This project is about the creation of an interactive (touch) board with modular and wireless capabilities. You may ask why someone would want to do this and the answer is, current interactive boards are wired, which means they have to be next or close to the computers that they are controlling. Another problem with current interactive boards is that they come in fixed sizes, something that makes them hard to move and static (if you want a different size, you have to buy a whole new smart board). The final major issue with interactive boards is that they are expensive, with most costing in the thousands of dollars that makes them expensive and inaccessible to most. With the creation of this interactive board, the size and wired constraints are addressed with its wireless and modular features. The issue of price diminishes, considering that this interactive board costs fifty dollars ($50) to produce.
The project is centered on the creation of this interactive touch interface using infrared sensors and emitters. There is a multitude of components involved in this project so to start off, it is best to go over how the main components are connected and how the communicate. Controlling each one of the 4 sensor hubs are Arduino Nanos. The Nanos read data from [24+] infrared phototransistors via multiplexers, as the Nanos only have 8 analog pins and the minimum number of sensors is 24. The Nanos are running programs that analyze the values from each individual sensor to determine whether or not it should be considered as a point where a touch occurred. After the analysis, each one of the 4 sensor microcontrollers sends data to a Pro Micro which does a further analysis and moves the mouse in correspondence to the sensor that has detected a touch. The communication between the 4 Nanos and the Pro Micro is achieved through the use of radio transceivers. Each one of the 4 Nanos is programmed to provide power to at least 24 infrared emitters which provide light for the phototransistors. Upon building a system like this, one is able to achieve the capabilities of a wireless interactive touch display; there are software features programmed into the system to avoid shadows setting of touches, but that will be covered in the software section.
A demonstration of the latest iteration of this wireless interactive touch board is available through a video I posted on YouTube of me using it to achieve a task. In the video, I use my finger and a pen as input devices for the touch interface.
In the second video, I showcase the hardware used in the project and its modular nature by resizing it via removing an extension hub.
BuildingThe project requires the assembly of 4 fairly similar sensor/emitter circuits (which will be referenced as Hubs 1-4) and a mouse circuit (which will be referenced as Hub 5). Luckily enough, you are not tasked with designing these circuits (that was my job J), I have provided circuit diagrams to aid with the assembly process as well as code specified to run on each hub. What is required of you is to follow the circuit diagrams and build the circuits, then upload their respective programs and start using the interface. Hubs 1-4 are similar in that they all use the Arduino Nano and they contain infrared phototransistors and emitters. The job of these hubs is to create an XY grid of infrared sensors and send information to Hub 5 when they ‘think’ there is a touch present.
As mentioned before, Hubs 1-4 are similar in design, so their Fritzing diagrams are similar, save for a few differences in wiring, please pay attention to the different wiring, especially between Hubs 1 & 2 the rest (Hubs 1 & 2 are a little more intricate than Hubs 3 & 4); these differences are due to functionality differences which will be explained later on.
In the process of assembling Hubs 1-4, it is wise to start by referencing Fritzing diagrams 1-4 as the different diagrams represent different steps in the building process, with more components being added onto the breadboards. The best way to build the four hubs efficiently is to build the 4 hubs all at once, instead of finishing one and then moving to the next (start building all 4 at once and make equal progress on all 4 as you are observing the diagrams).
The Fritzing Diagrams with details on how to build the 5 hubs can be found in the section of this project titled “Schematics”. Please do not concern yourself with matching the wire colors as they appear in the schematics.
Uploading CodeAfter building the different hubs and the extension circuits that go with them, please refer to the section of this article titled “Code”. In this section there are 5 programs and each has a description of which Hub it is meant to be uploaded to. Please upload the programs to their respective hubs.
UsageIn order to use the Hubs and their modules, it is necessary to open up each one of the Arduino’s (Hub’s) serial monitor. Within the code there are some commands that allow the user to calibrate the touch interface via serial communication (serial monitor). After getting the orientation right, and having the serial monitor open, send the letter ‘n’ in the serial monitors corresponding to Hubs 1-4. Ensure that the output of each hub has a table that matches the number of sensors that it covers (if the hub has a receiver extension module, the table should display 48 elements, and otherwise it should be 24). Send the command ‘ar’ and create shadows over the interface (do not obstruct the path between a receiver and emitter), merely create shadows over the receivers and the ambient light (not from the emitters). After 1 minute, calibration will be finished and the 4 Hubs will transmit touch data between themselves and the computer that Hub 5 is connected to. Hub 5 does not have to be connected to the same computer Hubs 1-4 are connected to, but the serial monitor for Hub 5 has to be open on that computer.
ConclusionIn conclusion, we can use different circuitry components to make our own interactive touch display which has more features than those that are currently in production. Through the use of Arduino, we can improve on the existing technology to solve problems concerning different forms of technology.
About meMy name is Adellar Irankunda and I am a junior at Jefferson high school in Jefferson County, West Virginia. If you need help completing this project or have any questions, please contact me at: addyirankunda@gmail.com.
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