KY-011 2-Color 5mm LED

This LED module contains two LEDs in the colors red and green, which are connected to each other via a common cathode. This means that both LEDs share the same negative connection, which simplifies the circuit. The LEDs require a forward voltage between 2.0 V and 2.5 V and operate at a current of 20 mA.

This module is ideal for applications where colored signals or status indicators are required. By combining red and green, you can display different states or information by illuminating either one of the two colors or both at the same time.

The module is ideal for projects where visual feedback is important, such as in control and monitoring systems where the display of operating states or warning signals is required. Its compact size and easy integration make it a practical and versatile component for a wide range of applications.

Series resistors:

Depending on the input voltage, series resistors are required.

Pin assignment

1. Code example: ON/OFF

This code example shows how the integrated LEDs can be changed alternately, every 3 seconds, by means of a definable output pin.

To load the following code example onto your Pico, we recommend using the Thonny IDE. All you have to do first is go to Run > Configure interpreter ... > Interpreter > Which kind of interpreter should Thonny use for running your code? and select MicroPython (Raspberry Pi Pico).

Now copy the code below into your IDE and click on Run.

# Load libraries
from machine import Pin, PWM
from time import sleep

# Initialization of GPIO27 and GPIO28 as output
Red = Pin(28, Pin.OUT)
Green = Pin(27, Pin.OUT)
    
while True:
    # green light
    Green.value(1)
    Red.value(0)
    sleep(3)
    # red light
    Green.value(0)
    Red.value(1)
    sleep(3)
    # Deactivate LED
    Green.value(0)
    Red.value(0)
    sleep(3)
    # Activate both LEDs
    Green.value(1)
    Red.value(1)
    sleep(3)
    # Deactivate LED
    Green.value(0)
    Red.value(0)
    sleep(3)

2. Code example: PWM

By means of pulse width modulation [PWM], the brightness of an LED can be regulated - in this process, the LED is switched on and off at specific time intervals, with the ratio of the switch-on and switch-off time corresponding to a relative brightness. Due to the inertia of human vision, human eyes interpret such on/off behavior as a change in brightness. More information on this topic can be found in this article from mikrokontroller.net.

Several LEDs are integrated in this module - different colors can thus be created by superimposing different brightness levels. This is shown in the following code example.

To load the following code example onto your Pico, we recommend using the Thonny IDE. All you have to do first is go to Run > Configure interpreter ... > Interpreter > Which kind of interpreter should Thonny use for running your code? and select MicroPython (Raspberry Pi Pico).

Now copy the code below into your IDE and click on Run.

# Load libraries
import machine
import math

# Initialization of GPIO27 and GPIO28 as PWM pin
ledGreen = machine.PWM(machine.Pin(27))
ledGreen.freq(1000)
ledRed = machine.PWM(machine.Pin(28))
ledRed.freq(1000)

# Definition of a 2 digit list
RBG = [0,0]

# Function: Color space calculation for red and green 
# Green is 90° offset to red
def sinColour(number):
    a = (math.sin(math.radians(number))+1)*32768
    c = (math.sin(math.radians(number+90))+1)*32768
    RBG = (int(a),int(c))
    return RBG

# Infinite loop where the color value for all two colors is shifted by 0.01 again and again
a = 0

while True:
    RBG = sinColour(a)
    a = a + 0.01
    if a == 360:
        a = 0
    ledRed.duty_u16(RBG[0])
    ledGreen.duty_u16(RBG[1])