Xmas Gadget
Note
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Kit purchase
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Name |
Includes ESP32 board |
PURCHASE LINK |
|---|---|---|
ESP32 Ultimate Starter Kit |
ESP32 WROOM 32E + |
|
Universal Maker Sensor Kit |
Course Introduction
In this project, we use an Arduino Nano ESP32 drives a MAX7219 LED matrix and buzzer to display animated Christmas patterns with synchronized music, triggered by an obstacle sensor.
Note
If this is your first time working with an Arduino project, we recommend downloading and reviewing the basic materials first.
Required Components
In this project, we need the following components:
SN |
COMPONENT INTRODUCTION |
QUANTITY |
PURCHASE LINK |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Arduino Nano ESP32 |
1 |
|
2 |
USB Type-C cable |
1 |
|
3 |
Breadboard |
1 |
|
4 |
Wires |
Several |
|
5 |
IR Obstacle Avoidance Sensor Module |
1 |
|
6 |
MAX7219 Dot Matrix Module |
1 |
|
7 |
Buzzer Modudle |
1 |
Wiring
Common Connections:
MAX7219 Dot Matrix Module
CLK: Connect to D13 on the ESP32.
CS: Connect to D10 on the ESP32.
DIN: Connect to D11 on the ESP32.
GND: Connect to GND on the ESP32 Extension Board
VCC: Connect to 5V on the ESP32 Extension Board.
Buzzer Module
I/0: Connect to D2 on the ESP32.
＋: Connect to breadboard’s red power bus.
－: Connect to 3.3V on the ESP32 Extension Board.
IR Obstacle Avoidance Sensor Module
OUT: Connect to D8 on the ESP32.
GND: Connect to GND on the ESP32 Extension Board
VCC: Connect to 3.3V on the ESP32 Extension Board.
Writing the Code
Note
Before you begin, you need to upload the pitches.h library to your Arduino. Copy the contents of the library into the Arduino IDE, save it as pitches.h and then upload it to your Arduino.
#define NOTE_B0 31
#define NOTE_C1 33
#define NOTE_CS1 35
#define NOTE_D1 37
#define NOTE_DS1 39
#define NOTE_E1 41
#define NOTE_F1 44
#define NOTE_FS1 46
#define NOTE_G1 49
#define NOTE_GS1 52
#define NOTE_A1 55
#define NOTE_AS1 58
#define NOTE_B1 62
#define NOTE_C2 65
#define NOTE_CS2 69
#define NOTE_D2 73
#define NOTE_DS2 78
#define NOTE_E2 82
#define NOTE_F2 87
#define NOTE_FS2 93
#define NOTE_G2 98
#define NOTE_GS2 104
#define NOTE_A2 110
#define NOTE_AS2 117
#define NOTE_B2 123
#define NOTE_C3 131
#define NOTE_CS3 139
#define NOTE_D3 147
#define NOTE_DS3 156
#define NOTE_E3 165
#define NOTE_F3 175
#define NOTE_FS3 185
#define NOTE_G3 196
#define NOTE_GS3 208
#define NOTE_A3 220
#define NOTE_AS3 233
#define NOTE_B3 247
#define NOTE_C4 262
#define NOTE_CS4 277
#define NOTE_D4 294
#define NOTE_DS4 311
#define NOTE_E4 330
#define NOTE_F4 349
#define NOTE_FS4 370
#define NOTE_G4 392
#define NOTE_GS4 415
#define NOTE_A4 440
#define NOTE_AS4 466
#define NOTE_B4 494
#define NOTE_C5 523
#define NOTE_CS5 554
#define NOTE_D5 587
#define NOTE_DS5 622
#define NOTE_E5 659
#define NOTE_F5 698
#define NOTE_FS5 740
#define NOTE_G5 784
#define NOTE_GS5 831
#define NOTE_A5 880
#define NOTE_AS5 932
#define NOTE_B5 988
#define NOTE_C6 1047
#define NOTE_CS6 1109
#define NOTE_D6 1175
#define NOTE_DS6 1245
#define NOTE_E6 1319
#define NOTE_F6 1397
#define NOTE_FS6 1480
#define NOTE_G6 1568
#define NOTE_GS6 1661
#define NOTE_A6 1760
#define NOTE_AS6 1865
#define NOTE_B6 1976
#define NOTE_C7 2093
#define NOTE_CS7 2217
#define NOTE_D7 2349
#define NOTE_DS7 2489
#define NOTE_E7 2637
#define NOTE_F7 2794
#define NOTE_FS7 2960
#define NOTE_G7 3136
#define NOTE_GS7 3322
#define NOTE_A7 3520
#define NOTE_AS7 3729
#define NOTE_B7 3951
#define NOTE_C8 4186
#define NOTE_CS8 4435
#define NOTE_D8 4699
#define NOTE_DS8 4978
Note
You can copy this code into Arduino IDE.
