RGB LCD Display Electromyography using Arduino + MyoWare Muscle Sensor

Measuring muscle activity that uses electric potential as an indication to know the health, and diagnose muscles to its present status is referred to as electromyography (EMG). Electromyography also assesses the condition of nerve cell (also called as motor neurons) that controls the muscles and can detect neuromuscular disorders. The reference design is a LCD display electromyography using arduino plus myoware muscle sensor from Adafruit. The reference design features the standard LCD 181 also from Adafruit Industries LLC with the use of I2C/SPI character LCD backpack. The design also uses the muscle sensor surface EMG electrodes. Read more

Electronic LED Candle

This reference design is a simple electronic LED candle that is well suited for birthday occasion. It acts like a real candle, which constantly flickers and changes its light intensity depending on the airflow. It has 9 LEDs, which blinks at random period and phase that can also be blown by the user as if it is a real candle. It specially uses the C&K’s PTS830GM140 tactile switch, a micro-miniature switch with low profile and high actuation forces designed for wearable electronics. It features extremely low start-up voltage and high output voltage accuracy. Read more

Ultrasonic Rangefinder Using Arduino Uno and PmodMAXSONAR

The rangefinder is a device that measures distance from the observer to a target being measured. The device uses a sensor as the method of gathering measurements of distance, such as ultrasonic, laser, and radar. The circuit is a DIY rangefinder using a PmodMAXSONAR ultrasonic sensor, an Arduino UNO, and a 16x2 LCD module. The ultrasonic sensor has an effective detection range of 6in - 255in. It can detect objects within 1in up to 20ft away. The PmodMAXSONAR can send range data in three methods: UART, analog and PWM. Read more

High Precision Heat/Flow Meter

Maintaining the equipment at its top condition is one way to minimize cost of replacement and downtime during operation. Industrial motors are vital equipment in industrial plant that runs everyday and maintaining its condition using manual checking takes time and effort. The reference design being shown is a wireless motor monitor that remotely monitors the condition of motors. The main component MSP430FR5969 ultralow-power MCU is a mixed signal master controller that offers leading low power consumption, analog and digital integration, and easy to use interface that makes it suitable for wireless monitoring system. The MSP430FR5969 has the integration of Ferroelectric Random Access Memory (FRAM) that enables it to combine fast read and write access of DRAM with lower power consumption. The reference design also has the CC2650 SimpleLink Multistandard Wireless MCU, which is a cost-effective 2.4Ghz RF device that is ideal for interfacing sensors, and collecting data autonomously while the system is in sleep mode. The TPL5100 nano-power timer is the external timer that wakes up the main component every 16 seconds. The TPL5100 can trigger wakeups at longer sleeps interval and has the maximum wakeup time of 18 minutes. The reference design also has the BQ25570 Ultralow-Power Harvester and Battery PMIC, which harvests energy from any source 100mV and powered by a lithium-ion cell battery. Read more

30W Stereo Audio Amplifier with Clipping Protection

This reference design features a 30W stereo audio amplifier that employs a motorized slide potentiometer to provide clipping protection. The PSM60-081A-103B2 is a half-watt, 10kΩ, 60mm, motorized slide potentiometer. It provides two built-in 10kΩ variable resistors labeled as line track and servo track. The line track variable resistor can be used for other purpose, while the servo track variable resistor can be used for tracking the position of the potentiometer lever. The built-in DC motor controls or adjusts the position of the potentiometer lever as well as the resistance of the line track and the servo track variable resistors. Read more

FLORA as Wearable Pedometer

One of the devices used to monitor the progress of an exercise is the pedometer. This device is used to measure steps taken by an individual and determine the speed, distance and even calories burned to motivate them in getting fit. Present designs available in the market today uses accelerometer compared to the mechanical devices used in the early designs. This design uses the Flora v2 platform from Adafruit as the host controller for the system. It is built around the Atmega32u4 chip, which has built-in USB support. Read more

