TEMT6000 Ambient Light Sensor Hookup Guide

Contributors: Michael Bartlett

Programming

Now we're finished with the hookup, it's time to upload some.

Using the mini-b USB cable, hook the RedBoard up to a computer with the Arduino IDE installed. Select the appropriate COM port, select Sparkfun RedBoard as your target device, and then upload the following code:

language:c
#define LEDPIN 11         //LED brightness (PWM) writing
#define LIGHTSENSORPIN A0 //Ambient light sensor reading 

void setup() {
  pinMode(LIGHTSENSORPIN,  INPUT);  
  pinMode(LEDPIN, OUTPUT);  
  Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
  float reading = analogRead(LIGHTSENSORPIN); //Read light level
  float square_ratio = reading / 1023.0;      //Get percent of maximum value (1023)
  square_ratio = pow(square_ratio, 2.0);      //Square to make response more obvious

  analogWrite(LEDPIN, 255.0 * square_ratio);  //Adjust LED brightness relatively
  Serial.println(reading);                    //Display reading in serial monitor
}

Once everything's uploaded, your LED should respond to the relative brightness that's exposed to the TEMT6000. Here's how the end result should look:

Try oscillating the TEMT6000 towards the RedBoard's green "ON" LED to see the change.