Week 9:Output Devices

Assignment Activities

1.Group Assignment.

.measure the power consumption of an output device

2.Individual Assignment.

. add an output device to a microcontroller board you've designed,and program it to do something

1.Group Assignment.

.measure the power consumption of an output device

You can access Group Assignment in details here

Individual Assignment.

In this week was another opportunity for me explore more in electronics,this was really an interesting week because I learnt many things regarding electronics and mostly I made a progress regarding my final project, In this Output_devices week I used LCD screen in order to be familiar with the output devices that I will use in my Project,unfortunately it first failed and I tried for the first time with Blinking the LED.

Output devices:is any piece of computer hardware that converts information into a human-perceptible form or, historically, into a physical machine-readable form for use with other non-computerized equipment. It can be text, graphics, tactile, audio, or video. Examples include monitors, printers, speakers, headphones, projectors, GPS devices, optical mark readers, and braille readers. Here for more information.

Back in week 7 of electronic design, I designed my Programmer with CH 340G chip on my board,I used my Programmer in order to program my board the one i used in producing the outputs.

Below are the steps that I followed in designing,cutting and programming my Board..

In designing my Programmer I followed this process;

Firstly was identification of the components to be used in my Board,the components were:Connectors (Pin header),MCU(ESP32) ,Regulator,capacitor,resistor and LEDs,push button.

I do have KICAD Software which is is used to create schematics, printed circuit board (PCB) layouts and also perform simulations

After identification of the components,I proceeded in creating the new project and saving the file directory and the name, This is the KICAD Interface

The next thing after creating the project was to insert the components, to add the components in the interface I used tool called"add symbol" after clicking the tool I entered the name of the component they gave me the list of similar components and it was really difficult for me to know the right components to choose(it needs more research to be aware of specifications)(tools added were:ESP 32,push button,resistor,LED,connector,Regulator),and I labeled also push button by using tool called"Label".

Next step was to connect the components by using wires as we all know electronic device to work needs power so a wire act as the channel for current distribution and I used tool called"add wire".

The next thing is to name the similar components, this is for identification of the components, for instance I have used more 2 LEDs then I was having to identify them like saying LED1 and LED2 to avoid confusing them and this naming is done automatically.

After annotating the components to assign the components with their specifications,and here I used this icon because there are very many types of connectors and components then I needed to clarify their specifications.

By clicking the footprint icon,concerning components libraries and their filters,in order to obtain the component's footprint which fits to the ones i used.

After Assigning the components,then i went back to starting and click to my project(Kicad.pcb) and then open it for positioning and editing it.

the time I opened my project in PCB,i edited board and linked all the components with the wires.

After editing PCB editor,I checked the board in 3D viewer to check how it looks like.

The next step is to export the designed PCB and save it with an extension of SVG to be used while transform it in readable file.

After Exporting the file of the PCB ways and cutting PCB(edge cuts) with extension of SVG, I proceeded with generating machine readable files of extension RML file, which help me to mill my PCB board on the machine,the steps I followed were similar to the one I followed in week 6 of electronic design.

After exporting and now I had SVG Files, next is to change my SVG file into Machine readable files(with XRM as extension),below are the steps to change it;

Firstly,Browse this link here, the site I can access almost all Machines readable files,then after browsing i got this interface.

Then I go to this menu and right click where there are options, as stated above.

next I clicked on the programs,next click on open server, next is Roland because it is our machine in our node and click on the SVG file since it was my extension.

the next after clicking on SVG File, the displayed interface was this.

and the remaining thing is to select the exported file and put it there to be changed.

after clicking on select file, exactly I go where my file was and click open.

Then we change the settings after inserting the file, we first invert the image and change dpi to 1000 so that our machine could cut it and the ways can be visible.

because i first having to trace the way which looks similar to engrave in laser machine, then i selected mill trace in order machine to engrave the way, and to cut the pcb frame I used another file and I used mill outline.

Then because of the tool to be used after measuring I got that it's diameter of 0.2 mm,and I also setted offset(5) means it passes 5 times and my way will be enough to solder,then it's the one I added.

Next thing is to change the origin or starting point of the machine,by changing and starting point be(0,0,0)

Then add the input and output channel where I will immediately save changed save in my computer, means it will be downloaded, then I right clicked and go to the modules, open server and select save(file) then it will be displayed.

Then after I have to link output and input by dragging the cursor to create a connection.

Then click button calculate under mill raster 2D table

The final output of the my PCB to cut ways.

The final output of the my PCB to cut PCB(edge cut).

