The light-up frame with Chibichip ---introducing the Love to Code

Hi everyone!
 I am showing you the new world of　"the Love to  Code” in this post.
 I used it in my first post here. I said “ I’ll show you how to play with Love to Code” someday in my blog.　

The Love to Code is a very friendly and new way to meet with coding for everyone even children and crafters never have coded.
 You can enjoy using the code examples provided at the Chibitronics website. So no worry. You can do it!

Today’s project is here!
The antenna of Chibi-robot is flashing!! And you can change the pattern of shining. I am telling you how to code the blinking.




I use Chibichip and Clip for this project. It has microcontroller preloaded love to code and the 6 pins that can be each different behaviors. It can work both output and input. For example, you can control the pattern of lightning or get information from the sensors. You can upload your own program to the Chibichip and it is rewritable. 

The Chibitronics website provides two ways for coding. Text coding and Block coding. Text Coding uses the fixed phrase for coding. It's simple and you can arrange it as you like. On the other hand, Block Coding uses block codes in combination. It is very useful for understanding the construction of the code. And it is easier for kids or the beginner to understand visually. I show you both ways today. So you can choose the one which you like.

I highly recommend that you use the code example on the Chibitronics website or Love to code booklet (You can download here too! )on your first challenge. So you can know the overview of the construction of the code and make arrangements stress-freely.

OK. Move on the next! 

I am showing you some pages from Love to Code in accordance with Creative Commons license.

It is the cover page of the Love to Code. It's a so fun book. 

<What you need>

The minimum things that you need to enjoy this project are the Chibi-chip and some devices like PC, tablet, or smartphone to programming, Internet connection, and power. 

 You make some circuits. Then you can code for making the pattern of shine as you like in your project. All instructions and advice are shown on the Website.

1. Make sure we’ve got an Internet connection. Open a web browser
 and go to: ltc.chibitronics.com

２． We start by opening Examples

＜In Text Coding＞

 Example> Love to Code Vol 1 > Basic Blink 

<In Block Coding>



Block coding >Love to Code > Blinky

3. Choose the code sample and make some arrangements if you want.

4. Upload the code to Chibichip. 

5. Clip the Chibitip on the Circuit. Make sure the connection straight linely.

6. You will see your light shine as you've programmed.

<Today's Circuit> I show you the circuits of today. It’s a simple one. Just one LED on it for the first challenge. You can use more lights of course!

I use this circuit connecting with Chibiclip. The positive side of the LED sticker is connected pin0 of Chibichip and the negative side is connected GND(ground) of Chibichip. Coding can control the pin0-5. For example, when the code says “on” to pin0, the pin0 voltage is set +3V. And current flow pin0 to GND. On the way of the path, the current makes the LED light shine. Conversely, when the code says "off " to pin0, the pin0 voltage is set 0V which is the same as the Ground. In this time the current does not flow from pin0 to GND. Because there is no difference between the voltages. (Pic)　It likes a flow of water. When there is a difference in the hight between two places, the current happens. But no current happens when there is no difference between the two sites.

I use a frame for my project. It was shown to you in my August post. It is able to change the circuit and picture having the connecting station with the circuits on its backside.

It looks different from before. But it is the same as before the circuit using a battery as power. (Pic) It just changes the shape and adds on the function. So you don’t need to be serious. You choose the code from example and try it. Just like that. Practice makes perfect!

If you are a very beginner and would like to learn more about coding, I recommend you Love to Code kit. It is the book through paper electronics: craft functional circuits directly into the pages of the included storybook. The adorable characters are telling you about coding and walking through with you in the story. When you have read the book, you had fallen in love with them.

Enjoy taking a step into the coding world!

<Supply List> ・Charge Me Up: Light Up Card Making Kit with Lawn Fawn ・Love to Code Creative Coding Kit or ・Love to Code Premounted Chibi Chip/Clip 　　・MegaPack of LEDs (30 stickers） ・Copper tape