| Function | Action |
| panic(n) | blocks the system and displays infinitely a "sad face" image followed by n (for developers only) |
| reset() | restarts the board (and executes main.py) |
| sleep(dt) | stops program for dt milliseconds |
| running_time() | returns the time in milliseconds since the board was switched on or resetted |
| temperature() | returns the temperature in degrees celsius (as float) |
| button_a | object reference (instance) of button A |
| button_b | object reference (instance) of button B |
| is_pressed() | returns True, if the button is down (pressed); otherwise False |
| was_pressed() | returns True, if the button was pressed since the last call (or start of the program). Another call returns False, until the button is pressed again |
| get_presses() | returns the number of button presses since the last call (or start of program). Another call returns False, until the button is pressed again |
| display | object reference (instance) |
| set_pixel(x, y, value) | sets the intensity of pixel at position x, y. value in range 0..9 |
| clear() | clears all pixels |
| show(str) | shows given str on LED display. If str has more than 1 character, the text ist scrolled until the last character becomes visible |
| show(list_of_img, delay = 400, loop = False, wait = True, clear = False) | shows all images of the list in a timed sequence. If loop = True ist, the sequence is repeated infinitely. For wati = True the method is blocking, otherwise it returns while the sequence continues in the background. delay is the display time for each image in ms (default: 400). For clear = True, the display is clear after the last image is shown |
| show(img) | show Image img on LED display. If img is bigger than 5x5 pixel, the pixels in range x, y = 0..4 are shown. If img is smaller than 5x5 pixel, the missing pixels are black |
| scroll(str) | shows str as scrolling text. The last character disappears |
| off() | turns off display (pin3, pin4, pin6, pin7, pin9, pin19 may be used for general digital in/out) |
| on() | turns on the display and sets pin3, pin4, pin6, pin7, pin9, pin19 in display mode |
| scroll(str, delay = 150, loop = False, wait = True, monospace = False) | show str as scrolling text . If loop = True, the sequence is repeated infinitely. For wait = True the method is blocking, otherwise it returns while the sequence continues in the background. delay is the display time for a single column (default: 150) |
| Image(str) | creates object reference (instance). str has format "aaaaa:bbbbb:ccccc:ddddd:eeeee:" where a is a number in the range 0..9 and defines the intensity of the pixel, a are values of first line, b of second, etc. |
| Image() | creates object reference (instance) with 5x5 pixels and all pixels are turned off |
| Image(width, height) | creates object reference (instance) with given number of horizontal and vertical pixels with all pixels turned off (value = 0) |
| set_pixel(x, y, value) | sets the intensity of pixel at position x, y. value in range 0..9 |
| shift_left(n) | returns an Image object by shifting the picture left by n columns |
| shift_right(n) | returns an Image object by shifting the picture right by n columns |
| shift_up(n) | returns an Image object by shifting the picture up by n rows |
| shift_down(n) | returns an Image object by shifting the picture down by n rows |
| copy() | returns a clone of the image |
| invert() | returns an Image object by inverting the intensity of all pixels (new_value = 9 - value) |
| fill(value) | returns an Image with all pixel intensities set to to given value (0..9) |
| dest.blit(img, x, y, w, h, xdest, ydest) | copies from given image img a rectangular section of size w, h at position x, y to dest image at position xdest, ydest |
| image_new = image * n | returns an object with all pixel intensities multiplied by n |
| image_new = image1 + image2 | returns an object by adding the pixel intensities of image1 and image2 |
Remark:
A MicroBitImage object (short "image") is an abstraction of the real picture and gets visible when display.show(img) is called. An image may have any number of horizontal and vertical pixels (w, h), but only pixels in the range x = 0..4, y = 0..4 are shown. (If image is smaller, the non-defined pixels are black.) For bigger images, use blit()to extract a section.
Be aware that with the exception of set_pixel() and blit() the methods do not modify the image itself, but return a new image. To change img, it must be assigned to the return value.
