Silicon ChipWellbeing monitor - November 2020 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Why is electronics male-dominated?
  4. Mailbag
  5. Feature: MEMS (Micro-Electromechanical Systems) by Dr David Maddison
  6. Project: Eight Small LED Christmas Ornaments by Tim Blythman
  7. PartShop
  8. Project: Two Large LED Christmas Stars by Barry Cullen & Tim Blythman
  9. Project: Balanced Input Attenuator for the USB SuperCodec by Phil Prosser
  10. Circuit Notebook: Automatic hand sanitiser dispenser by Bera Somnath
  11. Circuit Notebook: Wellbeing monitor by Phillip Webb
  12. Circuit Notebook: Boat Computer modified for 4WDs by Greg Hoyes
  13. Circuit Notebook: More modified Boat Computer software by Ray Saegenschnitter
  14. Serviceman's Log: One repair leads to another by Dave Thompson
  15. Vintage Radio: RCA BP-10 "miniature" valve portable radio by Ian Batty
  16. Feature: A Rundown on New 8-pin PIC Microcontrollers by Tim Blythman
  17. Feature: The Vintage Matrox ALT-512 Graphics Card by Hugo Holden
  18. Project: Flexible Digital Lighting Controller, part 2 by Tim Blythman
  19. Feature: Electronic ‘Wearables’ and the Jaycar Sparkle Stitch by Tim Blythman & Nicholas Vinen
  20. Ask Silicon Chip
  21. Market Centre
  22. Advertising Index
  23. Notes & Errata: USB SuperCodec, August-October 2020; History of the Australian GPO, September 2020; Shirt Pocket Oscillator, September 2020; Frequency Reference Signal Distributor, April 2020; 45V 8A Linear Bench Supply, October-December 2019
  24. Outer Back Cover

