Demo video

Published October 23, 2022 © GPL3+

How to interface Nordic Thingy:53 with Neopixels (ws2812b)

Nordic thingy:53 has built-in a RGB led but addition of Neopixels in shape of array or strip can make any thingy:53 project eye catching.

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How to interface Nordic Thingy:53 with Neopixels (ws2812b)

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Nordic Semiconductor Nordic Thingy:53

J-Link EDU Mini

Solderless Breadboard Half Size

SparkFun Voltage-Level Translator Breakout - TXB0104

LED Stick, NeoPixel Stick

Jumper wires (generic)

Software apps and online services

Nordic Semiconductor nRF Connect SDK

Story

Thingy:53 is a compact nrf5340 based IoT development device from Nordic semiconductor with various kind of onboard sensors. In order to add eye catching factor in its project an external neopixel rgb leds can be added.

Here we will learn how to create a basic thingy:53 application to interface the neopixel leds attached through expansion port.

Apart from 2 expansion port GPIO pin there are another 5 GPIO pins available to interface various external sensors/modules. Five other GPIO pins are Trace_Debug pins shown in image below. In this example we will use TRACE3 (P0.08) pin as neopixel data line. (Pinout details are available HERE)

Debug and Current measurement interface of thingy:53 device

After deciding the GPIO pin for neopixel data_out, we can create a simple hello world example to build our neopixel code.

1 / 2 • Create a new "hello world" thingy:53 example project

After creating a simple hello world application and selecting its build configuration we will change the k-config of our application for easy debugging and console monitoring. Also enable the "SENSORDRIVERS" in k-config config menu.

Enable and configure SEGGER RTT in K-config module for console output

After making the above mentioned changes in k-config, we need to create an overlay file for thingy:53 in order to enable the communication with the neopixel leds. After creating the new overlay file add the following code in it. Overlay file will be very simple because it will only contain the information of single GPIO pin.

# Add these lines in thingy53_nrf5340_cpuapp_ns.overlay file.

/{
    leds {
        compatible = "gpio-leds";
        neopixel: rgb_led  {
            gpios = <&gpio0 8 GPIO_ACTIVE_HIGH>;
            label = "RGB LED";
        };
    };
};

Now we can add the neopixel.c and neopixel.h files (attached below) in src directory of our current application of thingy:53. The library files of NeoPixel will not be added automatically to our make configuration. In order to achieve that we need to make some changes in the CMakeLists.txt file of our application. This configuration file can also be accessed from one the side panels.

CMakeLists.txt file location in application build panel

Change the following line in it.

target_sources(app PRIVATE src/main.c)

as shown below after adding the neopixel.c and neopixel.h files in src directory.

target_sources(app PRIVATE src/main.c src/neopixel.c)

Now change the main.c code of hello_world application with the main.c code attached below. Then we can successfully build and flash it to thingy53 using external SEGGER J-Tag probe. When thingy53 firmware programming is finished, we can also connect it through RTT interface, available under CONNECTED DEVICES panel, to assign/debug the NeoPixel rgb leds.

In order to run the neopixel leds external 5.0V supply is recommended and it is also recommended to use a level translator between neopixel leds and thingy:53 GPIO pin.

Demo video:

Demo of controlling NeoPixel with thingy:53

Note:

1) main.c, neopixel.c, neopixel.h and overlay files are attached below.

2) thingy:53 pinout details link: here

3) thingy:53 debug and current measurements board pinout details link: here

Code

// To get started, press Ctrl+Space to bring up the completion menu and view the available nodes.

// You can also use the buttons in the sidebar to perform actions on nodes.
// Actions currently available include:

// * Enabling / disabling the node
// * Adding the bus to a bus
// * Removing the node
// * Connecting ADC channels

// For more help, browse the DeviceTree documentation at https://docs.zephyrproject.org/latest/guides/dts/index.html
// You can also visit the nRF DeviceTree extension documentation at https://nrfconnect.github.io/vscode-nrf-connect/devicetree/nrfdevicetree.html
/{
	leds {
		compatible = "gpio-leds";
		neopixel: rgb_led  {
			gpios = <&gpio0 8 GPIO_ACTIVE_HIGH>;
			label = "RGB LED";
		};
	};
};

/*
 * Copyright (c) 2012-2014 Wind River Systems, Inc.
 *
 * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 */

