Lesson 1

Blink LED

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to write a program that blinks an LED!

Write Code (Java)

Copy the code below into the project you created. If you don't have a project or forgot how to create one, revisit the Configure section.

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package gettingstarted;

//Add Phidgets Library 
import com.phidget22.*;

public class GettingStarted {
    //Handle Exceptions 
    public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception{

        //Create 
        DigitalOutput redLED = new DigitalOutput();

        //Address 
        redLED.setHubPort(1);
        redLED.setIsHubPortDevice(true);

        //Open 
        redLED.open(1000);

        //Use your Phidgets 
        while(true){
            redLED.setState(true);
            Thread.sleep(1000);
            redLED.setState(false);
            Thread.sleep(1000);
        }
    }
}

  
//Add Phidgets Library 
import com.phidget22.*;

public class GettingStarted {
    //Handle Exceptions 
    public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception{

        //Create 
        DigitalOutput redLED = new DigitalOutput();

        //Address 
        redLED.setHubPort(1);
        redLED.setIsHubPortDevice(true);

        //Open 
        redLED.open(1000);

        //Use your Phidgets 
        while(true){
            redLED.setState(true);
            Thread.sleep(1000);
            redLED.setState(false);
            Thread.sleep(1000);
        }
    }
}

  
//Add Phidgets Library 
import com.phidget22.*;

//Define
DigitalOutput redLED;

void setup(){
  try{
    
    //Create 
    redLED = new DigitalOutput();
    
    //Address 
    redLED.setHubPort(1);
    redLED.setIsHubPortDevice(true);
    
    //Open 
    redLED.open(1000);
    
  }catch(Exception e){
    //Handle Exceptions 
    e.printStackTrace();
  }
}

void draw(){
  try{
    
    //Use your Phidgets 
    redLED.setState(true);
    delay(1000);
    redLED.setState(false);
    delay(1000);
    
  }catch(Exception e){
    //Handle Exceptions 
    e.printStackTrace();
  }
}

Write Code (Python)

Copy the code below into the project you created. If you don't have a project or forgot how to create one, revisit the Configure section.

Not your programming language? Set your preferences so we can display relevant code examples

  
#Add Phidgets Library 
from Phidget22.Phidget import *
from Phidget22.Devices.DigitalOutput import *
#Required for sleep statement
import time

#Create 
redLED = DigitalOutput()

#Address 
redLED.setHubPort(1)
redLED.setIsHubPortDevice(True)

#Open 
redLED.openWaitForAttachment(1000)

#Use your Phidgets 
while(True):
    redLED.setState(True)
    time.sleep(1)
    redLED.setState(False)
    time.sleep(1)

Write Code (C#)

Copy the code below into the project you created. If you don't have a project or forgot how to create one, revisit the Configure section.

Not your programming language? Set your preferences so we can display relevant code examples

  
//Add Phidgets Library 
using Phidget22;

namespace GettingStarted{
    class Program{
        static void Main(string[] args){
            
            //Create 
            DigitalOutput redLED = new DigitalOutput();

            //Address 
            redLED.HubPort = 1;
            redLED.IsHubPortDevice = true;

            //Open 
            redLED.Open(1000);

            //Use your Phidgets 
            while (true)
            {
                redLED.State = true;
                System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(1000);
                redLED.State = false;
                System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(1000);
            }
        }
    }
}

Write Code (Swift)

Create two buttons in your window and copy the code below into the project you created. If you don't have a project or forgot how to create one, revisit the Configure section.

Not your programming language? Set your preferences so we can display relevant code examples

Create two buttons

  
import Cocoa
//Add Phidgets Library 
import Phidget22Swift

class ViewController: NSViewController {

    //Create 
    let redLED = DigitalOutput()
    
    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()
        do{
            //Address 
            try redLED.setHubPort(1)
            try redLED.setIsHubPortDevice(true)
            
            //Open 
            try redLED.open()
        }catch{
            print(error)
        }
    }
    
    @IBAction func turnLEDOn(_ sender: Any) {
        do{
            //Use your Phidgets 
            try redLED.setState(true)
        }catch{
            print(error)
        }
    }
    
    @IBAction func turnLEDOff(_ sender: Any) {
        do{
            //Use your Phidgets 
            try redLED.setState(false)
        }catch{
            print(error)
        }
    }   
}

Run Your Program

You will see the red LED blink.

Run Your Program

You will see the red LED blink.

Run Your Program

You will see the red LED blink.

Run Your Program

Click on the buttons to turn the red LED on and off.

Practice

Modify your code so the LED stays on for 2 seconds.
Modify your code so the LED flashes on and off 3 times.
Modify your code to flash the green LED. (Hint: Address)

Solutions available for educators. Email us for access.

Practice

Modify your code so the LED stays on for 2 seconds.
Modify your code so the LED flashes on and off 3 times.
Modify your code to flash the green LED. (Hint: Address)

Solutions available for educators. Email us for access.

Practice

Modify your code so the LED stays on for 2 seconds.
Modify your code so the LED flashes on and off 3 times.
Modify your code to flash the green LED. (Hint: Address)

Solutions available for educators. Email us for access.

Practice

Modify your code so only one button is used to turn the LED on and off.
Modify your code to flash the green LED. (Hint: Address)

Solutions available for educators. Email us for access.

Troubleshoot

I am getting a "Timed Out" exception.

Make sure the USB cable from your VINT Hub to your computer is attached properly.
Make sure you are connected to the correct port on your VINT Hub. In this case your red LED should be connected to port 1.
Make sure no other program is running that uses Phidgets. If a Phidget is already in use in another program, it will be busy and won't respond to this one.

I can't see the LED flash.

The LED flash is quick, make sure you are looking the the Getting Started Kit when you run your program.
If you think you have a defective LED, try swapping it out for another (a classmates or the green LED). If you do have a defective LED, take one from your classroom's spare kits or contact us.
If you are using PyCharm make sure you have the correct script selected. Sometimes, if you have more than one Python file in your project, you may be running the wrong script. You can select the script from the drop-down menu in the top right corner.

Still having issues?

Visit the Advanced Troubleshooting Page or contact us (education@phidgets.com).

Back to Getting Started Tutorial Next: Lesson 2

Blink LED

Write Code (Java)

Write Code (Python)

Write Code (C#)

Write Code (Swift)

Run Your Program

Run Your Program

Run Your Program

Run Your Program

Practice

Practice

Practice

Practice

Troubleshoot

What are Phidgets?

Getting Started

Device Tutorials

Projects

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