1. Classes for the microbit

See: https://www.w3schools.com/python/python_classes.asp

Practical examples of using classes in coding on the microbit are included below.

1.1. Pixel Classes

The code below blinks a pixel which moves as the microbit is tilted.
The acc_x_change() and acc_y_change() functions return the change in x and y as the microbit is tilted.
These are passed to the move method of the BlinkPixel object as in mypix.move(acc_x_change(), acc_y_change())
The move method uses min amd max to prevent the x or y values going outside the range 0 to 4, as seen in self.x_position = min(4, max(0, self.x_position + x_delta))

# BlinkPixel class with accelerometer
from microbit import *


class BlinkPixel:
    def __init__(self, x_position=2, y_position=2):
        self.x_position = x_position
        self.y_position = y_position

    def move(self, x_delta, y_delta):
        self.x_position = min(4, max(0, self.x_position + x_delta))
        self.y_position = min(4, max(0, self.y_position + y_delta))

    def blink(self):
        display.set_pixel(self.x_position, self.y_position, 5)
        sleep(50)
        display.set_pixel(self.x_position, self.y_position, 2)

def acc_x_change():
    sensitivity = 100
    accx = accelerometer.get_x()
    if accx < -sensitivity:
        xd = -1
    elif accx > sensitivity:
        xd = 1
    else:
        xd = 0
    return xd

def acc_y_change():
    sensitivity = 300
    accy = accelerometer.get_y()
    if accy < sensitivity:
        yd = -1
    elif accy > sensitivity:
        yd = 1
    else:
        yd = 0
    return yd

# Create an instance of a BlinkPixel object
mypix = BlinkPixel()

mypix.blink()
while True:
    mypix.move(acc_x_change(), acc_y_change())
    mypix.blink()
    sleep(200)

Tasks

Modify the code above to allow a button press to clear the display.
Modify the code above to just show the current pixel position and leave a trail.

1.2. Pixel animation using classes

The Class Pixel is used to create several Pixel objects used in the animation.

The definitions within the class allows easy use of methods to control the microbit LED brightness.

# Pixel class with animation
from microbit import *


class Pixel():
    def __init__(self, x=2, y=2):
        self.x = x
        self.y = y

    def intensity(self, brightness=9):
        display.set_pixel(self.x, self.y, brightness)

    def on(self, brightness=9):
        display.set_pixel(self.x, self.y, brightness)

    def off(self):
        display.set_pixel(self.x, self.y, 0)

pixel0 = Pixel(0, 2)
pixel1 = Pixel(1, 2)
pixel2 = Pixel(2, 2)
pixel3 = Pixel(3, 2)
pixel4 = Pixel(4, 2)

pixel2.on()
sleep(500)
pixel2.off()
sleep(500)

pixel_list = [pixel0, pixel1, pixel2, pixel3, pixel4]
pixel_list_rev = pixel_list.copy()
pixel_list_rev.reverse()

while True:
    for i in range(1, 10, 2):
        for pixelxy in pixel_list:
            pixelxy.intensity(i)
            sleep(40)
            pixelxy.off()
            sleep(10)
        for pixelxy in pixel_list_rev:
            pixelxy.intensity(i)
            sleep(40)
            pixelxy.off()
            sleep(10)
    for i in range(7, 0, -2):
        for pixelxy in pixel_list:
            pixelxy.intensity(i)
            sleep(40)
            pixelxy.off()
            sleep(10)
        for pixelxy in pixel_list_rev:
            pixelxy.intensity(i)
            sleep(40)
            pixelxy.off()
            sleep(10)

Tasks

Modify the code so that after the brightness increases from 1 to 9, it decreases smoothly back down to 1 before repeating.
Modify the code to use the middle column instead of the middle row.

1.3. Potentiometer Classes

A potentiometer can be connected to a microbit using a breadboard.

Create a class for the Potentiometer that makes it easy to:

get the potentiometer analog reading,

keep track of the last reading,

be able to tell if the potentiometer analog reading has changed

and to convert the reading to a particular range, such as, from 0 to 10.

The code below, first checks to see if the value of the potentiometer has changed, and then if it has, displays the value as a scaled value in the range 0 to 10 via display.show(pot.get_range(10)).
pot = Potentiometer() uses the default pin: pin0.
The pin is kept track of via the self.io_pin variable.
To use pin1 instead, use pot = Potentiometer(pin1) instead of pot = Potentiometer()
The line self.last_val = -1 sets last_val to be a value it cannot be, -1, so that the first reading will be recognised as a change.

# potentiometer using class
from microbit import *


class Potentiometer:
    def __init__(self, io_pin=pin0):
        self.io_pin = io_pin
        self.last_val = -1

    def get_val(self):
        return self.io_pin.read_analog()

    def was_changed(self):
        curr_val = self.get_val()
        if self.last_val != curr_val:
            self.last_val = curr_val
            return True
        else:
            return False

    def get_range(self, rng):
        analog_read = self.get_val()
        scaled = rng * (analog_read / 1023)
        return int(scaled)

# this defaults to pin0
# to use pinl1 instead use pot = Potentiometer(pin1)
pot = Potentiometer()
while True:
    if pot.was_changed():
        display.show(pot.get_range(10))

Tasks

Modify the code so there is a short sleep between potentiometer readings.
Modify the code so that the potentiometer only displays values from 0 to 5.

Tasks

Modify the code to use a potentiometer to set the image to display.

from microbit import *

images = [
    Image.ARROW_N,
    Image.ARROW_NE,
    Image.ARROW_E,
    Image.ARROW_SE,
    Image.ARROW_S,
    Image.ARROW_SW,
    Image.ARROW_W,
    Image.ARROW_NW,
]

img_num = 0
while True:
    display.show(images[img_num])

Modify the code to use a potentiometer to set the image to display.

from microbit import *

images = [
    Image.HAPPY,
    Image.SMILE,
    Image.SAD,
    Image.CONFUSED,
    Image.ANGRY,
    Image.ASLEEP,
    Image.SURPRISED,
    Image.SILLY,
    Image.FABULOUS,
    Image.MEH,
]

img_num = 0
while True:
    display.show(images[img_num])