Authors
Umer Belagam belagam2 ECE 110
Tingrui Guan tguan2 ECE110
Keshav Harisrikanth keshavh2 ECE 110
Introduction
Statement of Purpose
As sleep deprived college students waking up on time in the morning is a big problem for us. We intend to make a better alarm that would use light to wake us up and use a system to make sure we actually get out of bed. In addition to the alarm this system would also be used to manage the lighting in the room according to how bright it is outside.
Background Research
There is a project last year called "Self-adjusting Study Light, which uses photoresistor to determine the brightness of the surrounding and sends PWM signal to LEDs based on the signal from light sensing circuit to adjust their brightness. Based on similar principles, our design also uses photoresistor to determine the brightness but for a different purpose.
Additionally, we looked into how light levels can, by affecting brain chemistry, make people feel more awake, alert, and active. This principle is already in use in computer screen adjustments in the form of programs like f.lux, and this idea would allow it to be applied on the scale of an entire room. Through this, we hope to make it easier for sleep deprived college students to wake up.
Furthermore, in making it a good alarm clock, we are also looking into what sounds are best for waking people up, and how, by cycling through a variety of sounds, we can avoid the user becoming too used to the alarm sound to wake up to it. By a variety of sounds, we avoid a degree of tolerance to being woken up by our specific alarm clock.
Design Details
Block Diagram / Flow Chart
System Overview
The Arduino receives input from the photoresistor circuits which determines the brightness outside the window. When the whole system is activated, the inputs from the light sensors inside the room and on the window are used to adjust the brightness of LED and the angle of the servo motor connected to the blinds. Every morning the alarm clock sends a on signal to the Arduino to turn the system on when it reaches the set time, the Arduino then sends a signal to the servo and LED to adjust the light, and activates the alarm. The alarm is on until Arduino receives a on signal from weighing scale that indicates the user wakes up and stands on the scale. The servo and LED system will be on all day until the light sensor circuit detects low brightness for a long time period (which indicates that it is night outside) or until the switch is turned off manually (which indicates the user does not need lighting any more). In addition, there is a manual switch to control the light system when the user is away.
Parts
Light sensor
Arduino uno
Servo Motor
Alarm speaker
Weighing scale
LED lamp
Clock for time-keeping
Transistors
Linear regulator
Backup battery
12v power supply
Resistors and wires for the weighing signal
Switch to control both the servo and LED circuits
LED Dimmer Switch
Possible Challenges
Setting specific parameters for outside brightness.
Input from photoresistor circuit may not be reliable.
Input from alarm clock to arduino might be unreliable.
Making the speakers sufficiently loud, and the LEDs sufficiently bright.
It might be difficult to allow the user enough control over how bright they want it to be (outside of simply allowing them to turn it on and off).
References
[1]"Self-adjusting Study Light", Jacob Taylor, Thomas McCarthy, Karl Mulnik, 2015. [Online]. Available:https://wiki.illinois.edu/wiki/display/ECE110HLSF15/Self-adjusting+Study+Light?preview=/560271196/583206214/Final_Report_Desk_Lamp.pdf.
[2]"f.lux: sleep research". [Online]. Available:https://justgetflux.com/research.html.
[3]Stephen E. Blackman, "Lamp and alarm clock with gradually increasing light or sounds", U.S. Patent 6236622 B1 issued May 22, 2001. Available:https://www.google.com/patents/US6236622.
Journals
9/30-Compiled a list of sparkfun.com links to various potential components, including light sensors, light producers, speakers, clocks, etc. Also drew out project pseudo-schematic for future reference.
10/7- Ordered some parts, mainly a dimmable light source to use for room light manipulation, and servo powerful enough to manipulate window fixtures to change light levels.
10/14- Ordered a weight sensor to be used in decting a person leaving their bed, as well as a voltage regulator and basic switch. Plan to work on laying out a circuit design schematic next week.
10/21- Ordered piezo buzzer. Outlined portion of the circuit for determining part specifications and voltages. Plan to finish circuit outline and create a digital form. Looked at arduino tone function for use in buzzer.
10/28 - Built a circuit to showcase the basics of the alarm clock beeper with a button to vary operation, and a potentiometer to vary volume, along with testing in using a resistance based pressure sensor as an on-off decider. Tested newly received parts.
11/4 - received dimmable light panel, discussed how to integrate it into the circuit. Integrated switch into demo circuit of alarm clock functionality.
11/11- Demo'd aforementioned demo circuit, after making some improvements to implement pressure sensor into demo circuit. Formulated a plan to manipulate dimmable light panel in a feasible manner, working around its large voltage and power requirements.
11/18-Planned to put the code online to make working with it easier for those other than the host computer owner, as well as made the light panel that was causing difficulty somewhat more workable, now able to power it to lighting.
12/2-Tested and determined the appropriate range of arduino readings from our ambient light phototransistor, and changed the code to accomodate. Acquired LEDs to replace then unfortunately unworkable large panel (due to excessive voltage requirements).
Posted by ndossa2 at Sep 23, 2016 15:24
