East Brunswick Public Library Arduino Workshop 2017

What is Arduino?

Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware

and software. Arduino boards are able sense the environment by receiving and reading

inputs - light on a sensor, a finger on a button, or a Twitter message - and turn it into an

output affecting its surroundings - activating a motor, turning on an LED, publishing

something online. You can tell your board what to do by sending a set of instructions to

the microcontroller on the board. To do so you use the Arduino programming language.

( https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Introduction )

Download Arduino Software ( https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software )

First Blink Program - blink LED on Arduino board

● Go to File ➭ Examples ➭ Basic, and click the Blink program.

● Go to Tools ➭ Board and check that the right board is selected.

● Tell the IDE what port your board is connected to. Go to Tools ➭ Serial Port.

Breadboard

● A breadboard is a solderless device for temporary prototype with electronics and

test circuit designs. Wires run underneath the breadboard linking up holes

together.

● The center section holes are horizontally linked together but not across the center

divider.

● The positive/negative ends of the breadboard have holes linked vertically down

the entire board.

East Brunswick Public Library Arduino Workshop 2017

What is an LED?

● A light-emitting diode (LED) is a two-lead semiconductor light source. When a

suitable voltage is applied to the leads, electrons are able to release energy in the

form of photons/light.

● Longer lead side = positive

● Shorter lead side = negative

East Brunswick Public Library Arduino Workshop 2017

What is a resistor?

● In electronic circuits, resistors are used to reduce current flow. Why do we need to

use them? To control and prevent excessive current flow. Too much can destroy

the power source and blow out a fuse or LED.

LED - turn LED on and off( http://www.exploringarduino.com/content/ch2/ )

East Brunswick Public Library Arduino Workshop 2017

What is a Button?

● Buttons control the current flow by either allowing a closed circuit for current to

flow around the circuit, or creating an open circuit where no current can flow.

LED with Button Program ( http://www.exploringarduino.com/content/ch2/ )

East Brunswick Public Library Arduino Workshop 2017

What is a potentiometer?

● A potentiometer, informally a pot, is a three-terminal resistor with a sliding or

rotating contact that forms an adjustable voltage divider. In other words, it is a

resistor that can be changed to varying levels of resistance by turning the knob.

● Connect the left and right pins to 5V and Ground and the middle to Analog pin 0.

LED with Potentiometer - ( https://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/AnalogInOutSerial)

East Brunswick Public Library Arduino Workshop 2017

What is a Piezo Buzzer?

Play a Melody - ( https://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/toneMelody )

To make the pitches.h file, either click on the button just below the serial monitor icon and

choose "New Tab", or use Ctrl+Shift+N.

What is a Photoresistor?

● Like the name suggests, a photoresistor is another type of resistor that controls

current flow. Unlike standard resistors it can vary the degrees to which in slows

down the current. Unlike the potentiometer the resistance level is not controlled

by a knob. Instead, it depends on the light received.

● The resistance of a photoresistor decreases with increasing incident light intensity;

in other words, it exhibits photoconductivity.

East Brunswick Public Library Arduino Workshop 2017

Sound with Photoresistors - ( https://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/tonePitchFollower)

Want to learn more about Arduino?

Resources

● https://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/HomePage

● http://www.exploringarduino.com/

● https://learn.adafruit.com/

● https://diyhacking.com/diy-projects/arduino-projects/

● http://playground.arduino.cc/Projects/Ideas