Kaleidoscope Eyes (Trinket-Powered NeoPixel LED Ring Goggles)

by Phillip Burgess and Richard Albritton

published September 13, 2013, last edited January 22, 2025

posted in LEDs/ LED Pixels Arduino Compatibles/ Trinket Arduino Compatibles/ Adafruit GEMMA Wearables

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187

Intermediate

Project guide

CircuitPython Code

If using a Trinket M0 board (not the earlier “AVR” type), you have the option of using CircuitPython instead of Arduino. Once installed, it’s usually easier to program this way.

Trinket M0 Setup for CircuitPython

If you haven't already, follow this guide to preparing the Trinket M0, including updating it with the latest version of CircuitPython.

CircuitPython Goggles Code

With CircuitPython properly installed (the Trinket should show up as a small flash drive called “CIRCUITPY” when connected to USB), you can then load up the goggles code.

Click the “Download Project Bundle” below. This will download a ZIP file containing the project code and required libraries. Uncompress the ZIP file, look in the folder corresponding to the version of CircuitPython you installed, then drag the “code.py” file and the “lib” directory to the CIRCUITPY drive. It should then start running automatically (though the pixels will only light when a battery is also connected).

Download Project Bundle

Copy Code

# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2017 Mikey Sklar for Adafruit Industries
#
# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT

#
# Kaleidoscope_Eyes_NeoPixel_LED_Goggles.py
#
import time

import board
import neopixel

try:
    import urandom as random  # for v1.0 API support
except ImportError:
    import random

numpix = 32  # Number of NeoPixels
pixpin = board.D0  # Pin where NeoPixels are connected

mode = 0  # Current animation effect
offset = 0  # Position of spinny eyes

rgb_colors = ([255, 0, 0],  # red
              [0, 255, 0],  # green
              [0, 0, 255])  # blue

rgb_idx = 0  # index counter - primary color we are on
color = rgb_colors[rgb_idx]
prevtime = 0

pixels = neopixel.NeoPixel(pixpin, numpix, brightness=.3, auto_write=False)

prevtime = time.monotonic()

while True:
    i = 0
    t = 0

    # Random sparks - just one LED on at a time!
    if mode == 0:
        i = random.randint(0, (numpix - 1))
        pixels[i] = color
        pixels.write()
        time.sleep(0.01)
        pixels[i] = (0, 0, 0)

    # Spinny wheels (8 LEDs on at a time)
    elif mode == 1:
        for i in range(0, numpix):
            c = 0

            # 4 pixels on...
            if ((offset + i) & 7) < 2:
                c = color

            pixels[i] = c  # First eye
            pixels[(numpix - 1) - i] = c  # Second eye (flipped)

        pixels.write()
        offset += 1
        time.sleep(0.05)

    t = time.monotonic()

    if (t - prevtime) > 8:  # Every 8 seconds...
        mode += 1  # Next mode
        if mode > 1:  # End of modes?
            mode = 0  # Start modes over

        if rgb_idx > 2:  # reset R-->G-->B rotation
            rgb_idx = 0

        color = rgb_colors[rgb_idx]  # next color assignment
        rgb_idx += 1

        for i in range(0, numpix):
            pixels[i] = (0, 0, 0)

        prevtime = t

# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2017 Mikey Sklar for Adafruit Industries
#
# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT

#
# Kaleidoscope_Eyes_NeoPixel_LED_Goggles.py
#
import time

import board
import neopixel

try:
    import urandom as random  # for v1.0 API support
except ImportError:
    import random

numpix = 32  # Number of NeoPixels
pixpin = board.D0  # Pin where NeoPixels are connected

mode = 0  # Current animation effect
offset = 0  # Position of spinny eyes

rgb_colors = ([255, 0, 0],  # red
              [0, 255, 0],  # green
              [0, 0, 255])  # blue

rgb_idx = 0  # index counter - primary color we are on
color = rgb_colors[rgb_idx]
prevtime = 0

pixels = neopixel.NeoPixel(pixpin, numpix, brightness=.3, auto_write=False)

prevtime = time.monotonic()

while True:
    i = 0
    t = 0

    # Random sparks - just one LED on at a time!
    if mode == 0:
        i = random.randint(0, (numpix - 1))
        pixels[i] = color
        pixels.write()
        time.sleep(0.01)
        pixels[i] = (0, 0, 0)

    # Spinny wheels (8 LEDs on at a time)
    elif mode == 1:
        for i in range(0, numpix):
            c = 0

            # 4 pixels on...
            if ((offset + i) & 7) < 2:
                c = color

            pixels[i] = c  # First eye
            pixels[(numpix - 1) - i] = c  # Second eye (flipped)

        pixels.write()
        offset += 1
        time.sleep(0.05)

    t = time.monotonic()

    if (t - prevtime) > 8:  # Every 8 seconds...
        mode += 1  # Next mode
        if mode > 1:  # End of modes?
            mode = 0  # Start modes over

        if rgb_idx > 2:  # reset R-->G-->B rotation
            rgb_idx = 0

        color = rgb_colors[rgb_idx]  # next color assignment
        rgb_idx += 1

        for i in range(0, numpix):
            pixels[i] = (0, 0, 0)

        prevtime = t

Page last edited January 22, 2025