84 lines
4.1 KiB
Markdown
84 lines
4.1 KiB
Markdown
# Device
|
||
|
||
All the bits and pieces that make up your BBC micro:bit
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
### LED Screen and Status LED
|
||
|
||
The red lights are [LEDs](/device/screen) (light emitting diodes) and form a 5 x 5 LED Screen.
|
||
They can be set to on/off and the brightness can be controlled.
|
||
|
||
The yellow light on the back of the micro:bit is the status LED.
|
||
It flashes yellow when the system wants to tell the user that something has happened.
|
||
|
||
### Buttons
|
||
|
||
Buttons A and B are a form of input. When you press a button, it completes an electrical circuit.
|
||
The micro:bit can detect either of its two buttons being pressed and un-pressed and be programmed
|
||
to act on that or send the information to another device.
|
||
|
||
Button R on the back of the micro:bit is a system button. It has different uses.
|
||
When you have downloaded and run your code onto your micro:bit, press Button R to restart and run your program from the beginning.
|
||
|
||
When you plug in your micro:bit, it should appear as MICROBIT.
|
||
If you accidentally hold down the reset button as you’re plugging in your micro:bit,
|
||
the micro:bit will appear as a MAINTENANCE drive instead of MICROBIT. This is known as maintenance mode.**
|
||
|
||
To continue programming your micro:bit YOU MUST unplug your USB and reconnect it. Check that the drive now shows as MICROBIT.
|
||
|
||
**Use with caution. If you click on the drive while it shows as MAINTENANCE,
|
||
you can see which version of firmware you have running on your micro:bit.
|
||
Firmware on your micro:bit should be up-to-date already.
|
||
You can find the version of firmware in the 'version.txt' file on the micro:bit. Further information on the firmware can be found here:
|
||
|
||
https://developer.mbed.org/platforms/Microbit/#firmware
|
||
|
||
### Compass
|
||
|
||
The compass can detect magnetic fields such as the Earth’s magnetic field.
|
||
As the micro:bit has this compass, it is possible to detect the direction it is moving in.
|
||
The micro:bit can detect where it is facing and movement in degrees.
|
||
This data can be used by the micro:bit in a program or be sent to another device.
|
||
|
||
### Accelerometer
|
||
|
||
There is a an accelerometer on your micro:bit which detects changes in the micro:bit’s speed.
|
||
It converts analogue information into digital form that can be used in micro:bit programs.
|
||
Output is in milli-g. The device will also detect a small number of standard actions e.g. shake, tilt and free-fall.
|
||
|
||
### Pins
|
||
|
||
The pins can be a form of input or output.
|
||
There are labels for the input/output pins P0, P1, P2, which you can attach external sensors to such as thermometers or moisture detectors.
|
||
You can read more about large and small pins [here](/device/pins).
|
||
|
||
### How do I connect the micro:bit to my computer?
|
||
|
||
Your micro:bit can be connected to your computer via a micro USB cable.
|
||
Data can be sent and received between the micro:bit and the computer so programs
|
||
can be downloaded from Windows, Macs and Chromebooks onto the micro:bit via this USB data connection.
|
||
You can read more information on how to run scripts on your micro:bit [here](/device/usb),
|
||
and about the error messages you might get [here](/device/error-codes).
|
||
|
||
### Powering your micro:bit
|
||
|
||
When your micro:bit is connected to your computer with the micro USB, it doesn’t need another power source.
|
||
When your micro:bit isn’t connected to your computer, tablet or mobile, you will need 2 x AAA 1.5 V batteries to power it.
|
||
|
||
The pins labelled 3V and GND are the power supply pins.
|
||
You can attach an external device such as a motor to these and power it using the battery or USB.
|
||
|
||
### Bluetooth Low Energy Antenna
|
||
|
||
You will see the label BLE ANNTENA on the back of your micro:bit. It is for a messaging service,
|
||
so that devices can talk to each other. The micro:bit is a peripheral
|
||
device which can talk to a central device like a smart phone or tablet that has Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
|
||
The micro:bit can send signals and receive signals from a central device so another BLE device can
|
||
control the micro:bit or the micro:bit can control another BLE device.
|
||
|
||
### Technical Information
|
||
|
||
The micro:bit has been designed to be a bare-board micro controller for use by children aged 11-12.
|
||
More information is available at the [BBC web site](http://www.microbit.co.uk/device).
|