Cellcatraz - ECE342-W21

C++
System Design
Arduino
AVR Microcontrollers
Embedded Systems
PCB
Enclosure
Problem Solving
Junior Design

Each day, millions of people see their productivity plummet as they become distracted by one cell phone app or another. The Cellcatraz Pomodoro Timer offers a solution to this problem by providing a way to control cell phone use and maintain focus on a task. Cellcatraz uses an ATmega328P microcontroller that is pre-programmed via an Arduino UNO. I2C is used to update the 7-segment display, which shows the current time remaining. A photosensor is used to detect whether or not the cell phone is present in the box. Finally, a piezoelectric buzzer is used to generate the alarm tone. Since I had no prior PCB design experience, my initial plan was to use an Arduino UNO with a simple PCB shield. However, I wanted to challenge myself to design a more complex PCB and cut down on component cost, so the final project includes a PCB designed around the ATmega328P. The enclosure was designed to showcase the PCB, but several alterations would make Cellcatraz more practical. For instance, an enclosure with a slot, rather than the current design’s cell phone bay, would accommodate a wider variety of cell phone sizes – or even tablets. Additionally, using surface mounted components would be more space and cost-efficient. Finally, a rechargeable storage battery would allow Cellcatraz to operate without an electrical outlet.

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Artifacts

Name Description
Project Summary Summary of the project, including an explanation of the original design problem, a narrative explanation of how I approached the project, the project timeline, key lessons learned, and ideas for future improvement.   Download
Developer Guide (Part 1) Cellcatraz Developer Guide, including a system overview, electrical specifications, user guide, design artifacts (block diagrams, interface definitions, schematics, mechanical drawings), PCB information, Parts List, System Verification   Download
Developer Guide (Part 2) Part 2 of the Developer Guide (file size limit is 5MB)   Download
Project Summary Video Project Summary Video, including narrative explanation of project goals, device functionality, challenges, key takeaways, and future goals.   Link