Building a Digital Clock with Pixel LED and ESP8266 Board
In this blog post, we will explore how to create a digital clock using pixel LED and an ESP8266 board. This exciting project combines the power of programmable LEDs with the capabilities of the ESP8266 microcontroller to create a customizable and visually appealing digital clock. By following this step-by-step guide, you'll be able to build your own unique digital clock that displays time with vibrant pixel LEDs.
Materials Required:
To build this digital clock, you'll need the following materials:
1. ESP8266 development board (such as NodeMCU or Wemos D1 Mini)
2. Pixel LED strip (such as WS2812B or APA102)
3. Breadboard or perfboard for prototyping
4. Jumper wires
5. USB cable for power and programming
6. Power supply (based on LED strip requirements)
7. Computer/laptop with Arduino IDE installed
Step 1: Setting up the Development Environment
To get started, connect the ESP8266 board to your computer and install the necessary drivers. Then, open the Arduino IDE and install the ESP8266 board manager by following the instructions provided by the ESP8266 community.
Step 2: Wiring the Circuit
Connect the pixel LED strip to the ESP8266 board. Make sure to provide the required power supply to the LED strip based on its specifications. Refer to the documentation of your specific LED strip to determine the correct wiring connections between the board and the LED data pin.
Step 3: Installing Required Libraries
To control the pixel LEDs, we need to install the necessary libraries. In the Arduino IDE, go to "Sketch" -> "Include Library" -> "Manage Libraries." Search for and install the libraries for the WS2812B or APA102 LEDs, depending on your LED strip type.
Step 4: Writing the Code
Now, it's time to write the code for the digital clock. You'll need to include the appropriate libraries and define variables for the LED strip and timekeeping functions. Use the provided functions to fetch the current time from an NTP server and display it on the LED strip.
The code should include logic for updating the time display continuously and handling any animations or effects you wish to incorporate. You can customize the appearance of the clock by adjusting the color, brightness, and animations of the LED strip.
Step 5: Uploading the Code and Testing
Connect your ESP8266 board to your computer, select the correct board and port from the Arduino IDE, and click the upload button to flash the code onto the board. Once the code is uploaded successfully, disconnect the board from your computer and connect it to the power supply.
Observe the pixel LED strip as it displays the current time in a digital format. Verify that the clock is functioning correctly and that the LED strip is responding as expected.
code
#include <DHT.h>
#include <DHT_U.h>
#include <FastLED.h>
#include <Wire.h>
#include "RTClib.h"
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
#include "Timer.h"
#define DHTPIN 12
#define DHTTYPE DHT11
DHT dht(DHTPIN, DHTTYPE);
#define NUM_LEDS 30
#define DATA_PIN 6
CRGB LEDs[NUM_LEDS];
SoftwareSerial BTserial(8, 9);
RTC_DS3231 rtc;
Timer t1;
Timer t2;
Timer t3;
String btBuffer;
CRGB colorCRGB = CRGB::Red; // Change this if you want another default color, for example CRGB::Blue
CHSV colorCHSV = CHSV(95, 255, 255); // Green
CRGB colorOFF = CRGB(20,20,20); // Color of the segments that are 'disabled'. You can also set it to CRGB::Black
volatile int colorMODE = 1; // 0=CRGB, 1=CHSV, 2=Constant Color Changing pattern
volatile int mode = 0; // 0=Clock, 1=Temperature, 2=Humidity, 3=Scoreboard, 4=Time counter
volatile int scoreLeft = 0;
volatile int scoreRight = 0;
volatile long timerValue = 0;
