Cellcatraz - ECE342-W21
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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.
Artifacts
Name | Description | |
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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 |