The Calliope mini comes with several components that can be controlled.
Get to know the Calliope mini and see how you can read sensor data, control LEDs and sounds, and connect motors. Here is an overview of all sensors, inputs and outputs of the Calliope mini.
Inputs and Outputs
5x5 LED Matrix
Speaker
RGB LED V3
Buttons
Touch-Pins
Logo Touch-Pin V3
System
Grove
Motor-Pins | Pin Header V3
Jacdac V3
Battery connector
USB connector
Processor
Status LED
Reset Button
Flash V2
5x5 LED-Matrix
The red lights are called LEDs (from Light-Emitting Diodes). They form a 5x5 LED matrix and can be controlled individually.
RGB-Led
The RGB LED allows the display of countless colors mixed from Red, Green and Blue. The Calliope mini V3 has three RGB-LEDs.
Speaker
With the built-in speaker, you can play sound effects and music, or just make it beep - whatever your project needs.
Buttons
The Buttons A and B on the left and right of the LED-Matrix can be used to make inputs. When a button is pressed, a circuit is closed. The board can detect if only one or both buttons are pressed.
Touch-Pins
You can connect sensors, such as temperature or humidity sensors, to the pins labeled P0, P1, and P2 on the Calliope mini. They are also touch-sensitive, as you know from touchscreens.
You can use the corners labeled "+" and "-" to connect a battery via terminals or to output current to make an LED glow permanently.
Logo-Touch-Pin
The Calliope mini V3 has an additional touch pin in the form of the Calliope logo on the back.
Motion Sensor
The combined component next to Button A contains a compass, motion sensor, and accelerometer. This allows the Calliope mini to measure, for example, the direction and speed at which it is moving.
Compass
The combined component next to Button A contains a compass, motion sensor, and accelerometer. This allows the Calliope mini to measure, for example, the direction and speed at which it is moving.
Light Sensor
The light sensor measures the brightness of the environment using some of the red LEDs.
Temperature Sensor
The temperature sensor is able to measure the temperature in the environment, but because it is attached to the processor, the temperature is not completely accurate.
Microphone
The microphone can measure the volume of the environment as a sensor. The Calliope mini V3 can also record speech and sound.
Radio
You can send signals from one Calliope mini to another over the air to send messages.
Bluetooth
Tired of cables or want to work with your Calliope mini away from your computer? You can connect it to a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth and transfer data. It also works the other way around - the Calliope mini can trigger certain functions on your smartphone, just as you have programmed it.
Grove
Expansion modules can be connected to the two Grove connectors, allowing the Calliope mini to measure light, distance, or color. Just plug in and get started!
Motor-Pins | Pin Header
The Calliope mini V3 has an attached pin header that makes it easy to connect motors and extensions. This allows the Calliope mini to be quickly transformed into a robot or self-driving car.
Jacdac V3
The Jacdac connectors allow you to connect a wide variety of modules, and what's even better: in series! Connect buzzers, LED rings and controllers.
USB connector
The USB port on the top of your Calliope mini is the easiest way to transfer your own programs. Just connect the Calliope mini V3 to your computer using the USB-C cable or the Calliope mini V1+V2 using the Micro-USB cable cable and you're ready to go!
Batterie connector
You will need 2 AAA batteries. Plug the cable from your battery holder into the battery socket. Now you are mobile!
Processor
The processor in the lower left corner connects all the functions of your Calliope mini. It provides enough computing power for all your ideas and projects - and more! 👀
Status LED
The Calliope mini V3 has a yellow status LED that flashes when data is being transferred, and a red LED next to it that indicates when the Calliope mini is receiving power. Another red LED next to the microphone indicates when the Calliope mini microphone is in use.
Reset Button
The RESET Button restarts the current program on the Calliope mini. Pressing the RESET button of the Calliope mini V3 three times puts the Calliope mini into Bluetooth mode - the ID pattern appears on the LED matrix for this purpose.
Flash
The Calliope mini V2 also has an integrated flash memory on the 25 preinstalled programs.
The flash memory allows 25 individual programs to be stored on the Calliope mini and used at any time. You can learn how it works here here.