Don’t forget to select the board(Arduino Nano ESP32) and the correct port before clicking the Upload button.
// Arduino Nano ESP32 - Obstacle Triggered Christmas LED + Melody
// - MAX7219 8x8 LED matrix (bit-bang driver, ESP32 compatible)
// - Obstacle sensor triggers animation + melody
// - Buzzer plays melody while LED brightness "breathes"
// Wiring is provided below the sketch.
#include "pitches.h"
// -------------------- Pin definitions (Nano ESP32) --------------------
const int sensorPin = 2; // Obstacle sensor digital output pin
const int buzzerPin = 8; // Buzzer pin (use a PWM-capable pin if possible)
// MAX7219 pins (match your previous reference wiring)
#define DIN 11 // MAX7219 DIN
#define CS 10 // MAX7219 CS/LOAD
#define CLK 13 // MAX7219 CLK
// -------------------- Minimal MAX7219 Driver (ESP32 compatible) --------------------
class MAX7219_8x8 {
public:
MAX7219_8x8(int din, int clk, int cs) : _din(din), _clk(clk), _cs(cs) {}
void begin(uint8_t intensity /*0..15*/) {
pinMode(_din, OUTPUT);
pinMode(_clk, OUTPUT);
pinMode(_cs, OUTPUT);
digitalWrite(_cs, HIGH);
digitalWrite(_clk, LOW);
// MAX7219 init sequence
sendCmd(0x0F, 0x00); // Display test: off
sendCmd(0x09, 0x00); // Decode mode: none
sendCmd(0x0B, 0x07); // Scan limit: 0..7 (8 digits)
sendCmd(0x0C, 0x01); // Shutdown: normal operation
setIntensity(intensity);
clear();
}
void setIntensity(uint8_t intensity) {
if (intensity > 15) intensity = 15;
sendCmd(0x0A, intensity);
}
void clear() {
for (int row = 0; row < 8; row++) setRow(row, 0x00);
}
// row: 0..7, data bits are columns (bit0 = col0)
void setRow(uint8_t row, uint8_t data) {
sendCmd(row + 1, data);
}
// Column write compatible with LedControl::setColumn()
// col: 0..7, data bits are rows (bit0 = row0)
void setColumn(uint8_t col, uint8_t data) {
for (int r = 0; r < 8; r++) {
bool on = (data >> r) & 0x01;
if (on) _rowBuf[r] |= (1 << col);
else _rowBuf[r] &= ~(1 << col);
}
for (int r = 0; r < 8; r++) setRow(r, _rowBuf[r]);
}
void clearBuffered() {
for (int r = 0; r < 8; r++) _rowBuf[r] = 0;
clear();
}
private:
int _din, _clk, _cs;
uint8_t _rowBuf[8] = {0};
void shiftOut16(uint8_t reg, uint8_t data) {
// MSB first: reg then data
for (int i = 7; i >= 0; i--) {
digitalWrite(_clk, LOW);
digitalWrite(_din, (reg >> i) & 1);
digitalWrite(_clk, HIGH);
}
for (int i = 7; i >= 0; i--) {
digitalWrite(_clk, LOW);
digitalWrite(_din, (data >> i) & 1);
digitalWrite(_clk, HIGH);
}
digitalWrite(_clk, LOW);
}
void sendCmd(uint8_t reg, uint8_t data) {
digitalWrite(_cs, LOW);
shiftOut16(reg, data);
digitalWrite(_cs, HIGH);
}
};
MAX7219_8x8 lc(DIN, CLK, CS);
// -------------------- LED matrix patterns --------------------
byte treePattern[8] = {
B00010000, B00111000, B01111100, B11111110,
B00111000, B01111100, B11111110, B00111000
};
byte sockPattern[8] = {
B11111000, B11111000, B01110000, B01110000,
B01111000, B01111110, B01111111, B01111111
};
byte bellPattern[8] = {
B00000010, B00011100, B00111100, B11111100,
B00111000, B01010000, B00010000, B00000000
};
byte bellMirror[8] = {
B01000000, B00111000, B00111100, B00111111,
B00011100, B00001010, B00001000, B00000000
};
byte hatPattern[8] = {
B00001100, B00011110, B00111101, B01111000,
B01111000, B01111000, B11111100, B11111100
};
byte letterX[8] = {
B10000001, B01000010, B00100100, B00011000,
B00011000, B00100100, B01000010, B10000001
};
byte letterM[8] = {
B10000001, B11000011, B10100101, B10011001,
B10000001, B10000001, B10000001, B10000001
};
byte letterA[8] = {
B00111100, B01100110, B11000011, B11000011,
B11111111, B11000011, B11000011, B11000011
};
byte letterS[8] = {
B00111110, B01100000, B01100000, B00111100,
B00000110, B00000110, B01100110, B00111100
};
// -------------------- Melody (stored in flash) --------------------
// On ESP32, PROGMEM is supported by Arduino core.
