3.2 Custom Tone

We have used active buzzer in the previous project, this time we will use passive buzzer.

Like the active buzzer, the passive buzzer also uses the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction to work. The difference is that a passive buzzer does not have oscillating source, so it will not beep if DC signals are used. But this allows the passive buzzer to adjust its own oscillation frequency and can emit different notes such as “doh, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti”.

Let the passive buzzer emit a melody!

Schematic

sch_buzzer

When the GP15 output is high, after the 1K current limiting resistor (to protect the transistor), the S8050 (NPN transistor) will conduct, so that the buzzer will sound.

The role of S8050 (NPN transistor) is to amplify the current and make the buzzer sound louder. In fact, you can also connect the buzzer directly to GP15, but you will find that the buzzer sound is smaller.

Wiring

img_buzzer

Two buzzers are included in the kit, we use a passive buzzer (one with an exposed PCB on the back).

The buzzer needs a transistor to work, here we use S8050.

wiring_buzzer

Code

Note

  • Open the 3.2_custom_tone.py file under the path of euler-kit/micropython or copy this code into Thonny, then click “Run Current Script” or simply press F5 to run it.

  • Don’t forget to click on the “MicroPython (Raspberry Pi Pico)” interpreter in the bottom right corner.

  • For detailed tutorials, please refer to Open and Run Code Directly.

import machine
import utime

buzzer = machine.PWM(machine.Pin(15))

def tone(pin,frequency,duration):
    pin.freq(frequency)
    pin.duty_u16(30000)
    utime.sleep_ms(duration)
    pin.duty_u16(0)

tone(buzzer,440,250)
utime.sleep_ms(500)
tone(buzzer,494,250)
utime.sleep_ms(500)
tone(buzzer,523,250)

How it works?

If the passive buzzer given a digital signal, it can only keep pushing the diaphragm without producing sound.

Therefore, we use the tone() function to generate the PWM signal to make the passive buzzer sound.

This function has three parameters:

  • pin, the GPIO pin that controls the buzzer.

  • frequency, the pitch of the buzzer is determined by the frequency, the higher the frequency, the higher the pitch.

  • Duration, the duration of the tone.

We use the duty_u16() function to set the duty cycle to 30000(about 50%). It can be other numbers, and it only needs to generate a discontinuous electrical signal to oscillate.

Learn More

We can simulate the specific tone according to the fundamental frequency of the piano, so as to play a complete piece of music.

Note

  • Open the 3.2_custom_tone_2.py file under the path of euler-kit/micropython or copy this code into Thonny, then click “Run Current Script” or simply press F5 to run it.

  • Don’t forget to click on the “MicroPython (Raspberry Pi Pico)” interpreter in the bottom right corner.

  • For detailed tutorials, please refer to Open and Run Code Directly.

import machine
import utime

NOTE_C4 = 262
NOTE_G3 = 196
NOTE_A3 = 220
NOTE_B3 = 247

melody =[NOTE_C4,NOTE_G3,NOTE_G3,NOTE_A3,NOTE_G3,NOTE_B3,NOTE_C4]

buzzer = machine.PWM(machine.Pin(15))

def tone(pin,frequency,duration):
    pin.freq(frequency)
    pin.duty_u16(30000)
    utime.sleep_ms(duration)
    pin.duty_u16(0)

for note in melody:
    tone(buzzer,note,250)
    utime.sleep_ms(150)