volatile int timerRunning = 0;
#define blinkDots 0 // Set this to 1 if you want the dots to blink in clock mode, set it to value 0 to disable
#define hourFormat 24 // Set this to 12 or to 24 hour format
#define temperatureMode 'C' // Set this to 'C' for Celcius or 'F' for Fahrenheit
void setup () {
// Initialize LED strip
FastLED.delay(3000);
// Check if you're LED strip is a RGB or GRB version (third parameter)
FastLED.addLeds<WS2812B, DATA_PIN, GRB>(LEDs, NUM_LEDS);
Serial.begin(9600);
while (!Serial) { /* Wait until serial is ready */ }
BTserial.begin(9600);
Serial.println("BTserial started at 9600");
dht.begin();
if (!rtc.begin()) {
Serial.println("Couldn't find RTC");
while (1);
}
if (rtc.lostPower()) {
Serial.println("RTC lost power, lets set the time!");
// following line sets the RTC to the date & time this sketch was compiled
rtc.adjust(DateTime(F(__DATE__), F(__TIME__)));
}
t1.every(1000 * 29, refreshDisplay);
t2.every(1000, refreshTimer);
t3.every(50, updateHue);
refreshDisplay();
}
void loop () {
t1.update();
t2.update();
t3.update();
if (BTserial.available())
{
char received = BTserial.read();
btBuffer += received;
if (received == '|')
{
processCommand();
btBuffer = "";
}
}
}
void updateHue() {
if (colorMODE != 2)
return;
colorCHSV.sat = 255;
colorCHSV.val = 255;
if (colorCHSV.hue >= 255){
colorCHSV.hue = 0;
} else {
colorCHSV.hue++;
}
refreshDisplay();
}
void refreshDisplay() {
switch (mode) {
case 0:
displayClock();
break;
case 1:
displayTemperature();
break;
case 2:
displayHumidity();
break;
case 3:
displayScoreboard();
break;
case 4:
// Time counter has it's own timer
break;
default:
break;
}
}
void refreshTimer() {
if (mode == 0 && blinkDots == 1) {
displayDots(3);
} else if (mode == 4 && timerRunning == 1 && timerValue < 6000) {
timerValue++;
int m1 = (timerValue / 60) / 10 ;
int m2 = (timerValue / 60) % 10 ;
int s1 = (timerValue % 60) / 10;
int s2 = (timerValue % 60) % 10;
displaySegments(0, s2);
displaySegments(7, s1);
displaySegments(16, m2);
displaySegments(23, m1);
displayDots(0);
FastLED.show();
}
}
void processCommand(){
if (btBuffer.startsWith("RGBD")) {
long R = getValue(btBuffer, ',', 1).toInt();
long G = getValue(btBuffer, ',', 2).toInt();
long B = getValue(btBuffer, ',', 3).toInt();
long D = getValue(btBuffer, ',', 4).toInt();
colorCRGB.red = R;
colorCRGB.green = G;
colorCRGB.blue = B;
colorMODE = 0;
if (D > 0) FastLED.setBrightness(D);
} else if (btBuffer.startsWith("HSVD")) {
long H = getValue(btBuffer, ',', 1).toInt();
long S = getValue(btBuffer, ',', 2).toInt();
long V = getValue(btBuffer, ',', 3).toInt();
long D = getValue(btBuffer, ',', 4).toInt();
colorCHSV.hue = H;
colorCHSV.sat = S;
colorCHSV.val = V;
colorMODE = 1;
if (D > 0) FastLED.setBrightness(D);
} else if (btBuffer.startsWith("RTC")) {
long y = getValue(btBuffer, ',', 1).toInt();
long m = getValue(btBuffer, ',', 2).toInt();
long d = getValue(btBuffer, ',', 3).toInt();
long h = getValue(btBuffer, ',', 4).toInt();
long mm = getValue(btBuffer, ',', 5).toInt();
long s = getValue(btBuffer, ',', 6).toInt();
rtc.adjust(DateTime(y, m, d, h, mm, s));
Serial.println("DateTime set");
} else if (btBuffer.startsWith("CLOCK")) {
mode = 0;
} else if (btBuffer.startsWith("TEMPERATURE")) {
mode = 1;
} else if (btBuffer.startsWith("HUMIDITY")) {
mode = 2;
} else if (btBuffer.startsWith("SCOREBOARD")) {
scoreLeft = getValue(btBuffer, ',', 1).toInt();
scoreRight = getValue(btBuffer, ',', 2).toInt();
mode = 3;
} else if (btBuffer.startsWith("STARTTIMER")) {
timerValue = 0;
timerRunning = 1;
mode = 4;
} else if (btBuffer.startsWith("STOPTIMER")) {
timerRunning = 0;
mode = 4;
} else if (btBuffer.startsWith("CHANGINGPATTERN")) {
colorMODE = 2;
}
refreshDisplay();
