PASCO code.Node User manual

//code.Node (PS-3231)
Included Equipment
//code.Node
Micro USB cable
For connecting the sensor to a USB charger to charge the
battery or a USB port to transmit data.
Required Equipment
PASCO Capstone or SPARKvue software is required for data
collection.
Overview
The //code.Node is an input-output device that supports coding
activities to help teach how sensors work and how code can be
used to create and control a response (output) to a stimulus
(input). The //code.Node is an introductory device for STEM-
oriented programming activities performed using PASCO
software applications. The device contains five sensors and two
momentary push buttons that act as inputs, as well as three
output signals, enabling students to program how the device
collects and responds to data.
The //code.Node can sense relative light brightness, relative
sound loudness, temperature, acceleration, tilt angle, and
magnetic field. These input sensors are included to help
teaching coding concepts and highlight how collected data can
be analyzed and programmed to create unique outputs involving
its speaker, LED light source, and 5 x 5 LED array. The
//code.Node outputs are not exclusive for use only with its
inputs; the outputs can be used in code involving any PASCO
sensors and interfaces.
NOTE: All //code.Node sensors used in a given
experiment will take measurements at the same
sample rate specified in PASCO Capstone or
SPARKvue. It is not possible to set separate
sample rates for different sensors on the same
//code.Node in a single experiment.
The //code.Node sensors are meant to be used for coding
purposes and should not be considered a replacement for
science sensors in labs that use similar sensor measurements.
Sensors built to more rigorous specifications for use in science
experiments are available at www.pasco.com.
Components
Inputs
Magnetic Field Sensor
Acceleration and Tilt Sensor
Light Sensor
Ambient Temperature Sensor
Sound Sensor
Button 1 and Button 2
Outputs
Red-Green-Blue (RGB) LED
Speaker
5 x 5 LED Array
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Sensor Components
Power Button
Press and hold for one second to turn on or off.
Battery status LED
Red blink Battery needs to be recharged soon.
Green solid Battery is fully charged.
Yellow solid Battery is charging.
Micro USB port
For charging the battery when connected to a USB charger.
For transmitting data when connected to the USB port of a
computer.
Bluetooth status LED
Red blink Ready to be paired with software
Green blink Paired with software
Sensor ID
Use this ID when connecting the sensor to software.
Lanyard Hole
For attaching a lanyard, string, or other material.
//code.Node Inputs
Temperature/Light/Sound Sensor
This 3-in-1 sensor records ambient temperature, brightness as a
measure of relative light intensity, and loudness as a measure of
relative sound level.
•The temperature sensor measures ambient temperature
between 0 — 40 °C.
•The light sensor measures brightness on a 0 — 100%
scale, where 0% is a dark room and 100% is a sunny day.
•The sound sensor measures loudness on a 0 — 100%
scale, where 0% is background noise (40 dBC) and 100%
is a very, very loud scream (~120 dBC).
NOTE: The Temperature, Light, and Sound
Sensors are not calibrated and cannot be
calibrated within PASCO software.
Magnetic Field Sensor
The magnetic field sensor only measures the strength of a
magnetic field in the y-axis. A positive strength is produced
when the north pole of a magnet is moved towards the "N" in the
magnetic sensor icon on the //code.Node.
While the magnetic field sensor cannot be calibrated in the
software application, the sensor measurement can be tared to
zero.
Button 1 and Button 2
Button 1 and Button 2 are included as basic momentary inputs.
When a button is pressed, that button will be assigned a value of
1. A value of 0 is assigned when the button is not being pressed.
Acceleration and Tilt Sensor
The acceleration sensor within the //code.Node measures
acceleration in the x- and y-axis directions, which are labeled on
the sensor icon shown on the device. The pitch (rotation around
the y-axis) and roll (rotation around the x-axis) are measured as
Tilt Angle - x and Tilt Angle - y respectively; the tilt angle is
measured to a ±90° angle in relation to the horizontal and
vertical planes.
The acceleration and tilt angle measurements of the sensor can
be tared to zero from within the software application.
Produces a positive x-tilt to
a maximum angle of 90°,
occurring when the
//code.Node is on its left
side.
