Book Image

BBC Micro:bit in Practice

By : Ashwin Pajankar, Abhishek Sharma, Sandeep Saini
Book Image

BBC Micro:bit in Practice

By: Ashwin Pajankar, Abhishek Sharma, Sandeep Saini

Overview of this book

This book is a one-stop guide for learning BBC Micro:bit with MicroPython, exploring many hardware components and programming techniques to provide detailed insights into developing practical applications with the Micro:bit. It will also show you how hardware components can be manipulated using a combination of Micro:bit and MicroPython for developing practical projects. BBC Micro:bit in Practice will help you gain a holistic understanding of the BBC Micro:bit platform and MicroPython programming, guiding you through mini projects aimed at developing practical knowledge of circuit design and writing programs. You’ll learn how to write programs for working with built-in LEDs and buttons, interfacing external LEDs, buttons, motors, buzzers, and much more. You’ll also work with built-in radio, speakers, accelerometer, and a compass. You’ll dive into concepts related to the Micro:bit filesystem, interfacing external displays, and working with libraries in detail before exploring sewable circuits and wearable technology. After reading this Micro:bit book, you’ll understand how to apply principles in electronics and MicroPython to create interesting real-life projects from scratch.
Table of Contents (22 chapters)
1
Part 1: Getting Started with the BBC Micro:bit
6
Part 2: Programming Hardware with MicroPython
10
Part 3: Filesystems and Programming Analog I/O
13
Part 4: Advanced Hardware Interfacing and Applications

Working with a microphone

So far, we have generated different sound outputs using the Micro:bit. The Micro:bit is also equipped with a microphone. This microphone can be used to detect sound from the environment. This section will teach us how to handle speech using a Micro:bit. The microphone is present on the front of the Micro:bit V2. Figure 12.5 shows its location:

Figure 12.5 – Location of the microphone on the Micro:bit V2 (courtesy: https://microbit-micropython.readthedocs.io/en/v2-docs/_images/microphone.png)

The microphone that’s built inside the Micro:bit has a sensitivity of -38dB ±3dB @ 94dB SPL. It has an SNR of 63dB. The microphone can detect frequencies from 100 Hz to 80 kHz. The complete datasheet for this microphone is available at https://www.knowles.com/docs/default-source/model-downloads/spu0410lr5h-qb-revh32421a731dff6ddbb37cff0000940c19.pdf?Status=Master&sfvrsn=cebd77b1_4.

In MicroPython, the microphone can respond...