#include <zephyr/zephyr.h>
#include <zephyr/kernel.h>
#include <zephyr/device.h>

#include <zephyr/drivers/sensor.h>
#include <zephyr/drivers/i2c.h>
#include <zephyr/drivers/gpio.h>
#include <zephyr/drivers/adc.h>

#include <stdio.h>
#include <zephyr/sys/__assert.h>

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

#include "neopixel.h"

#define HAL_delay(ms_delay) k_sleep(K_MSEC(ms_delay))

#define NEOPIXEL_SIZE	5

void main(void)
{
	int ret;
	if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_LOG_BACKEND_RTT)) {
		/* Give RTT log time to be flushed before executing tests */
		k_sleep(K_MSEC(500));
	}

	neopixel_init(5);
	neopixel_set_color(0, 255, 0, 0);
	neopixel_set_color(1, 0, 255, 0);
	neopixel_set_color(2, 0, 0, 255);
	neopixel_set_color(3, 0, 0, 0);
	neopixel_set_color(4, 255, 255, 255);
    HAL_delay(3000);

	neopixel_show();

	while(1){
		neopixel_set_color(0, 255, 0, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(1, 255, 0, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(2, 255, 0, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(3, 255, 0, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(4, 255, 0, 0);
		neopixel_show();
		HAL_delay(1000);

		neopixel_set_color(0, 0, 255, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(1, 0, 255, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(2, 0, 255, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(3, 0, 255, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(4, 0, 255, 0);
		neopixel_show();
		HAL_delay(1000);

		neopixel_set_color(0, 0, 0, 255);
		neopixel_set_color(1, 0, 0, 255);
		neopixel_set_color(2, 0, 0, 255);
		neopixel_set_color(3, 0, 0, 255);
		neopixel_set_color(4, 0, 0, 255);
		neopixel_show();
		HAL_delay(1000);

		neopixel_set_color(0, 255, 255, 255);
		neopixel_set_color(1, 0, 0, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(2, 0, 0, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(3, 0, 0, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(4, 0, 0, 0);
		neopixel_show();
		HAL_delay(200);

		neopixel_set_color(0, 0, 0, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(1, 255, 255, 255);
		neopixel_set_color(2, 0, 0, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(3, 0, 0, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(4, 0, 0, 0);
		neopixel_show();
		HAL_delay(200);

		neopixel_set_color(0, 0, 0, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(1, 0, 0, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(2, 255, 255, 255);
		neopixel_set_color(3, 0, 0, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(4, 0, 0, 0);
		neopixel_show();
		HAL_delay(200);

		neopixel_set_color(0, 0, 0, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(1, 0, 0, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(2, 0, 0, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(3, 255, 255, 255);
		neopixel_set_color(4, 0, 0, 0);
		neopixel_show();
		HAL_delay(200);

		neopixel_set_color(0, 0, 0, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(1, 0, 0, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(2, 0, 0, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(3, 0, 0, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(4, 255, 255, 255);
		neopixel_show();
		HAL_delay(200);

		neopixel_set_color(0, 255, 0, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(1, 0, 255, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(2, 0, 0, 255);
		neopixel_set_color(3, 128, 255, 0);
		neopixel_set_color(4, 255, 0, 255);
		neopixel_show();
		HAL_delay(2000);
	}
}

#include "neopixel.h"

#include <zephyr/zephyr.h>
#include <zephyr/kernel.h>
#include <zephyr/device.h>

#include <zephyr/drivers/gpio.h>

#include <stdlib.h>


static uint8_t mPIXEL_DATA_PIN;
static neopixel_strip_t m_strip;

#define NEOPIXEL_NODE DT_NODELABEL(neopixel)
static const struct gpio_dt_spec led_neopixel = GPIO_DT_SPEC_GET(NEOPIXEL_NODE, gpios);

#define HAL_nsDelay(nano_sec) k_sleep(K_NSEC(nano_sec))
#define HAL_usDelay(micro_sec) k_sleep(K_USEC(micro_sec))
#define HAL_msDelay(mili_sec) k_sleep(K_MSEC(mili_sec))



