LogoChip Crash Course

Table of Contents:

Intro
Lesson 1 - Output Ports (Blinking an LED)
Lesson 2 - Using an External Editor (Controlling the LED)

Introduction

So you have a LogoChip huh? Wanting to know what you can do with it? Don't care what's going on in the 'chip but just want to be able to make full use of it? Well congratulations, this tutorial is exactly what you need!

Combining John Harrison's extensive knowledge, material from the LogoChip guides, help from fellow classmates, and my not-so-vast experience (I'm learning, too), I have (with no intention of stealing the lime-light away from John) prepared this set of

on-going tutorials to help people get up to speed with the LogoChip - focusing on how to do things, rather than being too technical. If you notice any errors, please bring it to my attention.

This tutorial assumes two things:

that you already have a working LogoChip. If you don't already have one, refer to the Getting Started manual for further instructions.
that you have established communication with the LogoChip to and from the computer. The Getting Started manual has covered this topic pretty much in-depth.

Before we go on, let's get some things clear...

What on earth is a LogoChip??

A LogoChip is basically a microcontroller equipped with the Logo firmware. It's similar to having a computer installed with software. Without the firmware, the LogoChip would be just like any other chip of
its kind.

So what is a microcontroller? For a start, it's something small (micro) and is able to control things, such as turn on lights or a motor, either by itself or by an external event, such as switches or sensors. To be able to peform such feats, it needs to b
e taught how. Yes, you need to tell the chip what to do and how to do it. These chips are pretty darn smart, and if you teach them well enough, they'll do exactly what you want them to do.

What can a LogoChip do?

When you connect something from the LogoChip, for example, an LED, you can tell the LogoChip to turn it on or off. You can also tell it how long to light and how soon to turn off. By controlling the timing of the LogoC

hip, you can create interesting effects.

You connect something you want the LogoChip to do to its output.

When you want the LogoChip to react to certain events, you attach switches or sensors to its input.
Based on what you tell it to do, it will know when to trigger specific outputs, and which ones.

All the thinking is done by the LogoChip. You just need to program it first, attach the inputs and outputs you need, and it will remember it forever (or at least, for a very long time).

Why must I connect my computer to the LogoChip?

The computer is used to compile instructions you want the LogoChip to do. It's neat because the computer provides a way for us to say it in a way that we, as humans, understand using the Logo language. The computer then gathers all the instructions th

at we picky humans had made and communicates with its distant cousin, the LogoChip. Apparently, they speak the same languange so it makes it easier for the computer to tell the LogoChip what to do.

The figure below sums up what I just said.

The LogoChip comes with a free software that can be downloaded here called the LogoChip Logo. (Yeah, I think it's confusing, too. How many Logos do they need?)

You use the software to allow communication between the LogoChip and the computer through a serial cable. Don't worry if you don't quite get it all. Suffice to say, that's all you need to know about how they speak to each other.

Great, now how do I teach a LogoChip?

Now that you know how it communicates, how do you tell it what to do? There are two ways to do this:

Type commands directly in the command-center of the LogoChip Logo interface.
Use an external editor such as Notepad or TextEdit and write longer commands called programs. You then download the file to your LogoChip using the LogoChip Logo software.

What else do I need to know? (a.k.a. are you done talking?)

(Fortunately, yes). That's enough for this lengthy intro. We'll learn more things as we go!

Let's go on with the fun stuff!

Click to proceed to Lesson 1