Pico W passenger counter: PIR and four digits
MicroPython on a Pico W: each time a PIR sensor on GP16 sees someone, a pin interrupt adds one to the count on a four-digit display. The whole build, a Raspberry Pi Pico W and 7 more parts, runs here in your browser on the firmware below; open it in the editor to change the wiring or the code and run it again.
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Intermediate About 30 minutes to build and run. Runs in your browser. Free, and no account needed.
The parts retail for about $9.55. On Mokxi they're free.
What you'll learn
- Counting events with a pin interrupt
- Multiplexing a four-digit display
- Shifting bits out to a 74HC595 in MicroPython
- Persistence of vision
- Using a motion sensor's digital output
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Time: About 30 minutes
- Board: Raspberry Pi Pico W
- Parts: 11
How it works
A motion sensor on GP16 goes high when it sees someone. The Pico counts each rising edge with an interrupt, so every pass adds one to the total.
The total is shown on a four-digit display. The segments come from a 74HC595 shift register on GP18, GP19 and GP20. The four digit select pins on GP10 to GP13 turn one digit on at a time, so fast that all four look lit.
The program prints the count to the console whenever it changes.
Parts list
11 parts, plus the jumper wires. They retail for about $9.55; on Mokxi they're free.
- 1 × Raspberry Pi Pico W
- 1 × 74HC595 shift registerIn LED Cube Kit.
- 1 × Four-digit seven segment, multiplexed
- 4 × Resistor, 220 ΩIn Starter Kit, Claw Machine Kit, Halloween Prop Kit.
- 1 × Motion sensorIn Halloween Prop Kit.
- 3 × Power, 3.3 V
Kits that can build it
These 2 starter kits have every part in the circuit. Each kit's page lists what else it can build.
Wiring table
Every connection, pin by pin, read from the circuit itself. Each row joins the pin on the left to the pin on the right, by a jumper wire or a breadboard strip.
| Part and pin | Connects to |
|---|---|
| Resistor, 220 Ω (1) pin 2 | Raspberry Pi Pico W pin GP10 |
| Resistor, 220 Ω (2) pin 2 | Raspberry Pi Pico W pin GP11 |
| Resistor, 220 Ω (3) pin 2 | Raspberry Pi Pico W pin GP12 |
| Resistor, 220 Ω (4) pin 2 | Raspberry Pi Pico W pin GP13 |
| 74HC595 shift register pin SHCP | Raspberry Pi Pico W pin GP20 |
| 74HC595 shift register pin STCP | Raspberry Pi Pico W pin GP19 |
| 74HC595 shift register pin DS | Raspberry Pi Pico W pin GP18 |
| Motion sensor pin OUT | Raspberry Pi Pico W pin GP16 |
| Four-digit seven segment, multiplexed pin B | 74HC595 shift register pin Q1 |
| Four-digit seven segment, multiplexed pin C | 74HC595 shift register pin Q2 |
| Four-digit seven segment, multiplexed pin D | 74HC595 shift register pin Q3 |
| Four-digit seven segment, multiplexed pin E | 74HC595 shift register pin Q4 |
| Four-digit seven segment, multiplexed pin F | 74HC595 shift register pin Q5 |
| Four-digit seven segment, multiplexed pin G | 74HC595 shift register pin Q6 |
| Four-digit seven segment, multiplexed pin DP | 74HC595 shift register pin Q7 |
| 74HC595 shift register pin GND | Ground |
| 74HC595 shift register pin MR | 3.3 V |
| 74HC595 shift register pin OE | Ground |
| Four-digit seven segment, multiplexed pin A | 74HC595 shift register pin Q0 |
| 74HC595 shift register pin VCC | 3.3 V |
| Resistor, 220 Ω (4) pin 1 | Four-digit seven segment, multiplexed pin DIG4 |
| Resistor, 220 Ω (3) pin 1 | Four-digit seven segment, multiplexed pin DIG3 |
| Resistor, 220 Ω (2) pin 1 | Four-digit seven segment, multiplexed pin DIG2 |
| Resistor, 220 Ω (1) pin 1 | Four-digit seven segment, multiplexed pin DIG1 |
| Motion sensor pin VCC | 3.3 V |
| Motion sensor pin GND | Ground |
The code
The MicroPython code exactly as the editor opens it. Change a line there and press Run: the board runs it on the official MicroPython firmware, with nothing to compile.
