Controlling a light sensor on CircuitPython

In this session, we’re diving into the world of light sensors and how to control them using an ADC, or Analog-to-Digital Converter.
First up, we’ll cover the basics of setting up a light sensor, so you have a solid foundation for what’s to come.
It’s all about getting a handle on those voltage readings to help you classify different lighting conditions.
Plus, we’ll establish the key connections and configurations you’ll need to get everything working smoothly with an OLED display..

Let’s break down the setup for connecting a light sensor and OLED display.
You’ll want to start by using pin A3, which is wired to pin Y12, linking up with a 3-pin harness for the light sensor.
Next, don’t forget to follow the specific instructions for connecting your OLED display to show the values you’re measuring.
We’re also ditching the old code for a fresh approach, which opens the door for some cool new ideas.
The SS1306 SSD component is super efficient, but you need to configure your board settings, especially the Serial Clock (SCK) , for everything to work seamlessly.
Finally, make sure to set the device address to 0x3C —it’s the key to effective communication, acting as a unique ID for your setup..

Alright, let’s dive into the world of light sensors and ADCs! To kick things off, you want to set the analog input mode to A3, which is super important for capturing those analog signals with high accuracy.
This is essential when you want your electronic project to work just right.
So, what does the ADC do? It works by turning those analog signals into digital data—this is how you get a neat 16-bit ADC value expressed as a voltage reading based on 3.3 volts .
The ADC values are pretty handy because they give you a general idea of the lighting around you; high voltage equals bright light, and low voltage means it’s dark.
Overall, getting a grip on these concepts really helps in making sure your system performs well and accurately represents real-world signals in a digital format..

Let’s break down the lighting conditions, shall we? We’ve got three main categories: bright, dark, and average.
This is super important if you’re into photography or monitoring plant growth, as it helps tailor your settings for the best results.
Now, understand that the voltage readings will guide you here.
If you’re getting numbers from 0 to 2184, that’s bright lighting; values from 21840 to 43680 fall in the average range, and anything over that? Well, you’re looking at dark lighting.
The setup’s designed to show these categories clearly, and it’s been tested to prove it works reliably..

In this demo, we’re checking out how a light sensor works using its original 16-bit value, which we’ve turned into a voltage value so it’s easier to understand.
When you point your finger at the sensor, the resistance jumps up to around 56,000, causing the voltage reading to spike.
If you get your finger close enough, it will show ‘Bright,’ and once you take it away, it switches back to ‘Normal.’ Even just touching the sensor can drop the reading to ‘Weak,’ showing how sensitive it is to different light levels.
This example is a great way to see how to keep an eye on and understand those light sensor values!.

So, in our session, we dove into using CircuitPython to keep track of light sensor values—pretty cool, right? As we wrapped everything up, we hinted at some exciting topics that are coming up in the future.
Stay tuned for more awesome content!.