The next after changing the extension of the file remaining is to go to the milling machine,and I started

Now I taped on the back of the PCB and I using FR4 board(One sided).

Now I have already fixed the board on the bed, I am ready to setup the machine and start milling.

Then I was having to set the origin of where it will start in cutting ways, I used the software called "Vpanel" for SRM-20 in controlling the position of tool.

then after setting the tool position,It starts cutting the board,The final output after cutting my PCB.

Then after identification of the components for the my Programmer, I proceeded with soldering below is the picture after soldering all components on my board.

Soldering The Components.

After Soldering the compnents on the board.

Unfortunately after soldering I found that there was short circuit in my circuit, and I needed to debug because it wouldn't run unless the short circuit is removed, I took time to debug but it was really difficult to remove the bug because the solder was slightly moved inside the MCU, the altenative remained was desoldering the components and soldering components in other new milled boards.
The circuit board were all most the same with the first one the difference was to add the Reset button in the new one, the second board was this below.

And I soldered it very careful and Luckily it runned without short circuit, then the next step was to connect with my programmer that I designed in week8,then I connected both boards with the wire.

After connecting the boards,I plugged my programmer with USB Connector that was to supply the power in the boards.

Blinking LED

For the first time I used the blinking led my first proposal because the LCD was not responding displaying nothing in the screen.

Then I blinked the LED

The codes to blink the LEDs


  int RA = 14;
  int GA = 12;
  
  int delayon = 500;
  int delayoff = 600;
  void setup() {
    Serial.begin(9600);
   pinMode(RA, OUTPUT);
   pinMode(RB, OUTPUT);
  
   
  }
  
  void loop() {
    //RB,GA 
  //  Serial.print(random(10,200));
  digitalWrite(GA, HIGH);
  delay(delayon);
  digitalWrite(GA, LOW);
  delay(delayon);
  digitalWrite(RA, HIGH);
  delay(delayon);
  digitalWrite(RA, LOW);
  delay(delayon);
  }

This code are the one I used to blink my LED as my Output.

Below is the hello shot.

Displaying Static Text Message and Dynamic Text Message On LCD Screen.

I have used LCD 16*2,The term LCD stands for liquid crystal display. It is one kind of electronic display module used in an extensive range of applications like various circuits & devices like mobile phones, calculators, computers, TV sets, etc. These displays are mainly preferred for multi-segment light-emitting diodes and seven segments. The main benefits of using this module are inexpensive; simply programmable, animations, and there are no limitations for displaying custom characters, special and even animations, Here

Regarding my final Project I continued to try if the LCD that I had was working, I spent alot of the time in debugging and later it works but it was not having the bright screen but the Letters was visible, and I found that the codes are working the problem was the output device.

An interesting moment

Was that later I found new LCD Screen which works well and I was really excited to get it working

Here are the codes I used in Arduino software.


  #include 

    // set the LCD number of columns and rows
    int lcdColumns = 16;
    int lcdRows = 2;
    
    // set LCD address, number of columns and rows
    // if you don't know your display address, run an I2C scanner sketch
    LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, lcdColumns, lcdRows);  
    
    String messageStatic = "Static message";
    String messageToScroll = "RUGANJI Prince Fab Academy 2023";
    
    // Function to scroll text
    // The function acepts the following arguments:
    // row: row number where the text will be displayed
    // message: message to scroll
    // delayTime: delay between each character shifting
    // lcdColumns: number of columns of your LCD
    void scrollText(int row, String message, int delayTime, int lcdColumns) {
      for (int i=0; i < lcdColumns; i++) {
        message = " " + message;  
      } 
      message = message + " "; 
      for (int pos = 0; pos < message.length(); pos++) {
        lcd.setCursor(0, row);
        lcd.print(message.substring(pos, pos + lcdColumns));
        delay(delayTime);
      }
    }
    
    void setup(){
      // initialize LCD
      lcd.init();
      // turn on LCD backlight                      
      lcd.backlight();
    }
    
    void loop(){
      // set cursor to first column, first row
      lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
      // print static message
      lcd.print(messageStatic);
      // print scrolling message
      scrollText(1, messageToScroll, 250, lcdColumns);
    }

Below is the picture while working.

Below is the Hello shot while the screen working displaying the sliding the text.

As summing up I can say in this week I learnt more,but major thing I have realised Working with machines requires a variety of skills,knowledge and mostly it's to work with more attention to PCB because any slight mistake can damage the whole work you have done, I have seen it while soldering and cause some short circuits which became more difficult to debug.

here

you can download the files.