littleBits

The littleBits temperature sensor responds to the temperature surrounding its probe. The higher the temperature it senses, the more signal it sends out. The temperature sensor determines temperature via the IC that is located on top of the board. It communicates via I2C with an MCU located on the bottom of the board. The MCU gets a temperature reading in Celcius, applies a hysteresis to the reading, then converts it to farenheit if necessary. The final determined temperature is converted to a number module readable analog value. Every 50mV on the output of the bitsnap represents a single degree in either Farenheit or Celcius. Since heat will conduct through the board itself, there are slots around around the temperature sensor which provide thermal relief from board conductivity. Not Waterproof: littleBits are not waterproof. Please do not put the temperature sensor in your mouth to take your temperature. Plus, they taste weird so you will wish you hadn’t.

Think of the littleBits threshold as a toll booth for signal passing through your circuit. The threshold compares the incoming voltage coming from the bit snapped before it against the voltage amount you’ve set by the threshold knob. If the incoming voltage value is greater than the selected voltage, the threshold will allow the signal to pass and activate any bits (lights, motors, etc…) following it. If not, then nothing will be activated. Use it to make any sensor module into a trigger module! The threshold is a minimum parts count design, using only a single opamp to accomplish the task of comparing the input signal to an onboard reference that is set via the potentiometer control. U1 is configured as a non-inverting comparator with approximately 100mV of hysteresis provided by R1 and R3. VR1 provides the comparator's reference. C1 is a bypass capacitor for U1 that sources current to the opamp during fast switching events.

The timeout Bit is a settable timer. Try it after a button and follow it with a light. Press and release the button to start the countdown. In "on-off" mode, the light will go on as soon as you release the button and the timer will start counting down to turn-off time. In "off-on" mode, the light will go out when you release the button and will turn back on after the timer reaches the allotted time. Use the included screwdriver to set the timer. Try it with a motion sensor and buzzer to create an intruder alarm!

The toggle switch Bit is sturdy on/off switch that you can use to activate your creations with a nice, solid click. Try using it after a USB power Bit as an on/off switch for your whole creation.