BlinkBlock

 

Theory

• L.E.D. stand for Light Emmiting Diode.
  A Diode is a one-way gate in electronics; current flows in the direction of the arrow (from + to -)
  If a diode is hooked up backward it doesn't allow any electricity to flow.
  So an LED will only light up if it is connected the right way around.
  

 

 

Assembly Part I - LED

1. Materials Required

   
   
   • 1 LED
   • 1 Resistor (100 ohm)
   • 1 Brick (2x2)
   • 1 Cable (2 Wire)
   • 1 Connector (3 Pin)
2. 
   
   Cut both connectors off ONLY ONE end of the cable
3. 
   Strip about 5 - 10mm of plastic off the end of the wires
   Be careful not to damage the little strands of copper inside.
   Always use the correct hole size,
   and always pull straight (never at an angle)
   
4. 
   Your wire should be even and look like this.
5. 
   Bend the legs of the LED apart
6. 
   Place the resistor next to the LED
   It doesn't matter which leg
7. 
   Wrap the resistor's leg around the LED's leg
8. 
   Bend the resistor out so it is pointing away from the LED
9. 
   Twist one wire on the resistor leg
   Twist the other wire on the LED's leg
   The color of the wires doesn't matter (they can go either way)
10. 
    Solder all 3 joints

 

Assembly Part II - BlinkBlock

1. 
2. 
   Trim the extra length off the legs
   (Cut where the red marks are)
   
   
3. 
   Drill a 5mm hole through the middle
   (Drill with the block upside-down, like the picture)

4. Optional Step

   
   
   Check to see if your block already has a hole in the side
   If your block doesn't have a hole in the side then:
   
   Drill a 3mm hole in the side of the block
   (Any side)
   
5. 
   Use a pin to bend the little black plastic "tongue" up
   
   
   Gently slide the plastic housing off the end of the wire
   
   
   Remove both of the black plastic housings from the ends of the wires
   
   
6. 
   Insert the ends of the wire into the block
   (From the inside of the block)
   
   
   Push the wires through the hole in the side of the block
7. 
   Pull the wires until the LED is almost inside the block
   
8. 
   Use your fingers or some pliers to gently press the LED into the hole
9. 
   Press the resistor and legs gently down into the block
   You can double check that eventhing is pressed down enough by placing the BlinkBlock onto another piece of Lego and making sure they snap together all the way
10. 
    Slide the wires into the new 3 pin plastic housing
    One wire on each side (no wire in the middle)
    
    Make sure you push the wires in until you hear and feel them click
    Gently tug on each wire to make sure it has clicked into the housing.

 

Assembly Part III - Test and Glue

1. 
   Test your BlinkBlock BEFORE gluing it
   Connect your BlinkBlock to Pin 13 (on the Digital Side)
2. 
   Make both of these Blocks in mBlock
   (you will find them in the Robot section)
   
   Make sure you don't click them together
3. 
   Make sure you are connected.
   See the mBlock instructions for more details
4. 
   Click on the HIGH block
   Your BlinkBlock should turn on
   If it doesn't then try turning your connector around.
5. 
   
   Once you know which way is the correct way for your connector
   Mark the 'G' edge with a silver pen
   We use silver to show Ground (the black pins)
6. 
   Check with Mr. Dash before continuing
7. 
   Make sure you have all the materials in the picture before gluing
   (Extra Brick & Wax Paper)
   
   
   Fill your block with hot glue
   Only use enough glue to cover the wires, resistor, and LED
   (too much and it will squish out the sides)
8. 
   Cover the block with wax paper (baking paper)
9. 
   Place another block onto your BlinkBlock
   This makes sure the glue is squished down enough
10. 
    Place a little glue around the wires to protect them
11. 
    Wait at least 5 minutes before removing the spare block
    You don't need to hold it during this time
12. 
    You're done!
    Your BlinkBlock should look like this.

 

 

Connection Diagram

• If it is connected backwards no damage is done, but it does not work.
  The sliver stripe shows you which way is the right way.
• 
  The BlinkBlock can be connected to any Digital Pin
  (D0 & D1 should not be used as they reserved for mBlock)
• There is also built-in LED on the BrainBlock that is always connected to D13 (it is good for testing).
  You should see it turn on and off with your BlinkBlock.

 

 

• 

• Example Programs

  

• Advanced

  You can control how bright the LED is using PWM (Pulse Width Modulation),
  but PWM only works on Pins 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, or 11
  0 = 0%
  255 = 100%

  

• Project Ideas

  1. Lighthouse
  2. Dragon
  3. Lego Pet
  4. Traffic Light

• Mini Challenges

  • Use 2 sprites: one to turn it on when you click on it, the other to turn it off
  • Create a sprite that makes it blink 10 times when you click on it
  • Make a Police Car (use 2 BlinkBlocks), and have its lights flash back and forth
  • Add a sprite that turns it on but only at 50% brightness