Book Image

Raspberry Pi for Python Programmers Cookbook - Second Edition

Book Image

Raspberry Pi for Python Programmers Cookbook - Second Edition

Overview of this book

Raspberry Pi cookbook for Python Programmers is a practical guide for getting the most out of this little computer. This book begins by guiding you through setting up the Raspberry Pi, performing tasks using Python 3 and introduces the first steps to interface with electronics. As you work through each chapter you will build up your skills and knowledge and apply them as you progress throughout the book, delving further and further into the unique abilities and features of the Raspberry Pi. Later, you will learn how to automate tasks by accessing files, build applications using the popular Tkinter library and create games by controlling graphics on screen. You will harness the power of the built-in graphics processor by using Pi3D to generate your own high quality 3D graphics and environments. Connect directly to the Raspberry Pi’s hardware pins to control electronics from switching on LEDs and responding to push buttons right through to driving motors and servos. Learn how to monitor sensors to gather real life data and to use it to control other devices, and view the results over the Internet. Apply what you have learnt by creating your own Pi-Rover or Pi-Hexipod robots. Finally, we will explore using many of the purpose built add-ons available for the Raspberry Pi, as well as interfacing with common household devices in new ways.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
Raspberry Pi for Python Programmers Cookbook - Second Edition
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewer
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Hardware and Software List
Index

Multiplexed color LEDs


The next example in this chapter demonstrates that some seemingly simple hardware can produce some impressive results if controlled with software. We return to using some RGB LEDs that are wired so that we only need to use eight GPIO pins to control the red, green, and blue elements of five RGB LEDs using a method called hardware multiplexing (see the Hardware multiplexing subsection in the There's more… section of this recipe).

Getting ready

You will need the RGB LED module shown in the following image:

The RGB LED module from PiHardware.com

As you can see in the preceding image, the RGB LED module from PiHardware.com comes with GPIO pins and a Dupont female to female cable for connecting it. Although there are two sets of pins labelled 1 to 5, only one side needs to be connected.

Alternatively, you can recreate your own with the following circuit using five common cathode RGB LEDs, 3 x 470-ohm resistors, and a Vero prototype board (or large breadboard). The circuit will...