#define NEOPIXEL_SEND_ONE gpio_port_set_bits_raw(led_neopixel.port, (gpio_port_pins_t)BIT(led_neopixel.pin)); \
__ASM ( \
" NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t" \
" NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t" \
" NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t" \
" NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t" \
" NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t" \
" NOP\n\t" \
); \
gpio_port_clear_bits_raw(led_neopixel.port, (gpio_port_pins_t)BIT(led_neopixel.pin)); \
__ASM ( \
" NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t" \
" NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t" \
" NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t" \
); //Logic "1" 52x1 + 50x0 * 15.625ns = 812.5ns H + 781.25ns L

#define NEOPIXEL_SEND_ZERO gpio_port_set_bits_raw(led_neopixel.port, (gpio_port_pins_t)BIT(led_neopixel.pin)); \
__ASM ( \
" NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t" \
" NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t" \
); \
gpio_port_clear_bits_raw(led_neopixel.port, (gpio_port_pins_t)BIT(led_neopixel.pin)); \
__ASM ( \
" NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t" \
" NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t" \
" NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t" \
" NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t" \
" NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t NOP\n\t" \
); //Logic "0" 2x1 + 40x0 * 15.625ns = 30.25+overhead ns H + 781.25ns L

/*
#define NEOPIXEL_SEND_ONE 	gpio_port_set_bits_raw(led_neopixel.port, (gpio_port_pins_t)BIT(led_neopixel.pin)); \
							HAL_nsDelay(400); \
							gpio_port_clear_bits_raw(led_neopixel.port, (gpio_port_pins_t)BIT(led_neopixel.pin)); \
							HAL_nsDelay(850);

#define NEOPIXEL_SEND_ZERO 	gpio_port_set_bits_raw(led_neopixel.port, (gpio_port_pins_t)BIT(led_neopixel.pin)); \
							HAL_nsDelay(800); \
							gpio_port_clear_bits_raw(led_neopixel.port, (gpio_port_pins_t)BIT(led_neopixel.pin)); \
							HAL_nsDelay(450);
*/
#define NEOPIXEL_SET_ONE(void)		gpio_port_set_bits_raw(led_neopixel.port, (gpio_port_pins_t)BIT(led_neopixel.pin))

#define NEOPIXEL_SET_ZERO(void) 	gpio_port_clear_bits_raw(led_neopixel.port, (gpio_port_pins_t)BIT(led_neopixel.pin))


void neopixel_init(uint16_t num_leds)
{
	if (!device_is_ready(led_neopixel.port)) {
		printk("RGB LED port ERROR\n");
	}else{
		printk("RGB LED port OK\n");
	}

	if (!gpio_pin_configure_dt(&led_neopixel, GPIO_OUTPUT_INACTIVE)) {
		printk("RGB LED config LOW: OK\n");
	}else{
		printk("RGB LED config ERROR\n");
	}
	if (!gpio_pin_configure_dt(&led_neopixel, GPIO_OUTPUT_ACTIVE)) {
		printk("RGB LED config HIGH: OK\n");
	}else{
		printk("RGB LED config ERROR\n");
	}

//	gpio_pin_set_dt(&led_neopixel, 1);
/*
	nrf_gpio_cfg_output(mPIXEL_DATA_PIN);
	NRF_GPIO->OUTCLR = (1UL << mPIXEL_DATA_PIN);
	nrf_gpio_pin_clear(mPIXEL_DATA_PIN);
	nrf_gpio_cfg_output(mPIXEL_DATA_PIN);
	NRF_GPIO->OUTCLR = (1UL << mPIXEL_DATA_PIN);
	nrf_gpio_pin_set(mPIXEL_DATA_PIN);
*/

	mPIXEL_DATA_PIN=led_neopixel.pin;
	m_strip.leds = (color_t*) malloc(sizeof(color_t) * num_leds);
	m_strip.pin_num = mPIXEL_DATA_PIN;
	m_strip.num_leds = num_leds;

	for (int i = 0; i < num_leds; i++)
	{	
		m_strip.leds[i].simple.g = 0;
		m_strip.leds[i].simple.r = 0;
		m_strip.leds[i].simple.b = 0;
	}

}

void neopixel_clear()
{
	for (int i = 0; i < m_strip.num_leds; i++)
	{
		m_strip.leds[i].simple.g = 0;
		m_strip.leds[i].simple.r = 0;
		m_strip.leds[i].simple.b = 0;
	}
	neopixel_show();
}

void neopixel_show()
{
	//	const uint8_t PIN =  m_strip.pin_num;

	//	NRF_GPIO->OUTCLR = (1UL << PIN);
	//	nrf_gpio_pin_clear(PIN);
	//	nrf_gpio_pin_set(PIN);

