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4.1.12 Traffic Light¶

Introduction¶

In this project, we will use LED lights of three colors to realize the change of traffic lights and a four-digit 7-segment display will be used to display the timing of each traffic state.

Required Components¶

In this project, we need the following components.

It’s definitely convenient to buy a whole kit, here’s the link:

Name	ITEMS IN THIS KIT	LINK
Raphael Kit	337	Raphael Kit

You can also buy them separately from the links below.

COMPONENT INTRODUCTION	PURCHASE LINK
GPIO Extension Board	BUY
Breadboard	BUY
Jumper Wires	BUY
Resistor	BUY
LED	BUY
4-Digit 7-Segment Display	-
74HC595	BUY

Schematic Diagram¶

T-Board Name	physical	wiringPi	BCM
GPIO17	Pin 11	0	17
GPIO27	Pin 13	2	27
GPIO22	Pin 15	3	22
SPIMOSI	Pin 19	12	10
GPIO18	Pin 12	1	18
GPIO23	Pin 16	4	23
GPIO24	Pin 18	5	24
GPIO25	Pin 22	6	25
SPICE0	Pin 24	10	8
SPICE1	Pin 26	11	7

Experimental Procedures¶

Step 1: Build the circuit.

Step 2: Change directory.

cd ~/raphael-kit/python/

Step 3: Run.

sudo python3 4.1.12_TrafficLight.py

As the code runs, LEDs will simulate the color changing of traffic lights. Firstly, the red LED lights up for 60s, then the green LED lights up for 30s; next, the yellow LED lights up for 5s. After that, the red LED lights up for 60s once again. In this way, this series of actions will be executed repeatedly. Meanwhile, the 4-digit 7-segment display displays the countdown time continuously.

Code¶

Note

You can Modify/Reset/Copy/Run/Stop the code below. But before that, you need to go to source code path like raphael-kit/python. After modifying the code, you can run it directly to see the effect.

#!/usr/bin/env python3

import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
import time
import threading

#define the pins connect to 74HC595
SDI   = 24      #serial data input(DS)
RCLK  = 23     #memory clock input(STCP)
SRCLK = 18      #shift register clock input(SHCP)
number = (0xc0,0xf9,0xa4,0xb0,0x99,0x92,0x82,0xf8,0x80,0x90)

placePin = (10,22,27,17)
ledPin =(25,8,7)

greenLight = 30
yellowLight = 5
redLight = 60
lightColor=("Red","Green","Yellow")

colorState=0
counter = 60
timer1 = 0


def setup():
    GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
    GPIO.setup(SDI, GPIO.OUT)
    GPIO.setup(RCLK, GPIO.OUT)
    GPIO.setup(SRCLK, GPIO.OUT)
    for pin in placePin:
        GPIO.setup(pin,GPIO.OUT)
    for pin in ledPin:
        GPIO.setup(pin,GPIO.OUT)
    global timer1
    timer1 = threading.Timer(1.0,timer)
    timer1.start()

def clearDisplay():
    for i in range(8):
        GPIO.output(SDI, 1)
        GPIO.output(SRCLK, GPIO.HIGH)
        GPIO.output(SRCLK, GPIO.LOW)
    GPIO.output(RCLK, GPIO.HIGH)
    GPIO.output(RCLK, GPIO.LOW)

def hc595_shift(data):
    for i in range(8):
        GPIO.output(SDI, 0x80 & (data << i))
        GPIO.output(SRCLK, GPIO.HIGH)
        GPIO.output(SRCLK, GPIO.LOW)
    GPIO.output(RCLK, GPIO.HIGH)
    GPIO.output(RCLK, GPIO.LOW)

def pickDigit(digit):
    for i in placePin:
        GPIO.output(i,GPIO.LOW)
    GPIO.output(placePin[digit], GPIO.HIGH)