Example:
img = Image(2, 2)
img = img.invert()
display.show(img)
| pin0, pin1, pin2, pin8, pin12, pin16 | instances for general digital-in/digital-out |
| pin0, pin1, pin2 | instances for analog-in/analog-out (PWM) |
| pin3, pin4, pin6, pin7, pin9, pin10 | instances predefined for LED display (display mode) |
| pin5, pin11 | instances predefine for button A, B (button mode) |
| pin13, pin14, pin15 | instances predefined for SPI (spi mode) |
| pin19, pin20 | instances predefined for I2C (i2c mode) |
| read_digital() | returns True, if the pin is logical 1 (HIGH); returns False, if logical 0 (LOW) (Pulldown 10 kOhm) |
| write_digital(v) | if v = 1, sets the pin to logical 1 (HIGH); if v = 0, sets the pin to logical 0 (LOW) (max. current: 5 mA) |
| read_analog() | returns value from ADC in range 0..1023 (input impedance: 10 MOhm) |
| write_analog(v) | sets the PWM duty cycle (v = 0..1023 corresponds to 0..100%) (max. current: 5 mA) |
| set_analog_period(period) | sets the PWM period in milliseconds |
| set_analog_period_microseconds(period) | sets the PWM period in microseconds (> 300) |
| accelerometer | object reference (instance) |
| get_x(), get_y(), get_z() |
returns the current value of acceleration in x, y or z direction (int, range approx.. -2047 to +2048, corresponding approx. -20 m/s^2 to +20 m/s^2, gravitational acceleration of approx. 10 m/s^2 included). x direction: ButtonA-ButtonB; y direction: Pin2-USB; z direction: perpenticular to board |
| get_values() | returns a tuple with the acceleration in x, y and z direction (ints, units as above) |
| compass | object reference (instance) |
| calibrate() | starts a blocking calibration routine needed to get accurate readings: tilt the micro:bit in different directions, so that the blinking pixel reaches the border, where the border pixel is turned on. When all border pixels are lit, the program continues |
| is_calibrated() | returns True, if the compass was calibrated |
| clear_calibration() | resets the compass to the non-calibrated state |
| heading() | returns the angle of the current direction if the micro:bit with respect to the north |
| get_x(), get_y(), get_z() | returns the current value of the x, y or z component of the magnetic field at the sensor position (int, in microtesla, no calibration needed) |
| get_values() | returns a tuple with x , y and z components of the magnetic field at the sensor position (int, in microtesla, no calibration needed) |
| np = NeoPixel(pin, n) | creates a Neopixel object (instance) with n neopixels controlled via given pin. Each pixel is addressed by its position (starting from 0) and its color is determined by assigning a RGB tuple, e.g. np[2] = (0, 100, 255) sets pixel # 2 to red = 0, green = 100, blue = 255. show() must be called to update the display (Strips with WS2812 LEDs supported.) |
| clear() | clears all pixels |
| show() | shows the pixels. Must be called to make any change of color values visible |
Module music
(Module import: from music import *)
| set_tempo(bpm = 120) | sets the number of beats per minute (default: 120) |
| pitch(frequency, len, pin = microbit.pin0, wait = True) | plays a tone with given frequency in Hertz during the given length (duration) (in milliseconds). pin defines the output pin at the GPIIO header (default: P0). If wait = True, the function is blocking; otherwise it returns while the sound continues (until finished or stop() is called) |
| play(melody, pin = microbit.pin0, wait = True, loop = False) | plays a melody with current tempo. pin defines the output pin at the GPIIO header (default: P0). If wait = True, the function is blocking; otherwise it returns while the sound continues (until finished or stop() is called). If loop is True, the melody is played again infinitely |
| stop(pin = microbit.pin0) | stops sound output at given header pin (default: P0) |
Remark:
A melody is a list of strings in the format ["note:duration", "note:duration",...]
note in musical notation: c, d, e, f, g, a, h with optional octave number (default: 1): e.g. c2, d2, ... and optional sharp: c#, d#,... or c#2, d#2,...
duration in number of ticks (optional, defaut: 1)
Predifined song lists:
Module radio:
(Module import: from radio import *)
Computer communication over Bluetooth
| on() | turns Bluetooth communication on. Connecting to a micro:bit node that has radio turned on |
| off() | turns Bluetooth communicaion off |
| send(msg) | sends the message string to the receiving node's message queue (First-In-First-Out, FIFO buffer) |
| msg = receive() | returns the oldest message (string) in the message queue and removes it from the queue. None is returned, if the queue is empty. It is assumed that the messages is sent with send(smg), so it can be converted in a valuable string [otherwise a ValueError exception ("received packet is not a string") is raised] |
| send_bytes(msg_bytes) | sends the message bytes (class bytes, e.g b'\x01\x48') to the receiving node's message queue (First-In-First-Out, FIFO buffer) |
| receive_bytes() | returns the oldest message bytes from the message queue and deletes it from the queue. None is returned, if the queue is empty. To send the message, send_bytes(msg) must be used (and not send(msg)) |
Module mbutils:
(Module import: from mbutils import *)
Helper module for Kitronik buggy
| mot_rot(mot, speed) | rotates motor forward (speed > 0) or backward (speed < 0). mot = motL or motR, speed = 0..100 |
| buggy_setSpeed(speed) | sets speed of buggy (both motors) in range 0..100, default: 40 |
| buggy_forward(speed) | moves buggy forward, speed = 0..100 |
| buggy_backward(speed) | moves buggy backward, speed = 0..100 |
| buggy_stop() | stops buggy |
| buggy_left() | turns buggy left (right motor forward, left motor backward) |
| buggy_right() | turns buggy right (left motor forward, right motor backward) |
| buggy_leftArc(reduce) | moves buggy on left circle; reduce = 0..1: factor to reduce speed of left motor |
| buggy_rightArc(reduce) | moves buggy on right circle; reduce = 0..1: factor to reduce speed of right motor |
| isDark(ldr) | True, if light sensor ldr is dark (ldr = ldrL or ldrR) |