	NEOPIXEL_SET_ZERO();
	HAL_usDelay(50);
	__disable_irq();
	for (int i = 0; i < m_strip.num_leds; i++)
	{
		//Serial.print(" Red: ");Serial.print(m_strip.leds[i].grb[0]);Serial.print(" Green: ");Serial.print(m_strip.leds[i].grb[1]);Serial.print(" Blue: ");Serial.println(m_strip.leds[i].grb[2]);
		for (int j = 0; j < 3; j++)
		{
			if ((m_strip.leds[i].grb[j] & 128) > 0)	{NEOPIXEL_SEND_ONE}
			else	{NEOPIXEL_SEND_ZERO}
			
			if ((m_strip.leds[i].grb[j] & 64) > 0)	{NEOPIXEL_SEND_ONE}
			else	{NEOPIXEL_SEND_ZERO}
			
			if ((m_strip.leds[i].grb[j] & 32) > 0)	{NEOPIXEL_SEND_ONE}
			else	{NEOPIXEL_SEND_ZERO}
			
			if ((m_strip.leds[i].grb[j] & 16) > 0)	{NEOPIXEL_SEND_ONE}
			else	{NEOPIXEL_SEND_ZERO}
			
			if ((m_strip.leds[i].grb[j] & 8) > 0)	{NEOPIXEL_SEND_ONE}
			else	{NEOPIXEL_SEND_ZERO}
			
			if ((m_strip.leds[i].grb[j] & 4) > 0)	{NEOPIXEL_SEND_ONE}
			else	{NEOPIXEL_SEND_ZERO}
			
			if ((m_strip.leds[i].grb[j] & 2) > 0)	{NEOPIXEL_SEND_ONE}
			else	{NEOPIXEL_SEND_ZERO}
			
			if ((m_strip.leds[i].grb[j] & 1) > 0)	{NEOPIXEL_SEND_ONE}
			else	{NEOPIXEL_SEND_ZERO}
		}
	}

	HAL_usDelay(50);
	//	nrf_gpio_pin_set(PIN);
	__enable_irq();
}

void neopixel_set_color(uint16_t index, uint8_t red, uint8_t green, uint8_t blue )
{
	m_strip.leds[index].simple.r = red;
	m_strip.leds[index].simple.g = green;
	m_strip.leds[index].simple.b = blue;
}

void neopixel_set_color_and_show(uint16_t index, uint8_t red, uint8_t green, uint8_t blue)
{
	m_strip.leds[index].simple.r = red;
	m_strip.leds[index].simple.g = green;
	m_strip.leds[index].simple.b = blue;
	neopixel_show();
}

void neopixel_destroy()
{
	free(m_strip.leds);
	m_strip.num_leds = 0;
	m_strip.pin_num = 0;
}

#ifndef NEOPIXEL_H
 #define NEOPIXEL_H


#include <stdbool.h>
#include <stdint.h>

typedef union {
		struct {
			uint8_t g, r, b;
		}simple;
	uint8_t grb[3];
} color_t;
typedef struct {
	uint8_t pin_num;
	uint16_t num_leds;
	color_t *leds;
} neopixel_strip_t;

void neopixel_init(uint16_t num_leds);
void neopixel_clear();
void neopixel_show();
void neopixel_set_color(uint16_t index, uint8_t red, uint8_t green, uint8_t blue );
void neopixel_set_color_and_show(uint16_t index, uint8_t red, uint8_t green, uint8_t blue);
void neopixel_destroy();

#endif

Credits

Mahmood ul Hassan

13 projects • 18 followers

Electronics Engineer with more than 13 years of experience in reverse engineering and test & measurement equipment designing

How to interface Nordic Thingy:53 with Neopixels (ws2812b)

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Demo video:

Schematics

NeoPixels circuit

Code

thingy53_nrf5340_cpuapp_ns.overlay

main.c

neopixel.c

neopixel.h

Credits

Mahmood ul Hassan

Comments

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How to interface Nordic Thingy:53 with Neopixels (ws2812b)

How to interface Nordic Thingy:53 with Neopixels (ws2812b)

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Demo video:

Schematics

NeoPixels circuit

Code

thingy53_nrf5340_cpuapp_ns.overlay

main.c

neopixel.c

neopixel.h

Credits

Mahmood ul Hassan

Comments

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