Data Sheet

24 : circuit 1b

CODE TO NOTE

SERIAL BEGIN:

Serial.begin(9600);

Serial commands can be used to send and receive data from

your computer. This line of code tells the RedBoard that we

want to “begin” that communication with the computer, the

same way we would say “Hi” to initiate a conversation. Notice

that the baud rate, 9600, is the same as the one we selected

in the monitor. This is the speed at which the two devices

communicate, and it must match on both sides.

ANALOG INPUT:

potPosition =

analogRead(A0);

We use the analogRead() function to read the value on an

analog pin. analogRead() takes one parameter, the analog

pin you want to use, A0 in this case, and returns a number

between 0 (0 volts) and 1023 (5 volts), which is then assigned to

the variable

potPosition.

SERIAL PRINT:

Serial.

println(potPosition);

This is the line that actually prints the trimpot value to

the monitor. It takes the variable potPosition and prints

whatever value it equals at that moment in the loop(). The

at the end of println tells the monitor to print a new

line at the end of each value; otherwise the values would all

run together on one line. Try removing the ln

to see what

happens.

CODING CHALLENGES

CHANGING THE RANGE: Try multiplying, dividing or adding to your sensor reading so

that you can change the range of the delay in your code. For example, can you multiply the

sensor reading so that the delay goes from 0–2046 instead of 0–1023?

ADD MORE LEDS: Add more LEDs to your circuit. Don’t forget the current-limiting

resistors. You will need to declare the new pins in your code and set them all to

OUTPUT .

Try making individual LEDs blink at different rates by changing the range of each

using multiplcation or division.