LED Drawing with Virtual Shields

In this sample, we will connect an RGB LED strip to an Arduino and draw colors using a Windows 10 phone over Bluetooth using Windows Virtual Shields for Arduino.

Components

You will need the following components :

• an Arduino UNO or compatible

• a Digital RGB LED Weatherproof Strip - LPD8806 32 LED - (1m))

• a SparkFun Bluetooth Modem - BlueSMiRF Silver](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12577)

• solder and a soldering iron

• 20 red/black/green/yellow wires at 6 inches length each (5 sets of 4 colors).

• a picture frame

• a 8x11” paper drawing from an artistic family member, friend or yourself

Connect to your Device

• Follow the instructions at this Arduino repository to set up your Arduino.

• Follow the instructions at this Universal repository to set up your Windows Phone.

Modify the RGB strip

The RGB LED strips come with 48 LEDs in a strip.

• Carefully split apart the RGB strips at the seams so that you have 6 strips of 8 lights.
• Keeping the power connector (and other original wires) at the bottom right of the 6 strips,
• … solder wires between the splits so that the ends are reconnected through the wires.

Upload to your device

• In the Arduino IDE (set up from Connect to your Device : Arduino), choose the menu item File->Examples->VirtualShield->RGB-LED Draw.

• Upload to your Arduino.

See it run

• The phone will show a grid of gray blocks. Each block represents a pixel on the picture backing. On the right is a set of colors to choose from. 
• Touch a color (i.e. Blue). The "Set All" button should turn to your color indicating it is ready to draw.
• Slowly start drawing on the grid. The blocks will change to that color on the phone, and the RGB pixels will update on the frame.
• The "Set All" button clears the grid to the chosen color.

Here’s what’s happening…

• The Windows 10 phone only has an app which responds to requests from the Arduino sketch. The app is currently sideloaded, however will be provided as a free app in the app store when available.
• The Arduino sketch creates a grid of rectangles using the screen.fillRectangle() method (of Virtual Shields.Graphics). When those rectangles get the pointer entered/exit or tapped events, they change to the selected color while also updating the RGB LED strip.