Ambient Light Sensor

[nathangoss]

Hi Guys!

Am looking to add an ambient light sensor to the RPI_Wordclock.

I can see a fair bit of brightness-related code in wordclock_plugins/time_default/plugin.py however can't seem to work out the best place to incorporate changes based on readings from a light sensor.

Has anybody thought about this?

Thanks,

Nathan

[bk1285]

Hi @nathangoss

nice idea to integrate that!

Querry the brightness from your sensor within the while-loop: https://github.com/bk1285/rpi_wordclock/blob/master/wordclock_plugins/time_default/plugin.py#L79

... and update the brighness value: wcd.setBrightness(your_value_within_the_range_0_to_255)

before the wordclock display is updated in line 89: https://github.com/bk1285/rpi_wordclock/blob/master/wordclock_plugins/time_default/plugin.py#L89

Which light sensor do you have in mind? Would be great to hear about your progress! :)

Regards, Bernd

[phenze]

Hi @bk1285 @nathangoss , i will do this this within the next few weeks.

I will use the following light sensor: http://www.ebay.de/itm/Lichtsensor-Fotowiderstand-/291751650665?hash=item43edc0e569:g:ugkAAOSwMNxXZKqY

I keep you informed about the results.

[phenze]

I got things working with this sensor: https://www.adafruit.com/product/439

it pretty easy because there are libraries which can be used. Of course the normal brightness stuff has then to be deactivated.

I will try to integrate that in the wordclock config and then publish the code.

[bk1285]

... would be great to see your solution, @euchkatzl ;) Ideally mergeable via pull-request ;)

[phenze]

@bk1285 f6a82d5b1428beb95e0b0bb857dce6a46558f2da Finally i got it ;)

This Library must be uses to read out the sensor : https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_Python_GPIO

[HeerNMeester]

I got your code working with the same sensor @euchkatzl. However with the typewriter plug-in, every time the ammount of LUX changes, the time is written again. Creating a very 'busy' clock. This forces me to disable the typewriter plug-in.

[spintike]

@euchkatzl Thanks a lot for the input you've given so far. I tried to implement your solution into my working example (by copying 'plugin.py' from your commit over my already working one) but I'm always receiving an error when running the script:

Any idea how I can debug the time_default plugin or what I'm doing wrong?

EDIT: Ok, I got it going...just had to copy the whole plugin.py to my folder and it worked :-)

[FrankX0]

Hi Bernd,

Did you consider to put the ambient light sensor support in the source? I am using the implementation of @phenze which works fine for the wordclock plugin. But the other plugins do not use this brightness settings. And I'm using a different sensor (BH1750), which means I had to adapt the code a bit. So an ambient sensor implementation which

1. Works for all plugins, and which
2. Supports a configurable sensor

Would be very welcome.

[bk1285]

Strange, that the other plugins do not adopt this. I just ordered the sensor and will look into it. ... keep you updated, @FrankX0 @phenze

[phenze]

Hi @bk1285 / @FrankX0 ,

i have merged the current master branch of bernd in my fork. https://github.com/phenze/rpi_wordclock.

I like the changes and the new web interface. Great work !

[bk1285]

Hi all,

before starting the integration, I'd like to clarify the requirements for the light sensor.

So far I have on my list...:

• Setting of global brightness -- independent from the chosen plugin
• Handling of the measured brightness
  • Since we can also set the brightness via API, I'm considering to introduce an "auto-brightness" mode, which relies on the measured brightness from the sensor.
  • Via API, one can enable or disable the "auto-brightness" mode, in order to manually set a brightness value
• Additionally, I plan to integrate @cibears PR to optionally specify a period of time per day, where the clock uses a predefined low brightness -- independent from the light sensor values: E.g. standby at night...

Did I miss further aspects?

Best, Bernd

@FrankX0 @phenze @cibear

[Arjan444]

Hi Bernd,

Love your Clock. Working on my 5th.

The first 4 all have the TSL 2561 ambient light sensor (thanks Phenze). Did anyone already produce a version (a Beta maybe) of an integrated version of the latest software including this (or similar) ambient sensor?

Very much appreciated. Best, Arjan

@bk1285 @FrankX0 @phenze

[bk1285]

Hi @Arjan444 good to hear, that you like the clock! :)

Recently, I refactored the wordclock display. Changes are currently on develop branch. Especially the way of handling the brightness was reworked.

The remaining work is to read out the current ambient light intensity and set the brightness accordingly.

Best, Bernd

[phenze]

Hi my Master is on the actual Master of Bernd. Ambient Light Sensor should work.

[Arjan444]

Ok. Thanks. I use the TSL 2591. Maybe it requires different library.

[Arjan444]

Hi @bk1285 and @phenze,

In both of your Masters my TSL2591 ambient light sensor does not do anything. I have it working in my other clocks but with the new wordclock display code and all I'm not sure how to fix it...I just hope one of you has a version in which it does work.....

Thank you,

Arjan444

[Arjan444]

@bk1285 and @phenze,

Could it be that the wordclcok code is written in Python 2.7 and that Adafruit GPIO libraries are V3 only?

Thanks

[bk1285]

Please take a look at the latest documentation to see how the ambient light sensor can be integrated: https://rpi-wordclock.readthedocs.io/en/main/doc_software_setup.html#optional-brightness-sensor