S2 Week 10

In this week, I finished buying the components necessary for my project and can start assembling the device. Here is the list of the items :

Arduino Uno : RM 55
AD8232 Heart Monitor (secondhand) : RM 80
Electrode with 3.5mm Jack : RM 20
EMG Pads (20) : RM 40
Case : RM 10
Jumper : RM 10
HC 06 Bluetooth Module : RM 25
I2C LCD : RM 25

Total : RM 265

I managed to save more than half of the original estimated budget. This is largely due to the inflated pricing from myduino website and the swaping of the sensor. After the midterm break, I will start assembling and code my project.

S2 Week 9

For this week, i have found out an open source app that can be used with Arduino and HC06 bluetooth. This app is free to download from the Android Playstore. The app is titled Bluetooth Electronics by Keuwlsoft.

Bluetooth Electronics

This app is free to download and open sourced. The link to the website is here. There is also a user guide stated in the website. Basically, this app connects to the bluetooth module and acts both as a master and a slave to the module. The user can set the input and output of the device to the various modules in the app. 

S2 Week 8

On this week, i would like to update on the bluetooth module, HC 06, and why i choose it. It's features are :

HC 06 Bluetooth module

Wireless transceiver

• Sensitivity (Bit error rate) can reach -80dBm.
• The change range of output’s power: -4 - +6dBm.

Function description (perfect Bluetooth solution)

• Has an EDR module; and the change range of modulation depth: 2Mbps - 3Mbps.
• Has a build-in 2.4GHz antenna; user needn’t test antenna.
• Has the external 8Mbit FLASH
• Can work at the low voltage (3.1V~4.2V). The current in pairing is in the range of 30～40mA.
• The current in communication is 8mA.
• Standard HCI Port (UART or USB)
• USB Protocol: Full Speed USB1.1, Compliant With 2.0
• This module can be used in the SMD.
• It’s made through RoHS process.
• The board PIN is half hole size.
• Has a 2.4GHz digital wireless transceiver.
• Bases at CSR BC04 Bluetooth technology.
• Has the function of adaptive frequency hopping.
• Small (27mm×13mm×2mm)
• Peripherals circuit is simple.
• It’s at the Bluetooth class 2 power level.
• Storage temperature range: -40 ℃ - 85℃，work temperature range: -25 ℃ - +75℃
• Any wave inter Interference: 2.4MHz，the power of emitting: 3 dBm.
• Bit error rate: 0. Only the signal decays at the transmission link, bit error may be produced. For example, when RS232 or TTL is being processed, some signals may decay.

Low power consumption
Has high-performance wireless transceiver system
Low Cost

The reason i choose to interface my project with bluetooth, because every smartphone has bluetooth connectivity. The purpose of the project is to apply it as a smart device. As such, smartphones are perfect. The HC 06 is also the standard bluetooth module for small projects.

S2 Week 7

On this week, I had attended the 3rd FYP2 briefing for the semester. It was presented by Dr. Kanendra Naidu. This briefing focused on Methodology and Results & Discussion Writing for FYP Report. With this briefing, the whole report can now the written by all students.

The methodology part consisted of:
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Main Body (block diagram, flowchart, components, coding etc.)
3.3 Verification (verify the processes used)

The result and discussion would consist of:
4.1 Result diagrams
4.2 Graphs
4.3 Charts
4.4 Analysis

Chapter 3 and 4 are highly subjective and will be very different for each individual projects. As such, the briefing was very broad.

S2 Week 6

For this week, I would like to update on the components since last time, the budget was too high. I contacted a senior student and managed to replace some parts that was very high in price. I decided to replace the Myoware muscle sensor with an AD8232 Heart Rate monitor.

AD8232 Heart rate monitor

This sensor is actually usable for finding EMG signals. This is confirmed by my contact. I choose this sensor because my contact is willing to sell to me cheaper with the jack for electrodes. It costed me RM 100 only. 

A little bit of info on the sensor: 

Features and Benefits

• Fully integrated single-lead ECG front end
• Low supply current: 170 μA (typical)
• Common-mode rejection ratio: 80 dB (dc to 60 Hz)
• Two or three electrode configurations
• High signal gain (G = 100) with dc blocking capabilities
• 2-pole adjustable high-pass filter
• Accepts up to ±300 mV of half cell potential
• Fast restore feature improves filter settling
• Uncommitted op amp
• 3-pole adjustable low-pass filter with adjustable gain
• Leads off detection: ac or dc options
• Integrated right leg drive (RLD) amplifier
• Single-supply operation: 2.0 V to 3.5 V
• Integrated reference buffer generates virtual ground
• Rail-to-rail output
• Internal RFI filter
• 8 kV HBM ESD rating
• Shutdown pin
• 20-lead 4 mm × 4 mm LFCSP package