // where are we timewise in the pattern
} pixelDefinition;
// should these be 8x5 intead of linear 40 ?
volatile pixelDefinition lightStatus[NUM_PIXELS];
volatile boolean stripShowRequired = false;
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// time between steps
const int STATE_STEP_INTERVAL = 10; // in milliseconds - all our table times are even multiples of this
const int MAX_PWM_CHANGE_SIZE = 32; // used for fading at some later date
/*================================================================================
*
* bell pattern buffer programming pattern lifted from http://arduino.cc/playground/Code/MultiBlink
*
*================================================================================*/
typedef struct
{
boolean isActive; // digital value for this state to be active (on off)
unsigned long activeTime; // time to stay active in this state stay in milliseconds
} stateDefinition;
// the number of pattern steps in every blink pattern
const int MAX_STATES = 4;
typedef struct
{
stateDefinition state[MAX_STATES]; // can pick other numbers of slots
} ringerTemplate;
const int NUM_PATTERNS = 10;
const ringerTemplate ringPatterns[] =
{
// state0 state1 state2 state3
// the length of these times also limit how quickly changes will occure. color changes are only picked up when a true transition happens
{ /* no variable before stateDefinition*/ {{false, 1000}, {false, 1000}, {false, 1000}, {false, 1000}} /* no variable after stateDefinition*/ },
{ /* no variable before stateDefinition*/ {{true, 1000}, {true, 1000}, {true, 1000}, {true, 1000}} /* no variable after stateDefinition*/ },
{ /* no variable before stateDefinition*/ {{true , 300}, {false, 300}, {false, 300}, {false, 300}} /* no variable after stateDefinition*/ },
{ /* no variable before stateDefinition*/ {{false, 300}, {true , 300}, {true , 300}, {true , 300}} /* no variable after stateDefinition*/ },
{ /* no variable before stateDefinition*/ {{true , 200}, {false, 100}, {true , 200}, {false, 800}} /* no variable after stateDefinition*/ },
{ /* no variable before stateDefinition*/ {{false, 200}, {true , 100}, {false, 200}, {true , 800}} /* no variable after stateDefinition*/ },
{ /* no variable before stateDefinition*/ {{true , 300}, {false, 400}, {true , 150}, {false, 400}} /* no variable after stateDefinition*/ },
{ /* no variable before stateDefinition*/ {{false, 300}, {true , 400}, {false, 150}, {true , 400}} /* no variable after stateDefinition*/ },
{ /* no variable before stateDefinition*/ {{true , 100}, {false, 100}, {true , 100}, {false, 800}} /* no variable after stateDefinition*/ },
{ /* no variable before stateDefinition*/ {{false, 100}, {true , 100}, {false, 100}, {true , 800}} /* no variable after stateDefinition*/ },
};
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
void setup() {
// 50usec for 40pix @ 1.25usec/pixel : 19200 is .5usec/bit or 5usec/character
// there is a 50usec quiet period between updates
//Serial.begin(19200);
// don't want to lose characters if interrupt handler too long
// serial interrupt handler can't run so arduino input buffer length is no help
Serial.begin(9600);
strip.begin();
strip.show(); // Initialize all pixels to 'off'
stripShowRequired = false;
// initialize our buffer as all LEDS off
go_dark();
//show a quickcolor pattern
configureForDemo();
delay(3000);
go_dark();
MsTimer2::set(STATE_STEP_INTERVAL, process_blink);
MsTimer2::start();
}
void loop(){
const int READ_BUFFER_SIZE = 4*6; // rgb_lmp_red_grn_blu_rng where ringer is only 1 digit but need place for \0
char readBuffer[READ_BUFFER_SIZE];
int readCount = 0;
char newCharacter = '\0';
while((readCount < READ_BUFFER_SIZE) && newCharacter !='\r'){
// did the timer interrupt handler make changes that require a strip.show()?
// note: strip.show() attempts to unmask interrupts as much as possible
// must be inside character read while loop
if (stripShowRequired) {
stripShowRequired = false;
strip.show();
}
if (Serial.available()){
newCharacter = Serial.read();
if (newCharacter != '\r'){
readBuffer[readCount] = newCharacter;
readCount++;
}
}
}
if (newCharacter == '\r'){
readBuffer[readCount] = '\0';
// this has to be before process_Command because buffer is wiped
if (logDebug){
Serial.print("received ");
Serial.print(readCount);
Serial.print(" characters, command: ");
Serial.println(readBuffer);
}
// got a command so parse it
process_command(readBuffer,readCount);
}
else {
// while look exited because too many characters so start over
}
}
/*
* blank out the LEDs and buffer
*/
void go_dark(){
unsigned long ledLastChangeTime = millis();
for ( int index = 0 ; index < NUM_PIXELS; index++){
lightStatus[index].currentState = 0;
lightStatus[index].pattern = 0;
lightStatus[index].activeValues = strip.Color(0,0,0);
lightStatus[index].lastChangeTime = ledLastChangeTime;
strip.setPixelColor(index, lightStatus[index].activeValues);
}
// force them all dark immediatly so they go out at the same time
// could have waited for timer but different blink rates would go dark at slighly different times
strip.show();
}
//////////////////////////// handler //////////////////////////////
//
/*
Interrupt handler that handles all blink operations
*/
void process_blink(){
boolean didChangeSomething = false;
unsigned long now = millis();
for ( int index = 0 ; index < NUM_PIXELS; index++){
byte currentPattern = lightStatus[index].pattern;
if (currentPattern >= 0){ // quick range check for valid pattern?
