Import the Libraries

First, the libraries are imported.

import time
import board
import neopixel
import touchio
import usb_hid
from adafruit_hid.keyboard import Keyboard
from adafruit_hid.keyboard_layout_us import KeyboardLayoutUS
from adafruit_hid.keycode import Keycode

Setup the NeoPixels

Then, the NeoPixels are setup. The four onboard NeoPixels can be accessed with board.NEOPIXEL.

#  setup for onboard neopixels
pixel_pin = board.NEOPIXEL
num_pixels = 4

pixels = neopixel.NeoPixel(pixel_pin, num_pixels, brightness=0.05, auto_write=False)

Setup the Capacitive Touch Inputs

The two capacitive touch pads are accessed with board.TOUCH1 and board.TOUCH2. They're setup as touch inputs with the touchio library.

#  setup for cap touch pads
top_touch = touchio.TouchIn(board.TOUCH1)
bot_touch = touchio.TouchIn(board.TOUCH2)

Setup for HID

keyboard is setup as the USB HID keyboard object. Zoom uses the ALT key for a lot of its built-in shortcuts, so alt_key is setup as a variable to hold Keycode.ALT.

#  HID keyboard input setup
keyboard = Keyboard(usb_hid.devices)
keyboard_layout = KeyboardLayoutUS(keyboard)
#  variable for the ALT key
alt_key = Keycode.ALT

NeoPixel Animation and Colors

The classic rainbow_cycle NeoPixel animation is included, followed by RED and GREEN RGB color values that will be used to show if your inputs are muted or unmuted.

#  rainbow cycle animation
def wheel(pos):
    # Input a value 0 to 255 to get a color value.
    # The colours are a transition r - g - b - back to r.
    if pos < 0 or pos > 255:
        return (0, 0, 0)
    if pos < 85:
        return (255 - pos * 3, pos * 3, 0)
    if pos < 170:
        pos -= 85
        return (0, 255 - pos * 3, pos * 3)
    pos -= 170
    return (pos * 3, 0, 255 - pos * 3)


def rainbow_cycle(wait):
    for j in range(255):
        for i in range(num_pixels):
            rc_index = (i * 256 // num_pixels) + j
            pixels[i] = wheel(rc_index & 255)
        pixels.show()
        time.sleep(wait)
        
#  variables for colors
RED = (255, 0, 0)
GREEN = (0, 255, 0)

State Machines

A few state machines are used in the loop and their functions are commented in the code.

#  state machines
#  cap touch debouncing
bot_pressed = False
top_pressed = False
#  default mute states
mic_mute = True
vid_mute = True
#  time.monotonic() tracker
clock = time.monotonic()
#  tracking for initiating an exit from the meeting
escape = False
escape_1 = False
escape_2 = False

The Loop and Touch Input Debouncing

The loop begins with some debouncing for the cap touch inputs.

while True:
    #  cap touch debouncing
    if not top_touch.value and top_pressed:
        top_pressed = False
    if not bot_touch.value and bot_pressed:
        bot_pressed = False

Setting the Mute, Unmute and Exit Colors

The mic_mute and vid_mute states affect whether the two corresponding NeoPixels are green or red.

#  if your mic is muted...
    if mic_mute:
        #  neopixels are red
        pixels[0] = RED
        pixels[1] = RED
        pixels.show()
    #  if your camera is muted...
    if vid_mute:
        #  neopixels are red
        pixels[2] = RED
        pixels[3] = RED
        pixels.show()
    #  if your mic is NOT muted...
    if not mic_mute:
        #  neopixels are green
        pixels[0] = GREEN
        pixels[1] = GREEN
        pixels.show()
    #  if your camera is NOT muted...
    if not vid_mute:
        #  neopixels are green
        pixels[2] = GREEN
        pixels[3] = GREEN
        pixels.show()

The escape state cues the start of the rainbow_cycle animation when you exit a meeting. It also resets the escape_1, escape_2, mic_mute and vid_mute states to their defaults.