Ultra-low Power Multi-sensor Data Logger with NFC Interface

The cold chain monitoring is the process of ensuring a certain product temperature to remain constant upon shipping and distribution. The ultra-low power multi-sensor data logger with NFC interface reference design integrates multiple sensors for cold chain monitoring. The board features wireless communication through RF430CL330H dynamic near field communication (NFC) interface transponder. The TMP112 device is a digital temperature sensor ideal for NTC/PTC replacement and has an accuracy of ±0.5°C. The OPT3001 is an ambient light sensor that measures the intensity of visible light. For humidity measurement, the HDC1000 is a digital humidity sensor with integrated temperature sensor. The board also comes with MSP430 mixed-signal microcontroller. Read more

T8031 Carbon Dioxide Duct-Mount Transmitter

The T8031 device is one of the smallest duct-mount carbon dioxide transmitters on the market. It can be powered by an AC power supply (18-30VAC RMS 50/60Hz) or a DC power supply (18-42VDC). The device outputs a standard 0-10VDC with respect to the factory calibrated measurement range (0-2000ppm) of the sensor. It has an accuracy of +/-40ppm plus 3 percent of the reading when temperature is 22 degree Celsius. The operating temperature of T8031 should fall between 0 and 50 degree Celsius. The duct air velocity should be also around 0 to 7.5 meters per second. The power consumption of T8031 transmitter is 1.65W peak or 0.65W average. Read more

Fingerprint Drawer Lock

An electromechanical solenoid is a device that uses electrical energy to produce linear motion. It consists of a coil with a slug of metal in the middle. When current passes through the coil, the slug is pulled into the center of the coil, which makes it possible for the solenoid to pull from one end. An example of this is a lock-style solenoid. Nowadays, lock-style solenoids are used as smart locks. They are used to lock and unlock doors, cabinets, drawers, etc., by pressing a button on a remote control or a button on a smartphone. However, in this project, the lock-style solenoid is used to lock/unlock a drawer by using a fingerprint.Read more

Wireless Motor Monitor

Monitoring equipments and to maintain its top condition is one way to minimize cost of replacement and downtime during operation. Industrial motors are one vital equipment in industrial plant that runs everyday and maintaining its condition using manual checking takes time and effort. The reference design being shown is a wireless motor monitor that remotely monitor the condition of motors. The main component MSP430FR5969 ultralow-power MCU is a mixed signal master controller that offers leading low power consumption, analog and digital integration, and easy to use interface that makes it suitable for wireless monitoring system. Read more

16-button Inductive Keypad Using a16-Bit Ultra-Low-Power Microcontroller

Most systems of keypad are prone to breaking due to the moving parts and dependence on electrical contact. This system uses a 16-button inductive keypad using a 16-bit MCU. The Inductive sensing is capable of handling rugged and wet environment. It is also has low cost maintenance compared to other system in rugged and wet environment, and scalable keyboard. The system consist of a keypad assembly, MCU, two 4:1 analog multiplexers, and an inductive to digital converter. The system is supplied by a 5V USB power. A low dropout linear regulator is used to step down the 5V USB power to the 3.3V required by the LDC1314 inductive to digital converter and MSP430 MCU.

Miniaturized Pulse Oximeter

Electronic equipments for medical purposes plays a big role in saving lives everyday. It needs to be accurate in data and precise in each reading. In this reference design is a miniaturized pulse oximeter, a device that measures the changes in oxygen level in the human blood through light reflection. Read more

Wireless Relay Control using IC2262/2272 and ATmega328PB

The IC2262/2272 transmitter is powered by a 12V battery. The receiver and the microcontroller operate with a 5V power supply. The optocouplers, transistors, and relays use a separate 12V power supply to isolate the high voltage devices attached to the relay contacts from the low voltage devices use in this circuit just like the microcontroller and receiver.

MCP9600 Thermocouple EMF to Temperature Converter

A thermocouple is a device that acts as a temperature to voltage transducer. In this circuit, a type K thermocouple is inserted at the input side of the type K thermocouple adapter or connector, PCC-SMP-K-100. This design can be used in different applications such as industrial equipment thermal management, ovens, industrial engine thermal monitor, temperature detection racks, etc.