Physical Pixel

This example example uses the Arduino or Genuino board to receive data from the computer. The board turns on an LED when it receives the character 'H', and turns off the LED when it receives the character 'L'.

The data can be sent from the Arduino Software (IDE) serial monitor, or another program like Processing (see code below), Flash (via a serial-net proxy), PD, or Max/MSP.

Hardware Required

  • Arduino or Genuino Board
  • LED (optional)
  • 220 ohm resistor (optional)

Software Required

Circuit

Many Arduino and Genuino boards have a built-in LED connected to pin 13; if your board has no built-in LED, attach an external LED to pin 13. The long leg, or anode, goes to pin 13 through a 220 resistor. The short leg, or cathode, goes to ground.

click the image to enlarge

image developed using Fritzing. For more circuit examples, see the Fritzing project page

Schematic

click the image to enlarge

Code

/*
  Physical Pixel

  An example of using the Arduino board to receive data from the computer. In
  this case, the Arduino boards turns on an LED when it receives the character
  'H', and turns off the LED when it receives the character 'L'.

  The data can be sent from the Arduino Serial Monitor, or another program like
  Processing (see code below), Flash (via a serial-net proxy), PD, or Max/MSP.

  The circuit:
  - LED connected from digital pin 13 to ground

  created 2006
  by David A. Mellis
  modified 30 Aug 2011
  by Tom Igoe and Scott Fitzgerald

  This example code is in the public domain.

  http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/PhysicalPixel
*/


const int ledPin = 13; // the pin that the LED is attached to
int incomingByte;      // a variable to read incoming serial data into

void setup() {
  // initialize serial communication:
  Serial.begin(9600);
  // initialize the LED pin as an output:
  pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  // see if there's incoming serial data:
  if (Serial.available() > 0) {
    // read the oldest byte in the serial buffer:
    incomingByte = Serial.read();
    // if it's a capital H (ASCII 72), turn on the LED:
    if (incomingByte == 'H') {
      digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);
    }
    // if it's an L (ASCII 76) turn off the LED:
    if (incomingByte == 'L') {
      digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);
    }
  }
}

/* Processing code for this example

  // Mouse over serial

  // Demonstrates how to send data to the Arduino I/O board, in order to turn ON
  // a light if the mouse is over a square and turn it off if the mouse is not.

  // created 2003-4
  // based on examples by Casey Reas and Hernando Barragan
  // modified 30 Aug 2011
  // by Tom Igoe
  // This example code is in the public domain.

  import processing.serial.*;

  float boxX;
  float boxY;
  int boxSize = 20;
  boolean mouseOverBox = false;

  Serial port;

  void setup() {
    size(200, 200);
    boxX = width / 2.0;
    boxY = height / 2.0;
    rectMode(RADIUS);

    // List all the available serial ports in the output pane.
    // You will need to choose the port that the Arduino board is connected to
    // from this list. The first port in the list is port #0 and the third port
    // in the list is port #2.
    // if using Processing 2.1 or later, use Serial.printArray()
    println(Serial.list());

    // Open the port that the Arduino board is connected to (in this case #0)
    // Make sure to open the port at the same speed Arduino is using (9600bps)
    port = new Serial(this, Serial.list()[0], 9600);
  }

  void draw() {
    background(0);

    // Test if the cursor is over the box
    if (mouseX > boxX - boxSize && mouseX < boxX + boxSize &&
        mouseY > boxY - boxSize && mouseY < boxY + boxSize) {
      mouseOverBox = true;
      // draw a line around the box and change its color:
      stroke(255);
      fill(153);
      // send an 'H' to indicate mouse is over square:
      port.write('H');
    }
    else {
      // return the box to its inactive state:
      stroke(153);
      fill(153);
      // send an 'L' to turn the LED off:
      port.write('L');
      mouseOverBox = false;
    }

    // Draw the box
    rect(boxX, boxY, boxSize, boxSize);
  }

*/


/* Max/MSP version 5 patch to run with this example:

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-----------end_max5_patcher-----------

*/

Processing Code

Copy the Processing code from the code sample above. As you mouse over the center square, the LED on pin 13 should turn on and off. The Processing applet looks like this:

Mouse over the square to turn the LED on and off.

Max patch

The Max/MSP patch looks like the image below. Copy it from the code sample above and paste it into a new patch window.

See Also

  • serial.read()
  • serial.available()
  • if statement

  • ASCIITable - Demonstrates Arduino's advanced serial output functions.
  • Dimmer - Move the mouse to change the brightness of an LED.
  • Graph - Send data to the computer and graph it in Processing.
  • Midi - Send MIDI note messages serially.
  • MultiSerialMega - Use two of the serial ports available on the Arduino and Genuino Mega.
  • ReadASCIIString - Parse a comma-separated string of integers to fade an LED.
  • SerialCallResponse - Send multiple variables using a call-and-response (handshaking) method.
  • SerialCallResponseASCII - Send multiple variables using a call-and-response (handshaking) method, and ASCII-encode the values before sending.
  • SerialEvent - Demonstrates the use of SerialEvent().
  • VirtualColorMixer - Send multiple variables from Arduino to your computer and read them in Processing or Max/MSP.


Last revision 2015/07/29 by SM