Microcontroller selection for LED project

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Anonymous
Not applicable

 Hello,

   

I am currently in the planning portion for my senior project at my university and had some questions about the different PSoC products available. The project will be turn and brake signals for a bicycle, so the requirements for the microcontroller will be the ability to drive three different LED circuits (one at a time) and will need to be able to use an accelerometer in order to take in data for the signals to turn off when a turn is completed or an acceleration is registered. We have been looking at the PSoC 4 and PSoC 5LP for our microcontroller but wanted to hear from people who have experience using the products.

   

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

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ETRO_SSN583
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I would suggest the PSOC 4 Pioneer board, which is Arduino

   

compatible pinout, to do the design. This board is low cost,

   

on tyhe order of $ 25, has a 5LP on it to handle programming

   

and debug of the PSOC 4, and the headers to piggyback other

   

Arduino boards. Like a display board, SDCARD board, power

   

driving, so many..... Also has a PMOD header to handle the

   

PMOD series of addon minature boards.

   

 

   

And , if you ran out of resources (which I seriously doubt) in

   

the PSOC 4, you can use it as a 5LP board, although I/O much

   

more constrained.

   

 

   

Attached is a board pinout chart that may be useful.

   

 

   

Regards, Dana.

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Bob_Marlowe
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A PSoC 4 should be quite sufficient:

   

I2C or analog input for access to the accelerometer

   

Wide supply range from 1.8 to 5V

   

Cheap!

   

I/O pins for controlling LEDs, switches and sensors, optional LCD, using CapSense as input

   

Chance to control LED brightness with PrISM modules and ambient light sensing

   

External components needed: LED driver, stabilized power supply, sensors, switches, cabling.

   

 

   

Bob

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ETRO_SSN583
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The other board to consider is this board just released -

   

 

   

    

   

          http://www.cypress.com/?rid=92146&source=creatorstart

   

 

   

Regards, Dana.

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ETRO_SSN583
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Here is a representative PMOD accellerometer.

   


   

Note the PRiSM module is primarily used for LED dimming

   


   

     

   

            http://digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?NavPath=2,401,899&Prod=PMOD-ACL

   


   

Regards, Dana.

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Anonymous
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Thanks for all of the input so quickly!

   

We are also looking into an on-bike generator (stepper motor, rectifier, etc.) that uses the motion of the back wheel of the bicycle to generate current to recharge a battery. We originally intended to use a 9V battery, but we weren't sure what the microcontroller would need for a source. What does the PSoC 4 require for a source?

   

We were also looking into using EL panels along with LEDs for the construction of our signals.

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Bob_Marlowe
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"What does the PSoC 4 require for a source?"

   

 

   

A stable one!

   

1.8V to 5.0, but stable and no noise

   

 

   

Bob

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Anonymous
Not applicable

You could fasten magnets to the wheel, coil to the frame, to develop a

   

simple DC generator. All depends on design criteria, how much energy

   

worst case you need to develop / unit time. This approach does not require

   

shaft coupling to wheel (friction like used in typical bike lightings of

   

years gone by), however mechanicak accuracy of magnetic field coupling

   

to coil nit as good as precison that exists in DC motor/generator types.

   

 

   

Regards, Dana.

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Bob_Marlowe
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@Dana:

   

Incognito?

   

 

   

Bob

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ETRO_SSN583
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