CodeCell: Auto Dimming

In this build, we'll explore how to use the CodeCell to sense white light and automatically adjust the brightness of LEDs. This project demonstrates the CodeCell's onboard light sensor, helping you create responsive lighting effects that adapt to changing light conditions.

What You'll Learn

How to set up the CodeCell
How to write the code to read light levels and control LED brightness.
An understanding of how the CodeCell's VCNL4040 light sensor works.

About the CodeCell's Light Sensor

The CodeCell features a built-in VCNL4040 sensor that can measure both light levels and proximity up to 20 cm. This sensor uses I2C communication, and talks to the ESP32 in the CodeCell library, where the sensor is automatically initialized to optimize its sensing resolution. This makes the setup straightforward, so you can focus on building your project.

Ambient Light Sensing vs. White Light Sensing

The VCNL4040 sensor on the CodeCell is capable of both ambient light sensing and white light sensing, each serving distinct purposes:

Ambient Light Sensing: This mode measures the overall light intensity from all sources in the environment, including natural and artificial light. It's ideal for applications that require a general understanding of the light levels in a space, such as adjusting screen brightness or activating night mode in devices.
White Light Sensing: This mode specifically measures the intensity of white light, which is particularly useful when the goal is to assess light sources that resemble daylight or LED lighting. White light sensing is beneficial in scenarios where you want to distinguish between different lighting conditions, such as separating white light from other colored lights or in situations where accurate color temperature is important.

In this project, we're using the white light sensing feature to directly influence LED brightness based on the detected white light levels, creating a more targeted response compared to general ambient light sensing.

Project Overview

In this example, the CodeCell continuously measures ambient white light and adjusts the brightness of an onboard LED based on the detected light level. As the room gets darker, the LED will dim, providing a smooth transition that you can tweak and customize for your own lighting projects.

Code Example

Below is the example code to get you started. Make sure your CodeCell is connected properly, and follow the comments in the code to understand each step.


#include <CodeCell.h>

CodeCell myCodeCell;

void setup() {
    Serial.begin(115200); // Set Serial baud rate to 115200. Ensure Tools/USB_CDC_On_Boot is enabled if using Serial.
    myCodeCell.Init(LIGHT); // Initializes light sensing.
}

void loop() {
    delay(100); // Small delay - You can adjust it accordingly
    
    // Read white light from the sensor and adjust brightness for 8-bit
    uint16_t brightness = (myCodeCell.Light_WhiteRead()) >> 3; 
    Serial.println(brightness); // Print the brightness value to the serial monitor for debugging.

    // Limit the sensor values to the LED's brightness range (1 to 254)
    if (brightness == 0U) {
        brightness = 1U; // Set a minimum brightness to avoid turning off the LED completely
    } else if (brightness > 254U) {
        brightness = 254U; // Cap the brightness to the LED's maximum level
    }

    brightness = 255U - brightness; // Invert the brightness so the LED dims as it gets brighter
    myCodeCell.LED(0, 0, brightness); // Shine the onboard blue RGB LED with the new adjusted brightness
}

Tips for Customization

Adjust Brightness Sensitivity: Adjust the brightness limits based on your room's light levels.
Change LED Colors: The myCodeCell.LED() function allows you to specify RGB values. Try experimenting with different colors based on light levels.
Add More LEDs: Connect more LEDs or even NeoPixels for more lighting effects and adjust their brightness with the same technique.
Add Proximity Control: Add the proximity sensor to add more interactive effects, like depth gestures to act like a switching.

Conclusion

This project is just the starting point for utilizing the CodeCell's light-sensing capabilities. Dive into the code, make it your own, and light up your next project!