NeoPixel Jewellery, a Colour Sensing Fabulous Wearable
Introduction: NeoPixel Jewellery, a Colour Sensing Fabulous Wearable
The video shows a part of the final project!
This neopixel jewellery wearable tutorial takes inspiration from a tutorial on Adafruit to make a neopixel manicure. I loved this manicure idea. Previously, I incorporated NFC chips (with an led) into a manicure, so I wanted to take a new step in a slightly different direction.
I’ve modified items used, construction, and finishing touches.
The RGB LEDs will light up, and we play a sample neo light script or using a reset button, we can activate a colour sensor to display the colour that has been sensed.
Supplies
* Gemma M0 board
* Neopixels I’m using a strip of neopixels, and one ‘band’ for a finger
* Colour sensor, I’m using a Flora sensor: 1356
* Elasticated band, 2 sizes,
* thicker on for the wrist for the battery and board
* thinner for the finger bands but wider than the neopixel strip (I’m using 12mm)
* Wire, your choice, based on the aesthetics you want. I’ve got some silicone thin black wire because I love the look, movement, and feel of it. I also have some braided 3 wire to try because I like how that looks as well!
* Croc Clips for the prototyping part
* Battery, a 3.7V with 150 mAh LiPo or larger but check the size as you’ll be wearing it!
* (optional) I’m adding a charger circuit to this so I don’t have to remove the battery.
* You’ll also need basic electronics tools, a soldering iron (I love my TS80 portable solder iron), maybe clamps or masking tape, or helping hands etc, solder, sewing kit or sewing machine with threads etc.
* (optional) Button to reset the circuit (this was added at the end as I wanted easy access to the reset button)
* (optional) Lace to complete the look
Step 1: The First Circuit, Gemma M0 and NeoPixels
Let’s start with the simple part of the circuit – we will be mapping:
* the GND to GND on the NeoPixel strip,
* Vout to +5V and D1 on the Gemma to Din on the Neo strip.
This was part of my initial planning.
I modified this to have 1 band and not 2 of LEDs. The 1 band had closer NeoPixels so more of them.
The final strip of NeoPixels I went with has a much closer distribution of Neos. 769
It can be more difficult to solder though so keep that in mind.
Step 2: First Steps, Let’s Get Our NeoPixels to Work!
I like to build my circuits up slowly. Component by component. This way I know exactly when something stopped working.
It’s an easier way to find the errors.
For the first part of my circuit, I’m going to get my NeoPixels working in a strip. I can test the pinouts I’m using and the board.
I have a sample strip of 15 Neos that I typically use with croc clips.
The first step is to: hook up your NeoPixel strip to D1 on the Gemma M0, then hook up GND, and lastly the Vout.
Then upload sample code.
Wait – Do you have the Library for NeoPixels installed?
You’ll need to have the Adafruit NeoPixel library installed to get this examples folder with sketches. For a quick tutorial on how to add an item to the library, here is a quick guide to installing Libraries with Arduino to get you up and running. [Beta Arduino 2.0.0 guide]
If you know how to then just go ahead and add the library.
Step 3: Test Your NeoPixels; Run the Strandtest Sketch
Use the default strandtest sketch that you'll have with the installed library:
// A basic everyday NeoPixel strip test program.
// NEOPIXEL BEST PRACTICES for most reliable operation:
// - Add 1000 uF CAPACITOR between NeoPixel strip's + and - connections.
// - MINIMIZE WIRING LENGTH between microcontroller board and first pixel.
// - NeoPixel strip's DATA-IN should pass through a 300-500 OHM RESISTOR.
// - AVOID connecting NeoPixels on a LIVE CIRCUIT. If you must, ALWAYS
// connect GROUND (-) first, then +, then data. 939