if (now >= lightStatus[index].lastChangeTime
+ ringPatterns[currentPattern].state[lightStatus[index].currentState].activeTime){
// calculate next state with rollover/repeat
int currentState = (lightStatus[index].currentState+1) % MAX_STATES;
lightStatus[index].currentState = currentState;
lightStatus[index].lastChangeTime = now;
// will this cause slight flicker if already showing led?
if (ringPatterns[currentPattern].state[currentState].isActive){
strip.setPixelColor(index, lightStatus[index].activeValues);
} else {
strip.setPixelColor(index,strip.Color(0,0,0));
}
didChangeSomething = true;
}
}
}
// don't show in the interrupt handler because interrupts would be masked
// for a long time.
if (didChangeSomething){
stripShowRequired = true;
}
}
// first look for commands without parameters then with parametes
boolean process_command(char *readBuffer, int readCount){
int indexValue;
byte redValue;
byte greenValue;
byte blueValue;
byte patternValue;
// use string tokenizer to simplify parameters -- could be faster by only running if needed
char *command;
char *parsePointer;
// First strtok iteration
command = strtok_r(readBuffer," ",&parsePointer);
boolean processedCommand = false;
if (strcmp(command,"h") == 0 || strcmp(command,"?") == 0){
help();
processedCommand = true;
} else if (strcmp(command,"rgb") == 0){
char * index = strtok_r(NULL," ",&parsePointer);
char * red = strtok_r(NULL," ",&parsePointer);
char * green = strtok_r(NULL," ",&parsePointer);
char * blue = strtok_r(NULL," ",&parsePointer);
char * pattern = strtok_r(NULL," ",&parsePointer);
if (index == NULL || red == NULL || green == NULL || blue == NULL || pattern == NULL){
help();
} else {
// this code shows how lazy I am.
int numericValue;
numericValue = atoi(index);
if (numericValue < 0) { numericValue = -1; }
else if (numericValue >= NUM_PIXELS) { numericValue = NUM_PIXELS-1; };
indexValue = numericValue;
numericValue = atoi(red);
if (numericValue < 0) { numericValue = 0; }
else if (numericValue > 255) { numericValue = 255; };
redValue = numericValue;
numericValue = atoi(green);
if (numericValue < 0) { numericValue = 0; }
else if (numericValue > 255) { numericValue = 255; };
greenValue = numericValue;
numericValue = atoi(blue);
if (numericValue < 0) { numericValue = 0; }
else if (numericValue > 255) { numericValue = 255; };
blueValue = numericValue;
numericValue = atoi(pattern);
if (numericValue < 0) { numericValue = 0; }
else if (numericValue > NUM_PATTERNS) { numericValue = NUM_PATTERNS-1; };
patternValue = numericValue;
/*
Serial.println(indexValue);
Serial.println(redValue);
Serial.println(greenValue);
Serial.println(blueValue);
Serial.println(patternValue);
*/
if (indexValue >= 0){
lightStatus[indexValue].activeValues = strip.Color(redValue,greenValue,blueValue);
lightStatus[indexValue].pattern = patternValue;
} else {
for (int i = 0; i < NUM_PIXELS; i++){
lightStatus[i].activeValues = strip.Color(redValue,greenValue,blueValue);
lightStatus[i].pattern = patternValue;
}
}
processedCommand = true;
}
} else if (strcmp(command,"blank") == 0){
go_dark();
processedCommand = true;
} else if (strcmp(command,"debug") == 0){
char * shouldLog = strtok_r(NULL," ",&parsePointer);
if (strcmp(shouldLog,"true") == 0){
logDebug = true;
} else {
logDebug = false;
}
processedCommand = true;
} else if (strcmp(command,"demo") == 0){
configureForDemo();
processedCommand = true;
} else {
// completely unrecognized
}
if (!processedCommand){
Serial.print(command);
Serial.println(" not recognized ");
}
return processedCommand;
}
/*
* Simple method that displays the help
*/
void help(){
Serial.println("h: help");
Serial.println("?: help");
Serial.println("rgb <led 0..39> <red 0..255> <green 0..255> <blue 0..255> <pattern 0..9>: set RGB pattern to pattern <0:off, 1:continuous>");
Serial.println("rgb <all -1> <red 0..255> <green 0..255> <blue 0..255> <pattern 0..9>: set RGB pattern to pattern <0:off, 1:continuous>");
Serial.println("debug <true|false> log all input to serial");
Serial.println("blank clears all");
Serial.println("demo color and blank wheel");
Serial.flush();
}
//////////////////////////// demo //////////////////////////////
/*
* show the various blink patterns
*/
void configureForDemo(){
unsigned long ledLastChangeTime = millis();
for ( int index = 0 ; index < NUM_PIXELS; index++){
lightStatus[index].currentState = 0;
lightStatus[index].pattern = (index%8)+1; // the shield is 8x5 so we do 8 patterns and we know pattern 0 is off
lightStatus[index].activeValues = Wheel(index*index & 255);
lightStatus[index].lastChangeTime = ledLastChangeTime;
}
uint16_t i;
for(i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
strip.setPixelColor(i,lightStatus[i].activeValues);
}
strip.show();
}
//////////////////////////// stuff from the Adafruit NeoPixel sample //////////////////////////////
// Input a value 0 to 255 to get a color value.
// The colours are a transition r - g - b - back to r.
uint32_t Wheel(byte WheelPos) {
if(WheelPos < 85) {
return strip.Color(WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3, 0);
} else if(WheelPos < 170) {
WheelPos -= 85;
return strip.Color(255 - WheelPos * 3, 0, WheelPos * 3);
} else {
WheelPos -= 170;
return strip.Color(0, WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3);
}
}
