Difference between revisions of "Team:Queens Canada/Luminometer"

 
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<h2 style="width:70%;margin-left:15%">Electrical Design</h2>
 
<h2 style="width:70%;margin-left:15%">Electrical Design</h2>
 
<h3 style="width:70%;margin-left:15%">Hardware</h3>
 
<h3 style="width:70%;margin-left:15%">Hardware</h3>
<p style="width:70%;margin-left:15%">The main electrical component used in the pacifier is the RFduino microcontroller. Similar to a standard Arduino,  
+
<p style="width:70%;margin-left:15%;font-size:18pt">The main electrical component used in the pacifier is the RFduino microcontroller. Similar to a standard Arduino,  
 
the RFduino can be programmed using Arduino software, which provides students with a familiar platform and coding  
 
the RFduino can be programmed using Arduino software, which provides students with a familiar platform and coding  
 
language. The benefit of using the RFduino is its small size, built-in Bluetooth capabilities, and the availability  
 
language. The benefit of using the RFduino is its small size, built-in Bluetooth capabilities, and the availability  
 
of both prototyping and surface mount versions of the chip.</p>
 
of both prototyping and surface mount versions of the chip.</p>
 
<img  style="width:70%;margin-left:15%"src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/e/ec/T--Queens_Canada--LuminometerParts.png" alt='Prototyping board, Surface mount chips for PCB, and USB connector'/>
 
<img  style="width:70%;margin-left:15%"src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/e/ec/T--Queens_Canada--LuminometerParts.png" alt='Prototyping board, Surface mount chips for PCB, and USB connector'/>
<p style="width:70%;margin-left:15%">The next three components included in the design were sensors to monitor temperature and breathing rate, as well  
+
<p style="width:70%;margin-left:15%;font-size:18pt">The next three components included in the design were sensors to monitor temperature and breathing rate, as well  
 
as a luminometer to measure light produced by Luciferase.</p>
 
as a luminometer to measure light produced by Luciferase.</p>
<p style="width:70%;margin-left:15%">Both the temperature and breathing rate were monitored using small NTC thermistors. The thermistors were then used  
+
<p style="width:70%;margin-left:15%;font-size:18pt">Both the temperature and breathing rate were monitored using small NTC thermistors. The thermistors were then used  
 
in voltage divider circuits to monitor the changes in resistivity through an analog input on the microcontroller. One  
 
in voltage divider circuits to monitor the changes in resistivity through an analog input on the microcontroller. One  
 
thermistor is placed in the tip of the nipple to monitor temperature, and the other placed underneath the child’s  
 
thermistor is placed in the tip of the nipple to monitor temperature, and the other placed underneath the child’s  
 
nose to detect changes in temperature corresponding to their breathing.</p>
 
nose to detect changes in temperature corresponding to their breathing.</p>
<p style="width:70%;margin-left:15%">The luminometer was constructed using a light to frequency sensor (TSL237T) which has the ability to detect  
+
<p style="width:70%;margin-left:15%;font-size:18pt">The luminometer was constructed using a light to frequency sensor (TSL237T) which has the ability to detect  
 
individual photons as they come in contact with the sensor. By counting photons over a set period of time, a rate  
 
individual photons as they come in contact with the sensor. By counting photons over a set period of time, a rate  
 
can be calculated to measure the amount of light in an enclosed environment. To detect such small amounts of light,  
 
can be calculated to measure the amount of light in an enclosed environment. To detect such small amounts of light,  
 
the sample must be isolated in a dark container for these measurements.</p>
 
the sample must be isolated in a dark container for these measurements.</p>
<p style="width:70%;margin-left:15%">Additional hardware components included in the final design were a battery holder for a 3V coin cell battery, a  
+
<p style="width:70%;margin-left:15%;font-size:18pt">Additional hardware components included in the final design were a battery holder for a 3V coin cell battery, a  
 
switch to turn the pacifier on and off, and a location to connect the RFduino microcontroller to a desktop computer  
 
switch to turn the pacifier on and off, and a location to connect the RFduino microcontroller to a desktop computer  
 
so that it could be properly programmed. The final schematic for the hardware design is shown below.</p>
 
so that it could be properly programmed. The final schematic for the hardware design is shown below.</p>
 
<img style="width:70%;margin-left:15%" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/0/0d/T--Queens_Canada--LuminometerSchematic.png" alt='Final hardware schematic'/>
 
<img style="width:70%;margin-left:15%" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/0/0d/T--Queens_Canada--LuminometerSchematic.png" alt='Final hardware schematic'/>
<p style="width:70%;margin-left:15%">To include all the required components in the pacifier, a printed circuit board (PCB) was designed using EagleCAD.  
+
<p style="width:70%;margin-left:15%;font-size:18pt">To include all the required components in the pacifier, a printed circuit board (PCB) was designed using EagleCAD.  
 
