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Name Sign Night Light

Name Sign Night Light

A NeoPixel sign spelling a name (the example is "JASON"), with a photo sensor on the back. When the room goes dark it stays lit for 10 minutes, then fades; buttons change the pattern.

Source book: Moving Rainbow
Kit page: https://dmccreary.github.io/moving-rainbow/kits/name-sign-night-light/
Printable one-pager: name-sign-night-light-one-pager.html

Features

  • All letters are the same color
  • The J might be red, A might be blue, S might be green, and so on
  • The letters are invisible
  • Only one letter lights up

Benefits

  • Free, open lessons: the Moving Rainbow textbook has the kit page, wiring, and MicroPython code.
  • Classroom friendly: built on a solderless breadboard or no-solder connectors.
  • Try before you build: an interactive MicroSim on the kit page runs in the browser.
  • Real-world data: students read sensors and turn measurements into decisions.
  • Budget: under $16.

Parts

  • Raspberry Pi Pico ($4) — Microcontroller
  • Momentary Push Buttons — Input button / switch
  • LDR Photoresistor — Sensor
  • WS2812B NeoPixels — LEDs
  • 830-Point Breadboard ($1.10) — Breadboard
  • Micro-USB Data Cable ($2.50) — Power and programming cable