}
void displayClock() {
DateTime now = rtc.now();
int h = now.hour();
if (hourFormat == 12 && h > 12)
h = h - 12;
int hl = (h / 10) == 0 ? 13 : (h / 10);
int hr = h % 10;
int ml = now.minute() / 10;
int mr = now.minute() % 10;
displaySegments(0, mr);
displaySegments(7, ml);
displaySegments(16, hr);
displaySegments(23, hl);
displayDots(0);
FastLED.show();
}
void displayTemperature() {
float tmp = dht.readTemperature(temperatureMode == 'F' ? true : false);
if (isnan(tmp)) {
Serial.println("Failed to read from DHT sensor!");
} else {
int tmp1 = tmp / 10;
int tmp2 = ((int)tmp) % 10;
displaySegments(23, tmp1);
displaySegments(16, tmp2);
displaySegments(7, 10);
displaySegments(0, (temperatureMode == 'F' ? 14 : 11));
displayDots(1);
FastLED.show();
}
}
void displayHumidity() {
float hum = dht.readHumidity();
if (isnan(hum)) {
Serial.println("Failed to read from DHT sensor!");
} else {
int hum1 = hum / 10;
int hum2 = ((int)hum) % 10;
displaySegments(23, hum1);
displaySegments(16, hum2);
displaySegments(7, 10);
displaySegments(0, 12);
displayDots(1);
FastLED.show();
}
}
void displayScoreboard() {
int s1 = scoreLeft % 10;
int s2 = scoreLeft / 10;
int s3 = scoreRight % 10;
int s4 = scoreRight / 10;
displaySegments(0, s3);
displaySegments(7, s4);
displaySegments(16, s1);
displaySegments(23, s2);
displayDots(2);
FastLED.show();
}
void displayDots(int dotMode) {
// dotMode: 0=Both on, 1=Both Off, 2=Bottom On, 3=Blink
switch (dotMode) {
case 0:
LEDs[14] = colorMODE == 0 ? colorCRGB : colorCHSV;
LEDs[15] = colorMODE == 0 ? colorCRGB : colorCHSV;
break;
case 1:
LEDs[14] = colorOFF;
LEDs[15] = colorOFF;
break;
case 2:
LEDs[14] = colorOFF;
LEDs[15] = colorMODE == 0 ? colorCRGB : colorCHSV;
break;
case 3:
LEDs[14] = (LEDs[14] == colorOFF) ? (colorMODE == 0 ? colorCRGB : colorCHSV) : colorOFF;
LEDs[15] = (LEDs[15] == colorOFF) ? (colorMODE == 0 ? colorCRGB : colorCHSV) : colorOFF;
FastLED.show();
break;
default:
break;
}
}
void displaySegments(int startindex, int number) {
byte numbers[] = {
0b00111111, // 0
0b00000110, // 1
0b01011011, // 2
0b01001111, // 3
0b01100110, // 4
0b01101101, // 5
0b01111101, // 6
0b00000111, // 7
0b01111111, // 8
0b01101111, // 9
0b01100011, // º 10
0b00111001, // C(elcius) 11
0b01011100, // º lower 12
0b00000000, // Empty 13
0b01110001, // F(ahrenheit) 14
};
for (int i = 0; i < 7; i++) {
LEDs[i + startindex] = ((numbers[number] & 1 << i) == 1 << i) ? (colorMODE == 0 ? colorCRGB : colorCHSV) : colorOFF;
}
}
String getValue(String data, char separator, int index) {
int found = 0;
int strIndex[] = {0, -1};
int maxIndex = data.length()-1;
for(int i=0; i<=maxIndex && found<=index; i++){
if(data.charAt(i)==separator || i==maxIndex){
found++;
strIndex[0] = strIndex[1]+1;
strIndex[1] = (i == maxIndex) ? i+1 : i;
}
}
return found>index ? data.substring(strIndex[0], strIndex[1]) : "";
}
Conclusion:
Congratulations! You have successfully built a digital clock using pixel LED and an ESP8266 board. By combining the power of programmable LEDs with the capabilities of the ESP8266 microcontroller, you've created a visually appealing and customizable timekeeping device. You can further enhance the clock by adding additional features such as temperature display, alarm functionality, or integrating it with other smart home devices.
Remember to experiment with different LED effects, colors, and animations to personalize your clock and make it unique. Have fun exploring the possibilities of this project, and don't hesitate to share your creations with others!
Disclaimer: When working with electrical components and circuits, ensure proper safety precautions and adhere to the guidelines provided by the manufacturers.
Comments
Post a Comment