Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
New to this — Parallax Forums

New to this

killercalkillercal Posts: 3
edited 2014-09-04 13:11 in Propeller 1
As the title says, I'm new to this so be nice!

End goal: I want to connect 4 sensors (push buttons) and 4 outputs (LED lights) to a microcontroller and be able to write a program to turn on a light and once a corresponding button is pressed it will go out and another light will turn on.

So my questions are,

What do I need for this?
Microprocessor: Propeller 1
Inputs: 4 PB's
Outputs: 4 LED's
Power supply: whatever is needed for the board and I/O
Anything else I'm missing?

Thanks,

Scott

Comments

  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,105
    edited 2014-09-02 20:41
    Since you're new, get a small development tool like the Propeller Activity Board. It has lots of useful stuff on it, and a small breadboard that you can use to add things like buttons and LEDs. Of course you'll need some resistors, too: pull-downs for the buttons and current limiters for the LEDs. For small circuits like this you can run right from the USB connection used for programming.

    If you decide to make the circuit permanent then a board like the Propeller Mini is a low-cost way to go.
  • Peter JakackiPeter Jakacki Posts: 10,193
    edited 2014-09-02 20:44
    How about using a Quickstart board?
    Alternatively you can get some proto or plugin board and mount a Prop in a DIP40 pack then add your LEDs and switches but you will still need a PropPlug but it seems to me that the QuickStart is more value for money.
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2014-09-02 21:02
    Peter Jakacki wrote: »
    How about using a Quickstart board?
    Alternatively you can get some proto or plugin board and mount a Prop in a DIP40 pack then add your LEDs and switches but you will still need a PropPlug but it seems to me that the QuickStart is more value for money.

    I also had a QuickStart board in mind when I answered your post in the General Discussion forum. Good inexpensive starting point for someone new to micro's.
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2014-09-02 21:09
    Another advantage of the QuickStart board is that it has 8 LEDs built-in that can be used for anything you like. It also has touch sensor pads that can function as pushbuttons. There's sample code that shows how to do both. Later you can add a Human Interface Board that includes interfaces to a PS/2 keyboard, PS/2 mouse, VGA display, and SD card for storage of data and programs.
  • GenetixGenetix Posts: 1,754
    edited 2014-09-02 21:29
    Scott, what you want to do can also be done with a BASIC Stamp. What's a Microcontroller has controlling LEDs with pushbuttons in the first few chapters. The BASIC Stamp Activity Kit has everything you need to get started.

    What exactly is it that you are trying to do?
  • ChrisGaddChrisGadd Posts: 310
    edited 2014-09-03 05:52
    I noticed in your General Discussion thread that this is to be used in a game. Something that I considered to be a neat trick but haven't found a practical use for is using LEDs as touch sensors. This thread refreshed my memory of how it's done, and within a few minutes I had it working with an LED connected directly between two pins.
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2014-09-04 10:12
    ChrisGadd wrote: »
    I noticed in your General Discussion thread that this is to be used in a game. Something that I considered to be a neat trick but haven't found a practical use for is using LEDs as touch sensors. This thread refreshed my memory of how it's done, and within a few minutes I had it working with an LED connected directly between two pins.

    I also got the impression from that post that it was for a game, perhaps along the line of "whackamole". If so, using leds as both sensors and target lights would be a good way to go. Blink the led and take a reading when it is off to see if it has been hit. Should be a pretty rugged game that way.
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2014-09-04 12:15
    Using LEDs as buttons is an interesting idea but I think you need a very consistent light source when using LEDs as buttons. Clock Loop has done several projects with LEDs as buttons and I recall a post where he said he provides the consistent light by having his own light source above the LEDs.

    I like the LED idea, but it's hard to beat the simplicity of a push button.
  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2014-09-04 13:11
    Scott,

    Welcome to the forums! If I may give one piece of advice for future posts it would be to post a descriptive subject line on what your post is about. In this case you got some nice replies, but often posts that don't specify a meaningful subject line go unnoticed. Please let us know if you get the information you needed.
Sign In or Register to comment.