def timer():        #timer function
    global counter
    global colorState
    global timer1
    timer1 = threading.Timer(1.0,timer)
    timer1.start()
    counter-=1
    if (counter is 0):
        if(colorState is 0):
            counter= greenLight
        if(colorState is 1):
            counter=yellowLight
        if (colorState is 2):
            counter=redLight
        colorState=(colorState+1)%3
    print ("counter : %d    color: %s "%(counter,lightColor[colorState]))

def lightup():
    global colorState
    for i in range(0,3):
        GPIO.output(ledPin[i], GPIO.HIGH)
    GPIO.output(ledPin[colorState], GPIO.LOW)

def display():
    global counter

    a = counter % 10000//1000 + counter % 1000//100
    b = counter % 10000//1000 + counter % 1000//100 + counter % 100//10
    c = counter % 10000//1000 + counter % 1000//100 + counter % 100//10 + counter % 10

    if (counter % 10000//1000 == 0):
        clearDisplay()
    else:
        clearDisplay()
        pickDigit(3)
        hc595_shift(number[counter % 10000//1000])

    if (a == 0):
        clearDisplay()
    else:
        clearDisplay()
        pickDigit(2)
        hc595_shift(number[counter % 1000//100])

    if (b == 0):
        clearDisplay()
    else:
        clearDisplay()
        pickDigit(1)
        hc595_shift(number[counter % 100//10])

    if(c == 0):
        clearDisplay()
    else:
        clearDisplay()
        pickDigit(0)
        hc595_shift(number[counter % 10])

def loop():
    while True:
        display()
        lightup()

def destroy():   # When "Ctrl+C" is pressed, the function is executed.
    global timer1
    GPIO.cleanup()
    timer1.cancel()      #cancel the timer

if __name__ == '__main__': # Program starting from here
    setup()
    try:
        loop()
    except KeyboardInterrupt:
        destroy()

Code Explanation¶

SDI   = 24      #serial data input(DS)
RCLK  = 23     #memory clock input(STCP)
SRCLK = 18      #shift register clock input(SHCP)
number = (0xc0,0xf9,0xa4,0xb0,0x99,0x92,0x82,0xf8,0x80,0x90)
placePin = (10,22,27,17)

def clearDisplay():
def hc595_shift(data):
def pickDigit(digit):
def display():

These codes are used to realize the function of number display of 4-Digit 7-Segment. Refer to chapter 1.1.5 of the document for more details. Here, we use the codes to display countdown of traffic light time.

ledPin =(25,8,7)
colorState=0

def lightup():
    global colorState
    for i in range(0,3):
        GPIO.output(ledPin[i], GPIO.HIGH)
    GPIO.output(ledPin[colorState], GPIO.LOW)

The codes are used to switch the LED on and off.

greenLight = 30
yellowLight = 5
redLight = 60
lightColor=("Red","Green","Yellow")

colorState=0
counter = 60
timer1 = 0

def timer():        #timer function
    global counter
    global colorState
    global timer1
    timer1 = threading.Timer(1.0,timer)
    timer1.start()
    counter-=1
    if (counter is 0):
        if(colorState is 0):
            counter= greenLight
        if(colorState is 1):
            counter=yellowLight
        if (colorState is 2):
            counter=redLight
        colorState=(colorState+1)%3
    print ("counter : %d    color: %s "%(counter,lightColor[colorState]))

The codes are used to switch the timer on and off. Refer to chapter 1.1.5 for more details. Here, when the timer returns to zero, colorState will be switched so as to switch LED, and the timer will be assigned to a new value.

def setup():
    # ...
    global timer1
    timer1 = threading.Timer(1.0,timer)
    timer1.start()

def loop():
    while True:
        display()
        lightup()

def destroy():   # When "Ctrl+C" is pressed, the function is executed.
    global timer1
    GPIO.cleanup()
    timer1.cancel()      #cancel the timer

if __name__ == '__main__': # Program starting from here
    setup()
    try:
        loop()
    except KeyboardInterrupt:
        destroy()

In setup() function, start the timer. In loop() function, a while True is used: call the relative functions of 4-Digit 7-Segment and LED circularly.