#  if you are leaving the meeting...
    if escape:
        #  neopixels are rainbow
        rainbow_cycle(0)
        #  resets exit states
        escape = False
        escape_1 = False
        escape_2 = False
        mic_mute = True
        vid_mute = True

What Happens When You Press the Top Pad?

When you press the top touch pad, time.monotonic() is called to begin a time count. This is followed by a delay of 0.12 seconds. This tracks if you are holding the touch input for an exit. Otherwise, the code would go right to muting or unmuting your webcam.

#  if you press the top touch cap touch pad...
    if (top_touch.value and not top_pressed):
        top_pressed = True
        #  start time count for exit
        clock = time.monotonic()
        #  slight delay so that you don't automatically mute/unmute
        #  if your intent is to exit
        time.sleep(0.12)

If you are inputting a long press to trigger an exit from the meeting, the escape_1 state is set to True, which will begin initiating the exit. This also keeps your webcam's mute status unchanged so that you don't suddenly mute or unmute while you're leaving the meeting.

#  if after the delay you're still pressing the cap touch pad...
        if top_touch.value and top_pressed:
            print("escape top")
            #  initial escape state is set to true
            escape_1 = True

If you aren't inputting a long press, then the vid_mute status will change depending on the previous state and the shortcut for muting/unmuting the video (ALT+V) is sent. 

#  if you aren't still pressing the cap touch pad...
        else:
            #  if your camera was muted...
            if vid_mute:
                print("top")
                #  your camera is NOT muted
                vid_mute = False
                #  resets escape state just in case
                escape_1 = False
            #  if your camera was NOT muted...
            elif not vid_mute:
                print("top")
                #  your camera is muted
                vid_mute = True
                #  resets escape state just in case
                escape_1 = False
            #  sends camera mute/unmute shortcut
            keyboard.send(alt_key, Keycode.V)

The same logic is in place for the bottom capacitive touch input, which controls the microphone.

#  if you press the top touch cap touch pad...
    if (bot_touch.value and not bot_pressed):
        bot_pressed = True
        #  start time count for exit
        clock = time.monotonic()
        #  slight delay so that you don't automatically mute/unmute
        #  if your intent is to exit
        time.sleep(0.12)
        #  if after the delay you're still pressing the cap touch pad...
        if bot_touch.value and bot_pressed:
            print("escape bot")
            #  initial escape state is set to true
            escape_2 = True
        #  if you aren't still pressing the cap touch pad...
        else:
            #  if your mic was muted...
            if mic_mute:
                print("bot")
                #  your mic is NOT muted
                mic_mute = False
                #  resets escape state just in case
                escape_2 = False
            #  if your mic was NOT muted...
            elif not mic_mute:
                print("bot")
                #  your mic is muted
                mic_mute = True
                #  resets escape state just in case
                escape_2 = False
            #  sends mic mute/unmute shortcut
            keyboard.send(alt_key, Keycode.A)

The Great Escape

If you hold down both capacitive touch pads at the same time, escape is set to True after 2 seconds. This delay ensures no accidental exits from the meeting.

Then, the shortcut for exiting a meeting (ALT+Q) is sent, followed by a slight delay before sending the Enter key. Zoom puts up a confirmation window before you leave or end a meeting, so by sending Enter it fully automates your exit.

#  if you held down both cap touch pads and 2 seconds has passed...
    if ((clock + 2) < time.monotonic()) and (escape_1 and escape_2):
        print("escape")
        #  full escape state is set
        escape = True
        #  sends exit meeting shortcut
        keyboard.send(alt_key, Keycode.Q)
        #  brief delay for confirmation window to open
        time.sleep(0.1)
        #  sends enter to confirm meeting exit
        keyboard.send(Keycode.ENTER)

This guide was first published on Apr 27, 2021. It was last updated on Mar 29, 2024.

This page (CircuitPython Code Walkthrough) was last updated on Mar 08, 2024.

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