Produces a positive y-tilt
to a maximum angle of
90°, occurring when the
//code.Node is standing
upright.
When placed face-up on a flat surface, tilting the //code.Node to
the left (thus rotating around the y-axis) will result in a positive x-
acceleration and a positive x- tilt angle up to 90°. Tilting to the
right will result in a negative x- acceleration and negative x- tilt
angle. Similarly, tilting the device upwards (rotating around the x-
axis) will result in a positive y- acceleration and positive y- tilt
angle to a maximum angle of 90°; tilting the device downwards
will produce negative values.
//code.Node | PS-3231
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//code.Node Outputs
Within the Blockly-integrated Code tool, unique coding blocks
have been created in SPARKvue and PASCO Capstone for each
output of the //code.Node to program and control their effects.
NOTE: The use of the //code.Node outputs are
not exclusive to its inputs. These outputs can be
used in conjunction with all lines of supported
PASCO sensors.
Accessing and using the Code Blocks for
the //code.Node
Note that producing code for the //code.Node requires using
PASCO Capstone version 2.1.0 or later or SPARKvue version
4.4.0 or later.
1. Open the software and select Hardware Setup from the
Tools panel on the left (Capstone) or Sensor Data from the
Welcome Screen (SPARKvue).
2. Connect the //code.Node to the device.
3. SPARKvue only: Once the //code.Node measurements
appear, select the measurement options you intend to use,
then select a template option.
4. Select Code from the Tools tab (Capstone), or click the
Code button on the bottom toolbar (SPARKvue).
5. Select "Hardware" from the list of Blockly categories.
RGB LED
One output signal of the //code.Node is its Red-Green-Blue
(RGB) multi-color LED. The individual brightness levels for red,
green, and blue light of the LED can be adjusted from 0 — 10,
allowing for a spectrum of colors to be created.
A single block is included in Code for the RGB LED and can be
found in the "Hardware" Blockly category. A brightness of 0 for a
given color will ensure that color LED is not emitted.
Speaker
While the volume is fixed, the frequency of the //code.Node
Speaker can be adjusted using the appropriate Code blocks.
The speaker can generate sounds in a range of 0 — 20,000 Hz.
Two unique blocks are included in the software’s Code tool to
support the speaker output. The first of these blocks turns the
speaker on or off; the second block sets the frequency of the
speaker.
5 x 5 LED Array
The central output of the //code.Node is a 5 x 5 array consisting
of 25 red LEDs. The LEDs in the array are positioned using the
(x,y) Cartesian coordinate system, with (0,0) at the top left
corner and (4,4) at the lower right corner. A faint imprint of the
corner coordinates can be found at each corner of the 5 x 5 LED
Array on the //code.Node.
The LEDs in the array can be turned on individually or as a set.
The brightness of the LEDs is adjustable on a scale of 0 — 10,
where a value of 0 will turn the LED off.
Three unique blocks are included in the software’s Code tool
that support the 5 x 5 LED Array. The first block sets the
brightness of a single LED at a specified coordinate. The second
block will set a group of LEDs to a specified brightness level and
can be programmed to keep or clear previous code commands
concerning the 5 x 5 LED array. The third block is an imitation of
the 5 x 5 array on the //code.Node; checking a square is
equivalent to setting the LED at that position on the //code.Node
array to the specified brightness. Multiple squares can be
selected.
Using the sensor for the first time
Before using the sensor in the classroom, the following tasks
must be completed: (1) charge the battery, (2) install the
latest version of PASCO Capstone or SPARKvue, and (3)
update the sensor firmware. Installing the latest version of the
data collection software and the sensor firmware is necessary to
have access to the latest features and bug fixes. Detailed
instructions for each procedure have been provided.
Charge the battery
The sensor contains a rechargeable battery. A fully charged
battery will last an entire school day. To charge the battery:
1. Connect the micro USB cable to the micro USB port
located on the sensor.
2. Connect the other end of the cable to a USB charger.
3. Connect the USB charger to a power outlet.
As the device is charging, the battery indicator light will be
yellow. The device is fully charged when the light is green.
