File content as of revision 0:cde34c55fa20:

#include "mbed.h"

#define NUMBER_OF_PIXELS 50
#define PADDLE_LENGTH    5

void Randomblinks(float seconds, bool colored = false);
void PaddleDemo(float seconds, uint8_t red, uint8_t green, uint8_t blue);

uint16_t totalstrip[NUMBER_OF_PIXELS];
volatile int8_t paddlestart= 0;
SPI ledstrip(PTD2,NC,PTD1);

void UpdatePaddle(void)
{
    static uint8_t direction = 1;
    if(direction) {
        paddlestart++;
    } else {
        paddlestart--;
    }

    if(paddlestart > (NUMBER_OF_PIXELS - PADDLE_LENGTH))
        direction = 0;
    if(paddlestart < 0)
        direction = 1;

}

void UpdateLEDstrip(void)
{
    uint8_t pixelcounter;
    /*start by writing 32 zeroes */
    ledstrip.write(0);
    ledstrip.write(0);
    ledstrip.write(0);
    ledstrip.write(0);
    for(pixelcounter = 0 ; pixelcounter < NUMBER_OF_PIXELS; pixelcounter++) {
        ledstrip.write( uint8_t(totalstrip[pixelcounter]>>8));//uint8_t(temp16));//(totalstrip.ledcounter[pixelcounter].red << 2) | (totalstrip.ledcounter[pixelcounter].high << 7)  |(totalstrip.ledcounter[pixelcounter].green & 0x << 2)  );
        ledstrip.write( uint8_t(totalstrip[pixelcounter]));//(*(uint16_t *)(&totalstrip[pixelcounter]))>>8);
    }
}

void write_led(uint16_t * led, uint8_t red, uint8_t green, uint8_t blue)
{
    *led = (1<<15) | ((green >> 3)<<10) | ((red >>3)<< 5) | (blue >>3);
}
int main()
{
    Ticker updater;
    Ticker paddlepos;
    uint8_t ledcounter;
    updater.attach(UpdateLEDstrip, .05);
    paddlepos.attach(UpdatePaddle, .03);
    ledstrip.format(8,0);        //15 bits, mode '0'
    ledstrip.frequency(100000);
    for(ledcounter = 0; ledcounter < NUMBER_OF_PIXELS; ledcounter++) {
        write_led(&totalstrip[ledcounter], 0,0,0);
    }
    while(1) {
        PaddleDemo(5,255,10,100);
        Randomblinks(5, true);
    }
}

void PaddleDemo(float seconds, uint8_t red, uint8_t green, uint8_t blue)
{
    uint8_t ledcounter;
    Timer timer;
    timer.start();
    while( timer.read() < seconds)
    {
         for(ledcounter = 0; ledcounter < NUMBER_OF_PIXELS; ledcounter++) 
         {
            if((ledcounter >= paddlestart) && ( ledcounter <= paddlestart+PADDLE_LENGTH))
                write_led(&totalstrip[ledcounter], red,green,blue);
            else
                write_led(&totalstrip[ledcounter], 0,0,0);
        }
    }
}

void Randomblinks(float seconds, bool colored)
{
    uint8_t ledcounter;
    uint8_t test;
    Timer timer;
    timer.start();
    while( timer.read() < seconds ) 
    {
        test = 50.0*rand()/(RAND_MAX*1.0);
        for(ledcounter = 0; ledcounter < NUMBER_OF_PIXELS; ledcounter++) 
        {
            if(ledcounter == test) 
            {
                if(colored)
                    write_led(&totalstrip[ledcounter], test*5,(test%10)*25,(test%15)*15);
                else
                    write_led(&totalstrip[ledcounter], 255,255,255);
            }
            else
                write_led(&totalstrip[ledcounter], 0,0,0);
        }
    }
}

//DigitalOut myled(LED1);

//int main() {
//    while(1) {
//        myled = 1;
//        wait(0.2);
//        myled = 0;
//        wait(0.2);
//    }
//}