Project

# Title Team Members TA Documents Sponsor
38 Automatic Toothpaste Dispenser
 Haoyu Tian
Renjie Fan
Yanbo Chen
 Soumithri Bala design_document3.pdf
design_document4.pdf
final_paper1.pdf
photo1.jpg
presentation1.pptx
proposal1.pdf
 Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
Previous idea posts:
https://courses.engr.illinois.edu/ece445/pace/view-topic.asp?id=30597
https://courses.engr.illinois.edu/ece445/pace/view-topic.asp?id=31524

# Problem
Most of the toothpaste dispensers in the market so far are operated manually. Some of them are electrical but they still only support squeezing the fixed amount of toothpaste each time the user pushes a button. There are other major problems related to the existing toothpaste dispensers. For example, users are unable to set the amount of toothpaste being dispensed, and there are no supporting smartphone apps to collect the products’ metrics and visualize the data for users.

# Solution Overview
We propose to implement a new automatic toothpaste dispenser supported with a smartphone app, based on the PSoC 4 BLE board, sensor programming, RFID, and Android development. The dispenser will have the following distinct features from current products:
1. Multiple tubes of toothpaste can be put into the dispensers at the same time and the dispenser can choose which toothpaste to be dispensed by identifying the RFID sticker on the toothbrush.
2. Using RFID to identify users（In detail, we put different RFIDs on different toothbrushes for kids or adults and the machine can identify which one is using the dispenser and dispense a specific amount of toothpaste that has been previously set in the app. ）
3. The user is able to set the amount of dispensing toothpaste of each RFID on the app.
4. Tracking the amount used by each user and visualizing the corresponding short-term(day/week) and long-term(month/year) usage on the smartphone app.
5. Powered by the external source (wall socket). Two components require electricity: the board and the motor.

# Squeezing Mechanism
we plan to implement the function by measuring the distance between the squeezing component and the head of the tube. As the squeezer is powered by a motor, we could use an encoder to monitor the rotation of the motor to achieve the goal. In our blueprint, the squeezer would be a cylindrical object rolling from the tail to the head of the toothpaste tube.
Apart from the squeezer, we also would use a "buffer" to control the amount of toothpaste dispensing. Basically, toothpaste coming out from toothpaste tube will be firstly stored in the buffer and then be dispensed out to the toothbrush. The exit of buffer is smaller than that of the toothpaste tube. Our design for squeezing mechanism does not need to control the amount of toothpaste coming out of the tube, we just need to set the mechanism to a safe value and every time when our buffer(reservoir) is empty, the mechanism will push some toothpaste into the buffer. We only need to control how many toothpaste coming out from the buffer.

# Sensor Subsystems
-Ultrasonic sensor for detecting toothbrush
-RFID attached to toothbrushes. Passive RFID reader embedded in the dispenser to determine which toothbrush is being used to hold toothpaste.

# Processing Subsystems
App/Dispenser interface: Embedded Bluetooth protocol.
Mobile Database for app: WCDB (mobile database framework)

# Power Subsystems
PSoC BLE board powered by USB.

# Criterion for Success
Our final product is an automatic toothpaste dispenser that is capable of containing more than one tube of toothpaste, identifying RFID tag from the toothbrush and distributing predetermined amount and type of toothpaste once the toothbrush is put inside the dispenser. We can use smartphone to set the amount and type of toothpaste. We could also store and calculate each user’s usage of toothpaste for some intervals and parents may used it to monitor the child’s correct usage of toothpaste.

Tesla Coil Guitar Amp

David Mengel, Griffin Rzonca

Featured Project

# Tesla Coil Guitar Amp

Team Members:

* Griffin Rzonca (grzonca2)

* David Mengel (dmengel3)

# Problem:

Musicians are known for their affinity for flashy and creative displays and playing styles, especially during their live performances. One of the best ways to foster this creativity and allow artists to express themselves is a new type of amp that is both visually stunning and sonically interesting.

# Solution:

We propose a guitar amp that uses a Tesla coil to create a unique tone and dazzling visuals to go along with it. The amp will take the input from an electric guitar and use this to change the frequency of a tesla coil's sparks onto a grounding rod, creating a tone that matches that of the guitar.

# Solution Components:

## Audio Input and Frequency Processing -

This will convert the output of the guitar into a square wave to be fed as a driver for the tesla coil. This can be done using a network of op-amps. We will also use an LED and phototransistor to separate the user from the rest of the circuit, so that they have no direct connection to any high voltage circuitry. In order to operate our tesla coil, we need to drive it at its resonant frequency. Initial calculations and research have this value somewhere around 100kHz. The ESP32 microcontroller can create up to 40MHz, so we will use this to drive our circuit. In order to output different notes, we will use pulses of the resonant frequency, with the pulses at the frequency of the desired note.

## Solid-state switching -

We will use semiconductor switching rather than the comparably popular air-gap switching, as this poses less of a safety issue and is more reliable and modifiable. We will use a microcontroller, an ESP 32, to control an IR2110 gate driver IC and two to four IGBTs held high or low in order to complete the circuit as the coil triggers, acting in place of the air gap switch. These can all be included on our PCB.

## Power Supply -

We will use a 120V AC input to power the tesla coil and most likely a neon sign transformer if needed to step up the voltage to power our coil.

## Tesla Coil -

Consists of a few wire loops on the primary side and a 100-turn coil of copper wire in order to step up voltage for spark generation. Will also require a toroidal loop of PVC wrapped in aluminum foil in order to properly shape the electric field for optimal arcing. These pieces can be modular for easy storage and transport.

## Grounding rod -

All sparks will be directed onto a grounded metal rod 3-5cm from the coil. The rest of the circuit will use a separate neutral to further protect against damage. If underground cable concerns exist, we can call an Ameren inspector when we test the coil to mark any buried cables to ensure our grounding rod is placed in a safe location.

## Safety -

Tesla coils have been built for senior design in the past, and as noted by TAs, there are several safety precautions needed for this project to work. We reviewed guidelines from dozens of recorded tesla coil builds and determined the following precautions:

* The tesla coil will never be turned on indoors, it will be tested outside with multiple group members present using an outdoor wall outlet, with cones to create a circle of safety to keep bystanders away.

* We will keep everyone at least 10ft away while the coil is active.

* The voltage can reach up to 100kV (albeit low current) so all sparks will be directed onto a grounding rod 3-5cm away, as a general rule of thumb is each 30kV can bridge a 1cm gap.

* The power supply (120-240V) components will be built and tested in the power electronics lab.

* The coil will have an emergency stop button and a fuse at the power supply.

* The cable from the guitar will use a phototransistor so that the user is not connected to a circuit with any power electronics.

# Criterion for Success:

To consider this project successful, we would like to see:

* No safety violations or injuries.

* A tesla coil that produces small visible and audible 3-5cm sparks to our ground rod.

* The coil can play several different notes and tones.

* The coil can take input from the guitar and will play the corresponding notes.

Project Videos