Project

# Title Team Members TA Documents Sponsor
39 Auto-Tuner with LCD Display
John Driscoll
Lee Susara
Nicholas Chan
Eric Tang design_document1.pdf
final_paper1.pdf
presentation1.pptx
proposal1.pdf
video
**Auto-Tuner with LCD Display**

**Team:** Nicholas Chan, John Driscoll, Lee Susara

**Problem:** In order for guitars to be properly used, each string needs to be tuned to the right frequency to play the right note. This can either be done manually, or with assistance from a tuner. We would like to make this process easier though, so we would like to implement an auto-tuning device that attaches to the pegs of the guitar. While these are exist, most of these devices on the market are over $100, so we would like to make it more affordable.

**Solution:** Our solution to this would be to create an auto-tuning device using a servo motor and a feedback loop. This solves the problem because this would make the tuner much more affordable while still maintaining its main functionality. Our design would be to attach a servo motor to each peg of the guitar and, while the user plucks the string, our device would use a microphone to take in the frequency and turn the peg as need be. The note being played will also be shown on an LCD display.

**Subsystem 1:** One of the subsystems we will be the device that attaches to the head of the guitar. This device will have 6 servo motors (HS-318), one for each peg. Each motor will have a clamp that will attach to the pegs of the guitar. The device will also have an electret microphone amplifier that is picking up sound from the guitar to know what note is being played. A clamp will be used to keep the whole subsytem in place.

**Subsystem 2:** Another subsystem we will need to implement is the control subsystem, which will house our PCB (QFN-16) and logic. We will use a breadboard (103-1100) , wires, and various logic chips to implement the correct logic.

**Subsystem 3:** The last subsystem we will need is the power and user interface. This will include our battery (EN-22), power switch button (1489), and LCD display , as well as any buttons, should we need to tune the guitar to non-standard tuning. We can use the 2x16 LCD display with controller for this.

**Criterion for Success:** For our project to be effective, it must be able to pick up and filter out the frequency being played, properly take in the sound as input to determine how the guitar should be tuned, and ensure the motors are being powered and are functioning as desired. It must also fit on the head of the guitar without being too clunky, and our LCD display must display the correct notes being played. The project as a whole must also be more affordable than the current auto-tuners on the market as of right now.

Iron Man Mouse

Jeff Chang, Yayati Pahuja, Zhiyuan Yang

Featured Project

# Problem:

Being an ECE student means that there is a high chance we are gonna sit in front of a computer for the majority of the day, especially during COVID times. This situation may lead to neck and lower back issues due to a long time of sedentary lifestyle. Therefore, it would be beneficial for us to get up and stretch for a while every now and then. However, exercising for a bit may distract us from working or studying and it might take some time to refocus. To control mice using our arm movements or hand gestures would be a way to enable us to get up and work at the same time. It is similar to the movie Iron Man when Tony Stark is working but without the hologram.

# Solution Overview:

The device would have a wrist band portion that acts as the tracker of the mouse pointer (implemented by accelerometer and perhaps optical sensors). A set of 3 finger cots with gyroscope or accelerometer are attached to the wrist band. These sensors as a whole would send data to a black box device (connected to the computer by USB) via bluetooth. The box would contain circuits to compute these translational/rotational data to imitate a mouse or trackpad movements with possible custom operation. Alternatively, we could have the wristband connected to a PC by bluetooth. In this case, a device driver on the OS is needed for the project to work.

# Solution Components:

Sensors (finger cots and wrist band):

1. 3-axis accelerometer attached to the wrist band portion of the device to collect translational movement (for mouse cursor tracking)

2. gyroscope attached to 3 finger cots portion to collect angular motion when user bend their fingers in different angles (for different clicking/zoom-in/etc operations)

3. (optional) optical sensors to help with accuracy if the accelerometer is not accurate enough. We could have infrared emitters set up around the screen and optical sensors on the wristband to help pinpoint cursor location.

4. (optional) flex sensors could also be used for finger cots to perform clicks in case the gyroscope proves to be inaccurate.

Power:

Lithium-ion battery with USB charging

Transmitter component:

1. A microcontroller to pre-process the data received from the 4 sensors. It can sort of integrate and synchronize the data before transmitting it.

2. A bluetooth chip that transmits the data to either the blackbox or the PC directly.

Receiver component:

1. Plan A: A box plugged into USB-A on PC. It has a bluetooth chip to receive data from the wristband, and a microcontroller to process the data into USB human interface device signals.

2. Plan B: the wristband is directly connected to the PC and we develop a device driver on the PC to process the data.

# Criterion for Success:

1. Basic Functionalities supported (left click, right click, scroll, cursor movement)

2. Advanced Functionalities supported(zoom in/out, custom operations eg. volume control)

3. Performance (accuracy & response time)

4. Physical qualities (easy to wear, durable, and battery life)