As for output devices, I´ll keep looking for components that can be relevant to my final project. In the input section I was advised to add a light sensor , an octocoupler and other similar devices connected to a microcontroller in order to detect and send a signal to switch power on / off. (A more detailed schematic can be found in the Final Project section.)
An octocoupler / photocoupler, is a device that is a receiver / emmitter that works as a switch and is activated by light emitted by a LED, and received by a phototransistor. if the tension is adequate, the LED source will emit light and it´ll keep the circuit connected, and the opposite happens if the LED light starts to dim to a point the phototransistor does not receives enough light, swithin the circuit off. It´s hard to me to tell if this device is a pure input output device since it combines both in a single component. But I think it´ll be appropriate to include it in the receiving end of the induction coil.
Now I´ll try to design it at least on an eschematic while we wait for the components.
The other area of interest is to bring some degree of interaction through movement to a desktop device that can detect the presence of the user using a combination of a camera and servos for tracking. This will mean to operate at least one pan servo to orient this device. In order to do that I´m making a variant of the servo board, that I hope to attach to a fan and a sensor.
We were having issues with the milling speed of our Modela from the beginning, which resulted in delays of getting boards done. Fortunately now we have a better balance of speed vs endmill lifespan. Thanks to that I could have this servo board milled (see picture above.) Despite putting a lot of care on the soldering phase and having checked for solder bridges and residue, when I connected it to our AVRISP the board couldn´t work… (red light.) Which is kind of frustrating since it´s my second attempt. I´ll keep trying until is done.
Going back to the octocoupling device, I´ve designed a board in Eagle that incorporates resistors and a connector to work with the microcontroller I´m designing for my final project.
The files for this assignment can be found here: