WEEK 10 (FINAL ASSEMBLY)

On this week, we are trying to figure out on creating a box for the circuit and also a motor that we want to attach to the food tank. Other than that, we have to buy Poly pipe PVC, tuperware ,hot glue gun ,perspex , a small aquarium and cardboard to create this protype of fish feeder. Here were the picture of final assembly and the prototype of this project .

WEEK 9 (RESULT)

After completing the project, it is tested and the result is show in picture below. Each circuit has difference output which is related to each other. The 4060 IC circuit is the main circuit on this project. Means that, if there is a problem on the 4060 circuit, then the other will be effected too. The astable 555 IC also depends on the 4060 timer. If not, the motor will be not running.

Behaviour of Output Signal

We can see that the Astable 555 IC will start counting when the output of 4060 IC goes HIGH. Then, when the complete counting, the output will LOW for a second and it will goes HIGH again. The HIGH and LOW output can be set-up by replacing the resistor and capacitor. The Monostable output will goes HIGH when the Astable output LOW. The output will goes HIGH depends on the value of resistor and capacitor. The monostable output is representing the duration of motor running. 

WEEK 8 (TROUBLESHOOTING)

After we complete the process of drilling and soldering, we have to tested and troubleshoot the circuit. Find the problems that found and tried to solve it. 

The problem that we found is the amount of food can’t be control. So after study the circuit operation and do some research about the IC’s. After the input is given by the adapter which is DC 6V~12V, the first IC’s which is 4060 get enough power to operate. The IC 4060 is 14-bit counter which will count and give output to timer directly. The IC 4060 sending pulses by “1” means high and “0” low. So, the timer operate when output from 4060 show high which is “1”.But, its seem like the timer does not working at all. It seem that ouput from IC 4060 doesn’t enough power to operate the timer directly.

            So, in litte bit of theoretically and also practically, to allow timer get enough power, put between them an IC 7411 which is AND gate. The AND gate function as multiplier of the high and low input which is “1” and “0”. As example, when AND gate get input which “1” and “0”. The ouput will become “0” and when the input get “1” and “1”, the AND gate output will become high which is “1”.

            So, in this case to achieve enough power for timer operate is the input AND get connected from output 4060 and VCC to keep one of the input stay high. When 4060 counting and sent high output to AND gate and the high output from AND gate will send to the timer which cause timer to operate the motor which is control the amount of food to feed the fish. 

We attach some of picture on troubleshooting : 

WEEK 7 (DRILLING AND SOLDERING PROCESS)

The activity of this week is soldering process. After we have done the etching process, we set up all the component on the PCB board that we have drill all the holes on it. Then we solder each of the components. Here are the picture of our activity :

DRILLING PROCESS

SOLDERING PROCESS

To drill the PCB and solder the components must have take a precaution on doing it. If wrong your PCB or your components maybe damage and it is waste of your time to buy another PCB and one set of the components. Before doing this process, you must have another set of the components and a few of copper board to not wasted your time to go to the shop for buying all of this.

WEEK 6 (PCB PROCESS)

Ot this week, we manage to do etching process. The things that we need to do the process is a Copper board, the printed circuit diagram on plastic paper which is plastic transparent, an iron, hot water and acid for etching process. Here we attach picture of this process : 

COPPER BOARD

IRONING PROCESS

AFTER BEING IRON

ETCHING PROCESS

WEEK 5 (PCB OUTLINE)

On this week were are ready for circuit outline first and then go to process of etching of the printed circuit board (PCB). Before that, for the outline we use Diptrace software which is :

DIPTRACE SOFTWARE

This software was easy to us to draw the schematic diagram and change it to PCB form. These is example of the Diptrace software from our schematic :

 

WEEK 4 

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM AND FLOW CHART OF PROJECT

Before we start to develop this project. Here we attach the flow chart and schematic diagram for this project : 

BLOCK DIAGRAM

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM

Explanation For Circuit

As the schematic diagram above, we can see that the VCC will enter the switch first. The switch act as the circuit breaker for the whole circuit. When it is normally open, the power supply will not reach the circuit. But, when it is normally close, the circuit will be running. Then, the current will enter the IC 4060 first .

IC 4060 14-bit counter (Binary counter)

IC 4060 is an Oscillator binary counter of it can be as the frequency divider. The basic frequency of the internal oscillator is determined by the value of the capacitor connected to pin 9 and the resistor at pin 10.  Pin 11 can be used to give clock pulses from an external source. By increasing or decreasing the value of capacitor or resistor, time delay can be changed. Each output goes high after the completion of the timing cycle. For this IC, they have 10 output pin which is pin 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,13,14 and 15. Each output have a difference value of time and from one pin to another, the value is multiple by 2. There are some graph diagram that representing the output of each pin at figure 3.2. The RESET pin must be grounded because pulses are enabled when the RESET, pin 12, is connected LOW and dis-enabled, or inhibited, when RESET is connected HIGH. The VCC pin is at pin 16 and the GND at pin 8.

To know about the time for each output pin, there are some calculation to get the exact value of timer.

Formula to calculate the frequency :

R_T = Variable resistor on pin 10 and C_T = Capacitor at pin 9.

Formula to calculate the period of pulse :

OUTPUT SIGNAL OF 4060

f = Frequency and t = time

About IC 7411 (AND GATE) 

Next, the output from IC 4060 will enter the IC 7411(AND gate). The 7411 IC is a 3 input and 1 output AND gate. The reason why this IC have been chosen because we want to stabilize the output from 4060 IC same value as the VCC. One of the input were connected to the output of the 4060 IC and the rest were connected to the VCC. Then, the output of 7411 IC connect to the IC 555. The VCC is at pin 14 and GND at pin 7.

Pin of 7411 IC :

PIN CONFIGURATION

A,B and C = input, Y = output

IC 555 (Astable) mode

The output from 7411 IC were connected to the one of the parallel resistor at the Astable 555 IC circuit. The parallel of resistor at the Astable circuit is to match the timing ON of the 4060 output. The Astable circuit must be triggered within the 4060 output still HIGH. So, the resistor value must be accurate to make sure the timer for Astable output triggered on time. When the value of resistor is increase, the time of astable circuit to trigger also will increase. Pin 4 and 8 were connected to the Vcc while pin 1 is to the GND. Pin 6 and 2 should connected together than connect to the R3 and C2. The output of Astable circuit is connected to the pin 2 at monostable circuit.

Formula for calculate HIGH time :

Time HIGH (1) = 0.693 x ( R5 + R3 ) x C2

Formula to calculate LOW time :

Time LOW (0) = 0.693 x R3 x C2

Formula to calculate the frequency :

Frequency = 1.44 / (( R5 + R3 + R3 ) x C2

Output wave :

OUTPUT SIGNAL

IC 555 (Monostable) mode

This is the last circuit that function as the timer for motor to running. The duration of motor to running is depends on the resistor (R4) and capacitor (C3) that connected to pin 7 and 8. This monostable circuit must be receive the continuous power supply. But, it will function when the power supply is cut-off for a while. Then, the output will goes HIGH. So, the output from Astable circuit will steadily HIGH and then it will LOW for a while. At that time, the monostable will start function means the motor will running. When the value of R4 and C3 increase, the duration of motor to running will increase. Pin 4 and pin 8 were connected to the VCC while pin 1 is connected to GND.

Formula to calculate the timer :

Time HIGH = 1.1 x R4 x C3

The output waveform :

OUTPUT SIGNAL