4.140/MAS.863

Rachel Nations is making (almost) anything.

Input Devices

This week was all about input devices.

  • Project: Measure something: add a sensor to a microcontroller board that you've designed and read it.

I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do this week; I've been debating changing up my final project and am not sure if I still want to do sound response. I played around with a couple schematics at the beginning of the week and ended up settling on some kind of step response board. I had a group project for another class this week, so i got started a bit late.

I'm getting more and more comfortable with Eagle each week; I was able to crank out my board and stuff it without too many problems. Routing is still a bit frustrating and time consuming, but it's definitely getting easier.

Project 01b
The board, pre- and post- stuffing.

I then made a sensor out of spoilboard and copper film (from the vinyl cutter) with four pads, each attached to a wire from a rainbow ribbon which was then attached to the 2X2 pin.

Project 01c
Sensor + board

With a lot of help, i was able to get the example code running. Unfortunately, neither Anders nor I had our phone on us so we don't have video, but it was cool seeing how the responses varied based on which/how many pads were touched.