Arduino LED Pong V2.0 - Let There Be LIGHT!

In this tutorial, I’ll guide you through my new and improved LED Pong Version 2.0. This updated design is only 6mm thick and significantly more affordable than my first version, as I plan to mass-produce it for one of my school’s ECA projects. I’ve also enhanced the gameplay: now you can hold down to charge an LED, and the longer you hold it, the faster it will bounce toward your opponent. Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience with Arduino, this guide will walk you through all the steps you need to get started!

Build Video

Design Video

Cad files

Supplies

Electronic Components:

Arduino Nano x 1 → Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Taobao
TP4056x 1 → Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Taobao
3.7v 200mAh Battery → Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Taobao
Push Buttons (6*6*4.3mm) x 2→ Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Taobao
SS12D00G3 3mm switch x 1→ Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Taobao
WS2812B 5V LED stripx 1 → Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Taobao
1810 speaker→ Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Taobao
Thin copper wire→ Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Taobao

Materials for Construction:

3mm Wood Sheets (at least 600mm wide and 200mm high)→ Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Taobao

Cut Out the Wood

Download the CAD file and cut out the main wood board Cad files

Insert the Buttons and Speaker

Gently insert the two push buttons using a rubber mallet, ensuring they fit securely. If they do not fit properly, adjust the tolerance of the hole dimensions in the wood. Make sure the buttons are oriented correctly.

Next, insert the speaker and ensure the wires are positioned in the correct direction.

Insert LED Strip

Cut a section of 7 LEDs from the addressable LED strip. Remove the 3M adhesive backing and carefully bend the ends so they fit through each of the slots. Make sure the arrows on the strip are pointing in the correct direction.

Next, insert the small switch.

Solder the GND Wires

Using a piece of copper wire, solder one of the push button LEDs to the GND terminal of the LED strip.

Next, solder the black ground wire from the speaker to one of the LED terminals on the power switch.

Solder 3PIN to D4,5,6

9. power to GND and 3 pins to LED strip.jpg

Solder three pins to digital ports 4, 5, and 6 on the Arduino Nano. Once soldered, bend the pins horizontally so they can be connected to the LED strip contacts for GND, DATA, and 5V.

Insert the switch pin into the GND port of the Arduino Nano.

Solder Speaker

10. Solder GND to LED strip for second push button.jpg

Solder the second leg of the button to GND.

Solder the positive wire of the speaker to digital pin 13.

Solder D2 to the push button.

Solder Button Sense Pins

Solder D2 to the right push button

Solder A1 to the left push button

Solder Battery Charger

Solder the positive and negative wires of the 3.7V battery to the TP4056 battery charger.

Using thicker wire, solder the positive wire to the 3-pin terminal of the power switch and the negative wire to VIN on the Arduino Nano.

Apply a small amount of hot glue under the charger and battery to secure them to the board.

Upload the Code

Plug in the board and open up Ardunio IDE to download the code,

If you are interested in the design process check out this video. Design Video

// Newson's Electronics

// October 20,2025

void (*resetFunc)(void) = 0;

unsigned long previousMillis = 0UL;

unsigned long interval = 500UL;

unsigned long storeInterval = 500UL;

int buttonState = 1;

int buttonState2 = 1;

#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>

// Which pin on the Arduino is connected to the NeoPixels?

// On a Trinket or Gemma we suggest changing this to 1:

#define LED_PIN 5

// How many NeoPixels are attached to the Arduino?

#define LED_COUNT 7

int soundA = 800;

int soundB = 1000;

int brightness = 5;

// Declare our NeoPixel strip object:

Adafruit_NeoPixel strip(LED_COUNT, LED_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

// --- Define colors as variables ---

uint32_t red = strip.Color(255, 0, 0);

uint32_t green = strip.Color(0, 255, 0);

uint32_t blue = strip.Color(0, 0, 255);

uint32_t yellow = strip.Color(255, 255, 0);

uint32_t purple = strip.Color(255, 0, 255);

uint32_t cyan = strip.Color(0, 255, 255);

uint32_t white = strip.Color(255, 255, 255);

const int button1 = A1; // the number of the pushbutton pin

const int button2 = 2; // the number of the pushbutton pin

int dir = 1;

int pos = 2;

int A = 1;

int B = 1; //no bounce

int score1 = 0;

int score2 = 0;

int bounce = 0;

// Argument 1 = Number of pixels in NeoPixel strip

// Argument 2 = Arduino pin number (most are valid)

// Argument 3 = Pixel type flags, add together as needed:

// NEO_KHZ800 800 KHz bitstream (most NeoPixel products w/WS2812 LEDs)

// NEO_KHZ400 400 KHz (classic 'v1' (not v2) FLORA pixels, WS2811 drivers)

// NEO_GRB Pixels are wired for GRB bitstream (most NeoPixel products)

// NEO_RGB Pixels are wired for RGB bitstream (v1 FLORA pixels, not v2)

// NEO_RGBW Pixels are wired for RGBW bitstream (NeoPixel RGBW products)

// setup() function -- runs once at startup --------------------------------

void setup() {

Serial.begin(9600);

pinMode(4, OUTPUT);

pinMode(6, OUTPUT);

digitalWrite(6, LOW);

digitalWrite(4, HIGH) ;

pinMode(button1, INPUT_PULLUP);

pinMode(button2, INPUT_PULLUP);

