blink1

---

name: blink1 description: Use when controlling blink(1) USB LED device via blink1-tool CLI, setting RGB/HSB colors, fade transitions, patterns, blinking effects, multi-device/LED control, or Linux udev setup. Keywords: blink1-tool, ThingM, USB LED, notification light, RGB color, HSB, pattern, blink, fade, chase, glimmer.

blink(1) USB LED Control

Overview

blink1-tool controls ThingM blink(1) USB LED devices. Supports RGB/HSB colors, fade transitions, patterns, multi-device, and multi-LED (mk2+).

Quick Fix: If device not detected on Linux, run blink1-tool --add_udev_rules then replug. See Troubleshooting for details.

Version Compatibility

Feature	mk1	mk2	mk3
Multi-LED (top/bottom)	✗	✓	✓
Save pattern to flash	✗	✓	✓
Startup params	✗	v206+	✓
Bootloader access	✗	✗	✓
User notes	✗	✗	✓
LED count	1	2	2

Check firmware: blink1-tool --fwversion

Quick Reference

Action	Command
List devices	blink1-tool --list
Set RGB	blink1-tool --rgb=255,0,0 or --rgb=#FF0000
Set HSB	blink1-tool --hsb=<hue>,<sat>,<bri>
Preset colors	--red, --green, --blue, --cyan, --magenta, --yellow, --on (white), --off
Blink	blink1-tool --rgb=ff00ff --blink 3
Fade time	-m <ms> (default 300ms)
Delay between events	-t <ms> (default 500ms)
Random colors	blink1-tool --random=10
Play pattern	blink1-tool --playpattern '5,#ff0000,0.5,0,#00ff00,0.5,0'
Read color	blink1-tool --lastcolor
Firmware version	blink1-tool --fwversion

Quick Start (3 Steps)

# 1. 检测设备
blink1-tool --list           # 应显示设备ID

# 2. 设置颜色（验证工作）
blink1-tool --rgb=255,0,0    # 红灯亮起 = 成功

# 3. 关闭设备
blink1-tool --off

如果 Step 1 无输出 → 见 Troubleshooting

Color Control

RGB Values

# Decimal: R,G,B (0-255 each)
blink1-tool --rgb=255,0,255    # Magenta

# Hex (with or without #)
blink1-tool --rgb=#FF9900      # Orange
blink1-tool --rgb FF9900       # Same

HSB Values

# Hue (0-360), Saturation (0-100), Brightness (0-100)
blink1-tool --hsb=180,100,50   # Cyan at 50% brightness

Fade Transitions

# -m sets fade duration (milliseconds)
blink1-tool -m 100 --rgb=255,0,0   # Quick 0.1s fade to red
blink1-tool -m 2000 --rgb=0,255,0  # Slow 2s fade to green

Brightness Control

# -b sets brightness (0-255)
# 0 = use actual RGB values
# 1-255 = scale brightness (1=min, 255=max)
blink1-tool -b 50 --rgb=255,255,255   # Dim white
blink1-tool -b 200 --rgb=ff0000       # Bright red

# Or use HSB with brightness parameter
blink1-tool --hsb=0,100,25            # Red at 25% brightness

Blinking & Effects

Basic Blink

# Blink command LAST (timing set with -t and -m)
blink1-tool -t 200 -m 100 --rgb ff00ff --blink 5   # Purple, 5 times

Random Colors

blink1-tool --random          # One random color
blink1-tool -t 2000 --random=100   # Every 2s, 100 random colors

Glimmer Effect

# Soft flickering of set color
blink1-tool --rgb=0,0,255 --glimmer=10   # Blue glimmer 10 times

Chase (Multi-LED mk2+)

blink1-tool --chase                     # Forever chase
blink1-tool --chase=5,3,18              # 5 times, LEDs 3-18

Patterns

Pattern String Format

count,color,fade,delay,color,fade,delay,...