# Passenger counter: every time the PIR on GP16 sees someone, its rising
# edge adds one, and the four-digit display shows the count.
from machine import Pin
import time
DIGITS = [0x3F, 0x06, 0x5B, 0x4F, 0x66, 0x6D, 0x7D, 0x07, 0x7F, 0x6F]
ds = Pin(18, Pin.OUT)
latch = Pin(19, Pin.OUT)
clock = Pin(20, Pin.OUT)
selects = [Pin(n, Pin.OUT, value=1) for n in (10, 11, 12, 13)] # digit 1 to 4
def segments(byte):
for i in range(7, -1, -1):
ds.value((byte >> i) & 1)
clock.value(1)
clock.value(0)
latch.value(1)
latch.value(0)
def show(text):
# text is four characters, digits or spaces, with an optional "." after
# one of them. Each digit is lit for a moment in turn, fast enough
# that the eye sees all four.
cells = []
for ch in text:
if ch == "." and cells:
cells[-1] |= 0x80
else:
cells.append(DIGITS[int(ch)] if ch.isdigit() else 0)
for n, byte in enumerate(cells[-4:]):
segments(byte)
selects[n].value(0)
time.sleep_ms(2)
selects[n].value(1)
count = 0
def passed(pin):
global count
count += 1
Pin(16, Pin.IN).irq(trigger=Pin.IRQ_RISING, handler=passed)
shown = -1
while True:
if count != shown:
shown = count
print("passengers", count)
show("%4d" % count)
Code walkthrough
The key functions of the sketch, and what each one does.
segments main.py
Sends one byte to the shift register. For each bit, from the top down, it sets the data pin, then pulses the clock. A pulse on the latch pin then copies the byte to the outputs, which lights the segments.
def segments(byte):
for i in range(7, -1, -1):
ds.value((byte >> i) & 1)
clock.value(1)
clock.value(0)
latch.value(1)
latch.value(0)show main.py
Takes four characters and turns them into segment bytes, with a decimal point added when a "." follows a digit. Then for each digit in turn, it sends its segments, pulls that digit's select pin low for 2 ms and releases it. Repeating this fast makes all four digits look steady.
def show(text):
# text is four characters, digits or spaces, with an optional "." after
# one of them. Each digit is lit for a moment in turn, fast enough
# that the eye sees all four.
cells = []
for ch in text:
if ch == "." and cells:
cells[-1] |= 0x80
else:
cells.append(DIGITS[int(ch)] if ch.isdigit() else 0)
for n, byte in enumerate(cells[-4:]):
segments(byte)
selects[n].value(0)
time.sleep_ms(2)
selects[n].value(1)passed main.py
The interrupt handler for the motion sensor. It adds one to the global count. The main loop picks up the new value and updates the display.
def passed(pin):
global count
count += 1Troubleshooting
The usual mistakes with this circuit, and the fix for each.
- The display flickers or only one digit shows This project
Each digit needs its own select pin: GP10, GP11, GP12 and GP13 in order, each through its 220 Ω resistor. - One pass counts more than once This project
The sensor output can stay high or pulse while it sees movement. Each new rising edge adds one. - Outputs show garbage, or the register never clears. 74HC595 shift register
Tie OE low and SRCLR (pin 10) high. Left floating, these pins make the chip behave randomly. Then pulse the latch pin after shifting the byte. - The bits come out in the wrong order, or LEDs are dim. 74HC595 shift register
Choose MSBFIRST or LSBFIRST in shiftOut to flip the order. Give each LED its own resistor, since each output can source only about 6 mA safely. - Digits look dim, flicker, or show ghosts of other digits. Four-digit seven segment
Refresh each digit quickly in a loop, at least 100 Hz for the whole set. Turn all segments off before switching digits. Do not use delay() for long pauses while displaying. - Segments burn out or the pins are overloaded. Four-digit seven segment
Use a resistor of about 220 ohms on each segment line. Check whether the display is common cathode or common anode, since that sets which level turns a segment on. - The LED is dim, burns out, or the pin reads wrong because the resistor value is off. Resistor
Read the color bands again. A 220 ohm to 330 ohm resistor suits a typical LED on 5 V. 10k is a common pull-up or pull-down value. Check with a multimeter if unsure. - A pull-up or pull-down resistor is missing, so the input floats and reads random values. Resistor
Tie the input to 5 V or ground through about 10k. Or use INPUT_PULLUP and wire the switch to ground.
Change it and keep it
Open it in the editor, change the circuit or the code, and keep your version in a free account.