⚡ WEEK 8: INPUT DEVICES

Sensing the world. From analog signals to digital data streams.

Input Device Integration

This week focused on measuring environmental parameters using sensors integrated with custom microcontroller boards. Explored temperature/humidity sensing, PCB design for sensor integration, and data acquisition workflows.

Note: My electronics design & production project included 4 total input devices. For this input devices documentation, I am featuring my temperature/humidity sensor (DHT11) as the primary example of environmental sensing and data acquisition integrated into my microcontroller board.

Documentation & Media

Sensor integration, PCB design, and measurement setup

Custom footprint for xiao seeed rp2040. I used this in my schematic to have immediate access to the correct pinouts when designing the final PCB footprint and tracks.
Custom footprint for xiao seeed rp2040. I used this in my schematic to have immediate access to the correct pinouts when designing the final PCB footprint and tracks.
Here is the final wired PCB for my survival device. The components are simple, an I2C capable LCD 2004a screen (01x04 gen connector), three tactile buttons, adafruit temperature sensor breakout, accelerometer, and a GPS module.
Here is the final wired PCB for my survival device. The components are simple, an I2C capable LCD 2004a screen (01x04 gen connector), three tactile buttons, adafruit temperature sensor breakout, accelerometer, and a GPS module.
After routing my tracks properly and changing to 0.4mm width (correct for the design rules of the modela mill) the DRC runs properly! There are some errors shown, but those are just unconnected tracks that I intend to connect using jumpers (because I am using a 1-layer, 1-sided copper PCB, so some connections are not geometrically possible.)
After routing my tracks properly and changing to 0.4mm width (correct for the design rules of the modela mill) the DRC runs properly! There are some errors shown, but those are just unconnected tracks that I intend to connect using jumpers (because I am using a 1-layer, 1-sided copper PCB, so some connections are not geometrically possible.)
Here is the 2004a LCD input. An I2C bus has been soldered on for a simpler connector.
Here is the 2004a LCD input. An I2C bus has been soldered on for a simpler connector.
Width test.
Width test.
Physically laying out my components on the one sided copper PCB board to design sizing and distance. In addition to design rules (track width, distance, etc) Gert told me it is important to consider aspects of functionality such as if my ports are accessible, my wires are relieved of tensions, and so on.
Physically laying out my components on the one sided copper PCB board to design sizing and distance. In addition to design rules (track width, distance, etc) Gert told me it is important to consider aspects of functionality such as if my ports are accessible, my wires are relieved of tensions, and so on.
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