CodeBug GlowBugs User manual

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http://www.codebug.org.uk
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Createyourownpersonalpatternandsequencebycreatingsimpleprogramsonline.
Learntheessentialsofcomputersciencewhilecreatingmesmerisinglightshows.
IdealforbringingeyecatchingcolourtoanyCodeBugcraftproject.
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BeforeusinganyCodeBug™devicealwaysreadtheinstructionsandprecautions
carefully.
Product Highlights
Uses:
● Introductoryplatformforlearningprogrammingandelectronics
● Wearablesprojects
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● Decorations
● IdealforTwitter,FacebookandMinecraftetc.notifications
● Digitalcrafts–createinteractivegreetingscards,decoractions,boardgamesand
more
Features:
● Simpleandquicktogetstarted–justpluginandprogram!
● 1RGB(RedGreenBlue)LEDperGlowBug
● EachLEDhas256brightnesslevelsforRed,GreenandBlueallowingfor16777216
differentcolours
● 6crocclippable&sewablelegsforconnectingtoCodeBug™andotherGlowBugs
● Draganddropprogrammingfromwebbrowser
● Onlinesupport,communityandeducationaltutorials
● Windows,MacandLinuxcompatible
● CanbetetheredwithCodeBug™tobecontrolledfromacomputerortablet
Technical Specifications:
● Power:5Vthroughpowerleg(fromCodeBug™poweredbyUSB)
● Approx39mmwidex47mmhigh
● PCBthickness1.7mm
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GlowBugs technical diagram
Connecting GlowBugs
ToattachGlowBugstoCodeBug
TM
,attachacrocclipfromGNDonCodeBug
TM
toGNDon
theleftsideoftheGlowBug,repeatthisforPWRfromCodeBug
TM
tothe5Vontheleftside
oftheGlowBug.Thenconnectacrocclipfromleg3onCodeBug
TM
totheDATAINlegon
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theGlowBug.YoucanconnectmoreGlowBugsbyconnectingtherightsideoftheprevious
GlowBugtotheleftsideofthenextGlowBug,asshowninthepicturebelow.
GlowBugs connected to CodeBug™ with croc‐clips
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Simplified GlowBugs connection diagram
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Programming CodeBug™ GlowBugs
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GlowBugsarecontrolledusingCodeBug™,whichmeanstoturnalightonaGlowBug,you
needtocreateaprogramforCodeBug™.It’seasytoprogramCodeBug™throughthe
websitehttp://www.codebug.org.uk/create.Ifyou’veneverprogrammedCodeBug™before,
visitthegettingstartedtutorialonthewebsitetolearnmore.
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Onthe‘createpage’,you’llalsofindanemulator,whichshowsonscreenwhatwillhappen
beforeyourunyourprogramonthephysicalCodeBug™.
Show the GlowBugs emulator
ToshowtheemulatedGlowBugs:
● Createanewprogramhttp://www.codebug.org.uk/create/codebug/new/
● ClicktheGreencoginthetoprightcorneroftheCodeBug™emulatorbox
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Show the CodeBug™ emulator setting by clicking the cog (circled in red)
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● Onthepopupthatappears,ticktheColourTailcheckboxandthenclickthe
GlowBugsx5orGlowBugsx10radiobuttons
● ClicktheApplybutton
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Enable GlowBugs hardware
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GlowBugs x 5 emulator; shows the colour each of the 5 lights will shine
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Creating your first program
NowyouhaveemulatedGlowBugsdisplayedyouarereadytocreateyourCodeBug
TM
programtocontrolthelights.
ToturnalightonyouneedtotoaddablockfromtheColourTailmenu.Theseblocksneed
toknowthenumberofthelight(orpixel)youyouwanttocontrolandthecolouryouwantto
setit.TheGlowBugsarenumberedwiththeoneconnecteddirectlytoCodeBug
TM
startingat
zero .
1
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Colour Tail block menu opened
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TosetthecolourofoneoftheGlowBugpixels,youcanuseoneoftwoblocks:
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ThesetcolourpixeltocolourblockallowsyoutospecifythecolourofaGlowBug,froma
paletteofcommoncolours.
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set colour pixel to colour block with palette open
1http://www.howtogeek.com/149225/whydocomputerscountfromzero/or
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zerobased_numbering
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Thesetcolourpixelblockallowsyoutospecifyhowred,greenandbluearemixed
together.Youcangetmorecoloursthanthoseshowninthepaletteanditalsomakesiteasy
foryoutousenumberorvariableblocksforeachofthe3componentcolours.
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set colour pixel block
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Sample Program
Here’sasampleprogramthatchanges5GlowBugsbetweenredandlimegreenin
sequence.
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Sample GlowBugs program with the emulator showing what will happen
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TransferyourprogramforcontrollingGlowBugsontoyourCodeBug™justasyouwouldany
otherontoyourCodeBug™program.RefertotheDownloadinstructions.
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Whenreloadingprograms,toavoidhavingtounplugtheMicroUSBfromCodeBug™,
unplugtheendoftheMicroUSBcablethatplugsintoyourcomputer.
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Powering GlowBugs by USB
CodeBug™andGlowBugscanbepoweredfrommost5VUSBpowersupplies,e.g.
computerUSBports,phonechargers,USBbatterypacksetc.
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ThebrightfullcolourLEDsonGlowBugsrequiremorepowerthanCodeBug™(upto540mA
onfullwhitebrightness).AlwaysmakesureyouaredeliveringenoughpowertoCodeBug™
fortheGlowBugs.CoinbatterieswillnotworkwithGlowBugs;insteadwerecommendUSB
chargerpacksforportableuse.
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Different ways of powering CodeBug™ and GlowBugs
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