// We will read values with pgm_read_word().
const int melody[] PROGMEM = {
NOTE_E4, NOTE_E4, NOTE_E4, NOTE_E4, NOTE_E4, NOTE_E4,
NOTE_E4, NOTE_G4, NOTE_C4, NOTE_D4, NOTE_E4,
NOTE_F4, NOTE_F4, NOTE_F4, NOTE_F4, NOTE_F4, NOTE_E4, NOTE_E4, NOTE_E4, NOTE_E4,
NOTE_E4, NOTE_D4, NOTE_D4, NOTE_E4, NOTE_D4, NOTE_G4
};
const int noteDurations[] PROGMEM = {
6, 6, 3, 6, 6, 3,
6, 6, 6, 6, 3,
6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6,
6, 6, 6, 6, 3, 3
};
// -------------------- Display function (same orientation logic as your original) --------------------
void displayPattern(const byte pattern[8]) {
lc.clearBuffered();
for (int col = 0; col < 8; col++) {
// Reverse order to keep the original orientation
lc.setColumn(col, pattern[7 - col]);
}
}
// -------------------- Breathing effect synchronized with melody --------------------
void breathingEffectWithMelody(const byte pattern[8],
const int* melodyProgmem,
const int* durationProgmem,
int noteStart,
int noteCount) {
int currentNote = noteStart;
unsigned long previousMillis = 0;
const int breathIntervalMs = 30;
int brightness = 0;
bool increasing = true;
for (int i = 0; i < noteCount; i++) {
int durDiv = (int)pgm_read_word(&durationProgmem[currentNote]);
int freq = (int)pgm_read_word(&melodyProgmem[currentNote]);
// Convert duration divider into milliseconds
int noteDurationMs = 1200 / durDiv;
// Play note
tone(buzzerPin, freq, noteDurationMs);
unsigned long startTime = millis();
while (millis() - startTime < (unsigned long)(noteDurationMs * 1.30f)) {
unsigned long now = millis();
if (now - previousMillis >= (unsigned long)breathIntervalMs) {
previousMillis = now;
lc.setIntensity((uint8_t)brightness);
displayPattern(pattern);
if (increasing) {
brightness++;
if (brightness >= 15) { brightness = 15; increasing = false; }
} else {
brightness--;
if (brightness <= 0) { brightness = 0; increasing = true; }
}
}
}
noTone(buzzerPin);
currentNote++;
}
}
void setup() {
pinMode(sensorPin, INPUT); // Set obstacle sensor pin as input
pinMode(buzzerPin, OUTPUT); // Set buzzer pin as output
lc.begin(8); // Init MAX7219 with medium intensity
lc.clearBuffered();
}
void loop() {
// Trigger when obstacle is detected (your original logic: LOW means detected)
if (digitalRead(sensorPin) == LOW) {
// Use safer type: pointer to an 8-byte array
byte (*patterns[9])[8] = {
&treePattern, &sockPattern, &bellPattern, &bellMirror,
&hatPattern, &letterX, &letterM, &letterA, &letterS
};
const int notesPerPattern = 3;
const int totalNotes = 26;
const int lastPatternNotes = totalNotes - (notesPerPattern * 8);
for (int i = 0; i < 9; i++) {
int noteStart = i * notesPerPattern;
int noteCount = (i == 8) ? lastPatternNotes : notesPerPattern;
if (noteCount > 0) {
breathingEffectWithMelody(*patterns[i], melody, noteDurations, noteStart, noteCount);
}
}
lc.clearBuffered(); // Clear display after completion
}
delay(100); // Prevent frequent triggers
}