Due to such limited size constraints, surface mount components were used where possible. This allowed for both sides  
 
Due to such limited size constraints, surface mount components were used where possible. This allowed for both sides  
 
of the board to be used so that the components could overlap and reduce the amount of space required. Since both  
 
of the board to be used so that the components could overlap and reduce the amount of space required. Since both  
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the back half of the pacifier casing. Any additional wire connections, such as those required for the thermistors,  
 
the back half of the pacifier casing. Any additional wire connections, such as those required for the thermistors,  
 
could then be contained between the bottom of the board and the back of the casing.</p>
 
could then be contained between the bottom of the board and the back of the casing.</p>
<p style="width:70%;margin-left:15%">The EagleCAD layout of the PCB and the completed board are shown below.</p>
+
<p style="width:70%;margin-left:15%;font-size:18pt">The EagleCAD layout of the PCB and the completed board are shown below.</p>
 
<img  style="width:70%;margin-left:15%" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/2/2c/T--Queens_Canada--LuminometerEagleCAD.png" alt='EagleCAD layout of PCB'/>
 
<img  style="width:70%;margin-left:15%" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/2/2c/T--Queens_Canada--LuminometerEagleCAD.png" alt='EagleCAD layout of PCB'/>
 
<img style="width:70%;margin-left:15%" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/b/bd/T--Queens_Canada--LuminometerCompletedBoard.png" alt='Completed board'/>
 
<img style="width:70%;margin-left:15%" src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2018/b/bd/T--Queens_Canada--LuminometerCompletedBoard.png" alt='Completed board'/>

Latest revision as of 00:18, 16 October 2018

Electrical Design

Hardware

The main electrical component used in the pacifier is the RFduino microcontroller. Similar to a standard Arduino, the RFduino can be programmed using Arduino software, which provides students with a familiar platform and coding language. The benefit of using the RFduino is its small size, built-in Bluetooth capabilities, and the availability of both prototyping and surface mount versions of the chip.

Prototyping board, Surface mount chips for PCB, and USB connector

The next three components included in the design were sensors to monitor temperature and breathing rate, as well as a luminometer to measure light produced by Luciferase.

Both the temperature and breathing rate were monitored using small NTC thermistors. The thermistors were then used in voltage divider circuits to monitor the changes in resistivity through an analog input on the microcontroller. One thermistor is placed in the tip of the nipple to monitor temperature, and the other placed underneath the child’s nose to detect changes in temperature corresponding to their breathing.

The luminometer was constructed using a light to frequency sensor (TSL237T) which has the ability to detect individual photons as they come in contact with the sensor. By counting photons over a set period of time, a rate can be calculated to measure the amount of light in an enclosed environment. To detect such small amounts of light, the sample must be isolated in a dark container for these measurements.

Additional hardware components included in the final design were a battery holder for a 3V coin cell battery, a switch to turn the pacifier on and off, and a location to connect the RFduino microcontroller to a desktop computer so that it could be properly programmed. The final schematic for the hardware design is shown below.

Final hardware schematic

To include all the required components in the pacifier, a printed circuit board (PCB) was designed using EagleCAD. Due to such limited size constraints, surface mount components were used where possible. This allowed for both sides of the board to be used so that the components could overlap and reduce the amount of space required. Since both sides of the board were used, the layout of the components was also designed such that anything that needed to be accessible (light to frequency sensor, connections to the RFduino, on/off switch, and battery holder) were placed on the top of the board. All remaining components were placed on the bottom so that users could not access them or interfere with the wiring. A single hole was also drilled in the board so that it could be attached with a screw to the back half of the pacifier casing. Any additional wire connections, such as those required for the thermistors, could then be contained between the bottom of the board and the back of the casing.

The EagleCAD layout of the PCB and the completed board are shown below.

EagleCAD layout of PCB Completed board