4-Digit Counter with micro:bit

Learn to use a 4 digit display with micro:bit

Featured

Written By: Cherie Tan
)">

Difficulty

Easy

Steps

13

Time Required

Introduction

Besides having the onboard LED display on the micro:bit, you can also add an external display to it.

In this guide, we will use the micro:bit and an external 4 digit display to create a counter. We will use the TMP1637 package in the MakeCode editor to do this.

After completing this guide, you will have gained a basic understanding of how to use a 4 digit display module with the micro:bit.

Tools

Add Tools to Cart

    • Before we begin, let's take a closer look at the 4-Digit LED Module! There are four pins:

      Clock Input (CLK) 

      Input/Output Serial Data (DIO)

      3.3V  : 'VCC' stands for Voltage Common Collector, we'll connect the VCC pin to 3.3V on the micro:bit

      GND: In electronics, we define a point in a circuit to be a kind of zero volts or 0V reference point, on which to base all other voltage measurements. This point is called  ground or GND.

    • Voltage is the difference in potential between two points. As it is difficult to talk about voltage without a reference point, we need another point to compare it to. 

    • It's now time to work on the code! For this module, we will need to add an extension or package. First, open up the MakeCode editor and start a new project

    • Click on Advanced > Extensions

    • In the search box, paste or type :  TM1637 

    • Click on the TM1637 package and it will be added to the MakeCode Editor 

  8. let tm: TM1637.TM1637LEDs = null
let item = 0
item = 0
tm = TM1637.create(
DigitalPin.P1,
DigitalPin.P2,
7,
4
)

    • Add this code to the Javascript interface in Makecode editor. 

  9. let tm: TM1637.TM1637LEDs = null
let item = 0
item = 0
tm = TM1637.create(
DigitalPin.P1,
DigitalPin.P2,
7,
4
)
basic.forever(function () {
    tm.showNumber(item)
    item += 1
    basic.pause(1000)
})

    • Replace the previous code with this in the Javascript interface. 

  10. let tm: TM1637.TM1637LEDs = null
let item = 0
input.onButtonPressed(Button.AB, function () {
    item = 0
})
item = 0
tm = TM1637.create(
DigitalPin.P1,
DigitalPin.P2,
7,
4
)
basic.forever(function () {
    tm.showNumber(item)
    item += 1
    basic.pause(1000)
})

    • Let's add a reset button to the counter. We will use a button on the micro:bit to do this. Replace the code in the Javascript interface with this code. 

  11. let tm: TM1637.TM1637LEDs = null
let item = 0
input.onButtonPressed(Button.AB, function () {
    item = 0
})
input.onButtonPressed(Button.B, function () {
    tm.off()
})
item = 0
tm = TM1637.create(
DigitalPin.P1,
DigitalPin.P2,
7,
4
)
basic.forever(function () {
    tm.showNumber(item)
    item += 1
    basic.pause(1000)
})

    • Next, let's make it so that when button B is pressed, the counter turns off. Replace the code with this.

  12. let tm: TM1637.TM1637LEDs = null
let item = 0
input.onButtonPressed(Button.AB, function () {
    item = 0
})
input.onButtonPressed(Button.B, function () {
    tm.off()
})
input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, function () {
    tm.on()
})
item = 0
tm = TM1637.create(
DigitalPin.P1,
DigitalPin.P2,
7,
4
)
basic.forever(function () {
    tm.showNumber(item)
    item += 1
    basic.pause(1000)
})

    • With the previous code, you could turn the counter off as well as reset it. But what about turning it on? Replace the code with this in the Javascript interface.

    • Finally, it's time to upload the code onto your micro:bit! Connect the micro:bit to your computer using a microUSB cable

    • In MakeCode editor, click on the Download button on the bottom left-hand corner 

    • Find the hex file in your Downloads folder or where you have saved it to

    • Open up Finder on the MacOS or Explorer on Windows, and drag the hex file into MICROBIT under 'Devices' on the macOS.

    • The micro:bit will flash for a few seconds and then you will see the counter display start up. Congratulations you have made your first mirco:bit counter. In summary, you can start the timer by pressing 'A', stop the timer from counting by pressing 'B' and finally reset it by pressing 'A+B' at the same time.