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Install the latest version of PASCO Capstone
or SPARKvue
Follow the instructions below for your device to download and
install the latest version of PASCO Capstone or SPARKvue.
Windows and macOS
Go to www.pasco.com/downloads/sparkvue to access the
installer for the latest version of SPARKvue.
iOS, Android, and Chromebook
Search for "SPARKvue" in the App Store (iOS), Google Play
Store (Android), or Chrome Web Store (Chromebook).
Windows and macOS
Go to www.pasco.com/downloads/capstone to access the
installer for the latest version of Capstone.
Connect the sensor to PASCO Capstone or
SPARKvue
The sensor can be connected to Capstone or SPARKvue using
a USB or Bluetooth connection.
To connect using USB:
1. Connect the micro USB cable to the sensor’s micro USB
port.
2. Connect the other end of the cable to your device.
3. Open Capstone or SPARKvue. The //code.Node will
automatically connect to the software.
NOTE: Connecting to SPARKvue using USB is
not possible with iOS devices and some Android
devices.
To connect using Bluetooth:
1. Turn on the sensor by pressing and holding the power
button for one second.
2. Open SPARKvue or Capstone.
3. Click Sensor Data (SPARKvue) or Hardware Setup in the
Tools panel on the left side of the screen (Capstone).
4. Click the wireless sensor that matches the ID label on your
sensor.
Update the sensor firmware
Sensor firmware is installed using SPARKvue or PASCO
Capstone. You must install the latest version of SPARKvue or
Capstone in order to have access to the latest version of the
sensor firmware. When you connect the sensor to SPARKvue or
Capstone, you will automatically be notified if a firmware update
is available. Click "Yes" to update the firmware when prompted.
If you do not receive a notification, the firmware is up to date.
TIP: Connect the sensor using USB for a faster
firmware update.
Specifications and accessories
Visit the product page at pasco.com/product/PS-3231 to view
the specifications and explore accessories. You can also
download experiment files and support documents from the
product page.
Experiment files
Download one of several student-ready activities from the
PASCO Experiment Library. Experiments include editable
student handouts and teacher notes. Visit
pasco.com/freelabs/PS-3231.
Technical Support
Need more help? Our knowledgeable and friendly Technical
Support staff is ready to answer your questions or walk you
through any issues.
Chat pasco.com
Phone [phone] x1004 (USA)
[phone] (outside USA)
Email [e-mail]
Limited Warranty
For a description of the product warranty, see the Warranty and Returns page at
www.pasco.com/legal.
Copyright
This document is copyrighted with all rights reserved. Permission is granted to non-
profit educational institutions for reproduction of any part of this manual, providing
the reproductions are used only in their laboratories and classrooms, and are not
sold for profit. Reproduction under any other circumstances, without the written
consent of PASCO scientific, is prohibited.
Trademarks
PASCO and PASCO scientific are trademarks or registered trademarks of PASCO
scientific, in the United States and in other countries. All other brands, products, or
service names are or may be trademarks or service marks of, and are used to
identify, products or services of, their respective owners. For more information visit
www.pasco.com/legal.
Product end-of-life disposal
This electronic product is subject to disposal and recycling regulations
that vary by country and region.
It is your responsibility to recycle your electronic equipment per your local
environmental laws and regulations to ensure that it will be recycled in a
manner that protects human health and the environment.
To find out where you can drop off your waste equipment for recycling, please
contact your local waste recycle or disposal service, or the place where you
purchased the product.
The European Union WEEE (Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment) symbol
on the product or its packaging indicates that this product must not be disposed of
in a standard waste container.
CE statement
This device has been tested and found to comply with the essential requirements
and other relevant provisions of the applicable EU Directives.
FCC statement
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept
any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
Battery disposal
Batteries contain chemicals that, if released, may affect the environment
and human health. Batteries should be collected separately for recycling
and recycled at a local hazardous material disposal location adhering to
your country and local government regulations. To find out where you can
drop off your waste battery for recycling, please contact your local waste disposal
service, or the product representative. The battery used in this product is marked
with the European Union symbol for waste batteries to indicate the need for the
separate collection and recycling of batteries.
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