# Purple-green flash 10 times
blink1-tool --playpattern '10,#ff00ff,0.1,0,#00ff00,0.1,0'

# Write pattern to device
blink1-tool --writepattern '5,#ff0000,0.3,0.1,#000000,0.3,0.1'
blink1-tool --savepattern   # Save to flash (mk2+)

Pattern Management

blink1-tool --clearpattern   # Erase RAM pattern
blink1-tool --savepattern    # Save RAM to flash
blink1-tool --readpattern    # Download pattern as string
blink1-tool --play 1,0       # Play from position 0
blink1-tool --playstate      # Check play status

Multi-Device & Multi-LED

Device Selection

# First get device IDs
blink1-tool --list

# Select specific devices
blink1-tool -d all --rgb=ff0000     # All devices
blink1-tool -d 0,2 --rgb=00ff00     # 1st and 3rd device

LED Selection (mk2+)

# -l: 0=all, 1=top, 2=bottom
blink1-tool --led=2 --rgb=FF9900    # Bottom LED orange
blink1-tool --ledn 1,3,5,7          # Specific LED list

Device Setup (Linux)

# If device not detected, add udev rules
blink1-tool --add_udev_rules

# Then replug device

# Verify: blink1-tool --list should now show device

Options Summary

Option	Purpose
-d <ids>	Device IDs (from --list)
-l <led>	LED number: 0=all, 1=top, 2=bottom
-m <ms>	Fade time (default 300ms)
-t <ms>	Delay between events (default 500ms)
-g	Disable gamma correction
-b <0-255>	Brightness (0=real, 1-255 scaled)
-q	Quiet (mute output)
-v	Verbose debug

Troubleshooting

No Device Found

# Check if device is connected
blink1-tool --list

# If empty output:
# 1. Physical: check USB connection
# 2. Linux: run --add_udev_rules, replug, or try with sudo
# 3. Permission: user must be in plugdev group (may need restart)

Permission Denied (Linux)

# Option 1: Add udev rules (persistent)
blink1-tool --add_udev_rules
# Then replug device

# Option 2: Temporary sudo
sudo blink1-tool --list

# Option 3: Add user to plugdev group (persistent)
# If plugdev group doesn't exist:
sudo groupadd plugdev

# Add user to group:
sudo usermod -a -G plugdev $USER

# MUST restart system for group change to take effect
# (logout/login may not be sufficient)

udev Rules 与 plugdev 组的关系

取决于 udev rules 怎么写的：

# 查看当前 udev rules
grep -r "27b8" /etc/udev/rules.d/ 2>/dev/null
cat /etc/udev/rules.d/51-blink1.rules

udev 写法	是否需要 plugdev
GROUP="plugdev", MODE="0664"	✅ 必须
MODE="0666"	❌ 理论不需要（但实际可能仍需要）
TAG+="uaccess"	❌ 不需要（推荐现代写法）

注意：即使 MODE="0666"，某些发行版/配置仍要求用户在 plugdev 组。遇到权限问题，先尝试加入组。

推荐：用 TAG+="uaccess" 替代 GROUP 写法：

ATTRS{idVendor}=="27b8", ATTRS{idProduct}=="01ed", TAG+="uaccess"

uaccess 是 systemd/logind 的动态授权机制，当前登录用户自动获得设备权限。

验证设备权限

# 查找设备
lsusb | grep -i blink   # 如 Bus 001 Device 005

# 查看设备节点权限
ls -la /dev/bus/usb/001/005
# 看 GROUP 和权限位

Common Mistakes

Issue	Fix
Device not detected on Linux	Run --add_udev_rules, replug
Blink timing wrong	Put --blink LAST: --rgb X --blink N
Pattern blocks terminal	Pattern runs in blink1-tool - use background
Hex without # works	Both #FF9900 and FF9900 valid
mk2+ features on mk1	LED selection, savepattern require mk2+
Multiple devices conflict	Use -d 0 or -d all to specify target
Color looks washed out	Try -g to disable gamma correction