#if defined(__AVR_ATtiny85__) && (F_CPU == 16000000)

clock_prescale_set(clock_div_1);

#endif

// END of Trinket-specific code.

strip.begin(); // INITIALIZE NeoPixel strip object (REQUIRED)

strip.show(); // Turn OFF all pixels ASAP

strip.setBrightness(15); // Set BRIGHTNESS to about 1/5 (max = 255)

// up

for (int i = 0; i < LED_COUNT; i++) {

strip.setPixelColor(i, green);

strip.show();

delay(100);

}

// --- Turn off LEDs one by one (same direction) ---

for (int i = 0; i < LED_COUNT; i++) {

strip.setPixelColor(i, 0, 0, 0); // Turn LED off

strip.show();

delay(100);

}

// loop() function -- runs repeatedly as long as board is on ---------------

void scoreFlash() {

bounce = 0;

interval = storeInterval;

brightness = 5;

strip.setBrightness(brightness);

for (int i = 0; i <= 5; i++) {

if (pos < 0) strip.setPixelColor(0, red);

if (pos > 6) strip.setPixelColor(6, red);

strip.show();

delay(100);

//tone(8, 1000, 50);

tone(13, 100, 100);

strip.clear();

strip.show();

delay(100);

tone(13, 200, 100);

}

//show score 2

if (pos < 0){

for (int i = 0; i <= score2; i++)

strip.setPixelColor(LED_COUNT-i, blue);

strip.show();

delay(500);

}

//show score 1

if (pos == LED_COUNT){

for (int i = 0; i < score1; i++)

strip.setPixelColor(i, blue);

strip.show();

delay(500);

}

// winner flash

if (score1==7||score2==7)

{

for (int i = 0; i <= 10; i++) {

if (score1==7)strip.setPixelColor(0, blue);

if (score2==7)strip.setPixelColor((LED_COUNT-1), blue);

strip.show();

tone(13, 1440, 50);

delay(100);

strip.clear();

strip.show();

noTone(13);

delay(100);

}

rainbowCycle(50);

//reset the game

score1=0;

score2=0;

interval = 500UL;

storeInterval = 500UL;

}

// if winner

strip.clear();

delay(500);

}

int vccValue=0;

int vccValue2=0;

void loop() {

unsigned long currentMillis = millis();

buttonState = digitalRead(button1);

buttonState2 = digitalRead(button2);

Serial.print(buttonState);

Serial.print(",");

Serial.print(buttonState2);

Serial.print(score1);

Serial.print(",");

Serial.println(score2);

if (buttonState == 0 && pos > 2 && A == 1) {

dir = -1;

A = 0;

strip.setBrightness(5);

if (bounce == 1) {

bounce = 0;

interval = storeInterval;

}

if (interval > 40) interval = interval - 5;

if (pos == 6) {

//catch and hold

bounce = 1;

storeInterval = interval;

interval = 60;

while (buttonState == 0) {

buttonState = digitalRead(button1);

strip.setPixelColor(pos, blue);

brightness += 1;

if (brightness > 50) brightness = 0;

interval = 80 - brightness;

strip.setBrightness(brightness);

strip.show();

delay(50);

}

if (buttonState2 == 0 && pos < 4 && B == 1) {

dir = 1;

B = 0;

strip.setBrightness(5);

if (bounce == 1) {

bounce = 0;

interval = storeInterval;

}

if (interval > 40) interval = interval - 5;

if (pos == 0) {

bounce = 1;

storeInterval = interval;

interval = 60;

while (buttonState2 == 0) {

buttonState2 = digitalRead(button2);

strip.setPixelColor(pos, blue);

brightness += 1;

if (brightness > 50) brightness = 0;

interval = 80 - brightness;

strip.setBrightness(brightness);

strip.show();

delay(50);

}

//reset the push button can hold it down.

if (buttonState == 1) A = 1;

if (buttonState2 == 1) B = 1;

if (currentMillis - previousMillis > interval) {

strip.clear();

pos = pos + dir;

if (dir == 1) tone(13, soundB, 50);

if (dir == -1) tone(13, soundA, 50);

strip.setPixelColor(pos, green);

if (pos == 0 || pos == 6) strip.setPixelColor(pos, red);

//if (pos==1 || pos==5) strip.setPixelColor(pos, yellow);

if (bounce == 1) strip.setPixelColor(pos, blue);

strip.show();

if (pos > 6) {

dir = -1;

score1 += 1;

scoreFlash();

}

if (pos < 0) {

dir = 1;

score2 += 1;

scoreFlash();

}

previousMillis = currentMillis;

}

//strip.clear();

}

void rainbowCycle(uint8_t wait) {

for (int j = 0; j < 256; j++) { // cycle through color wheel

for (int i = 0; i < LED_COUNT; i++) {

int pixelHue = (i * 256 / LED_COUNT + j) & 255;

strip.setPixelColor(i, strip.gamma32(strip.ColorHSV(pixelHue * 256)));

}

strip.show();

delay(wait);

}