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Items relevant to "Eight Small LED Christmas Ornaments":
  • Tiny LED Cap PCB [16111193] (AUD $3.00)
  • Tiny LED Stocking PCB [16111194] (AUD $3.00)
  • Tiny LED Reindeer PCB [16111195] (AUD $3.00)
  • Tiny LED Bauble PCB [16111196] (AUD $3.00)
  • Tiny LED Sleigh PCB [16111197] (AUD $3.00)
  • Tiny LED Star PCB [16111198] (AUD $3.00)
  • Tiny LED Candy Cane PCB [16111199] (AUD $3.00)
  • PIC12F1572-I/SN (or equivalent) programmed for the Tiny LED Christmas Ornaments (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • Tiny LED Christmas Ornament complete kit (Component, AUD $14.00)
  • Firmware for the LED Christmas Ornaments (Software, Free)
  • Eight Tiny LED Xmas Ornament PCB patterns (PDF download) [16111191-16111199] (Free)
Items relevant to "Two Large LED Christmas Stars":
  • Stackable LED Star PCB [16109201] (AUD $12.50)
  • RGB Stackable LED Star PCB [16109202] (AUD $12.50)
  • ATmega328P-AUR or ATmega88PB-AUR programmed for the RGB Stackable LED Star [1620920A.HEX or 1620920B.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • Kit for the RGB Stackable LED Christmas Star (Component, AUD $38.50)
  • Firmware for the 30 RGB LED Xmas Star (Software, Free)
  • RGB Stackable LED Star PCB pattern (PDF download) [16209202] (Free)
  • Stackable LED Star PCB pattern (PDF download) [16109201] (Free)
Items relevant to "Balanced Input Attenuator for the USB SuperCodec":
  • USB SuperCodec PCB [01106201] (AUD $12.50)
  • USB SuperCodec Balanced Input Attenuator add-on PCB [01106202] (AUD $7.50)
  • Parts source grid for the USB SuperCodec (Software, Free)
  • USB SuperCodec PCB pattern (PDF download) [01106201] (Free)
  • USB SuperCodec Balanced Input Attenuator add-on PCB pattern (PDF download) [01106202] (Free)
  • USB SuperCodec front panel artwork (PDF download) (Free)
  • Drilling and cutting diagrams for the USB SuperCodec Balanced Input Attenuator (PDF download) (Panel Artwork, Free)
Articles in this series:
  • USB SuperCodec (August 2020)
  • USB SuperCodec – part two (September 2020)
  • USB SuperCodec – part three (October 2020)
  • Balanced Input Attenuator for the USB SuperCodec (November 2020)
  • Balanced Input Attenuator for the USB SuperCodec, Part 2 (December 2020)
Items relevant to "Automatic hand sanitiser dispenser":
  • Arduino sketch for the Automatic Hand Sanitiser Dispenser (Software, Free)
Items relevant to "Wellbeing monitor":
  • Arduino sketch for the Welfare Monitor (Software, Free)
Items relevant to "Boat Computer modified for 4WDs":
  • Modified software for the Micromite Boat Computer (Free)
Items relevant to "More modified Boat Computer software":
  • Modified software for the Micromite Boat Computer (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • The Matrox ALT-256 Graphics Card (October 2020)
  • The Vintage Matrox ALT-512 Graphics Card (November 2020)
Items relevant to "Flexible Digital Lighting Controller, part 2":
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller main PCB [16110202] (AUD $20.00)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller Micromite Master PCB [16110201] (AUD $5.00)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller CP2102 Adaptor PCB [16110204] (AUD $2.50)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller LED slave PCB [16110205] (AUD $5.00)
  • PIC16F1705-I/P programmed for the Flexible Digital Lighting Controller [1611020A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • PIC32MX170F256B-50I/SP programmed for the Flexible Digital Lighting Controller Micromite master [1611020B.hex] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $15.00)
  • PIC16F1455-I/P programmed for the Flexible Digital Lighting Controller WS2812 Slave [16110205.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • Micromite LCD BackPack V3 complete kit (Component, AUD $75.00)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller front panel PCB [16110203] (AUD $20.00)
  • Firmware and software for the Fiexible Digital Lighting Controller (Free)
  • Firmware and PC software for the Digital Lighting Controller [1611010A.HEX] (Free)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller mains slave PCB patterns (PDF download) [16110202-3] (Free)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller Master PCB patterns (PDF download) [16110201, 16110204] (Free)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller LED slave PCB pattern (PDF download) [16110205] (Free)
  • Drilling and cutting diagrams for the Flexible Digital Lighting Controller Micromite master (PDF download) (Panel Artwork, Free)
  • Cutting diagram for the Flexible Digital Lighting Controller mains slave rear panel (PDF download) (Panel Artwork, Free)
  • Cutting diagrams and front panel artwork for the Flexible Digital Lighting Controller LED slave (PDF download) (Free)
  • Matte/Gloss Black UB3 Lid for Micromite LCD BackPack V3 or Pico BackPack using 3.5in screen (PCB, AUD $5.00)
Articles in this series:
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller, part 1 (October 2020)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller, part 2 (November 2020)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller, part 3 (December 2020)
  • Digital Lighting Controller Translator (December 2021)

Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $10.00.

Wellbeing monitor I needed a device that could monitor the welfare of a senior family member living alone to supplement regular phone calls. The circuit I came up with reports hourly movement activity. A smartphone notification message is sent if movement is below a threshold for defined active hours. Movement events are recorded hourly to an SD card and can be reviewed to establish normal activity patterns, and thus identify any significant changes. It comprises a passive infrared sensor (Jaycar Cat XC4444), an ESP8266 WiFi module (Jaycar XC3802 or WeMos D1 mini), a micro SD card shield (Jaycar XC3852) and a few other components. The wiring is elementary, as the SD shield plugs into the ESP8266 module. The unit connects to an available WiFi network and uses the Blynk IoT application that will work on most smart devices wherever an internet connection is available. When the PIR senses movement, its output pulls digital input pin D1 of the ESP8266 high. The number of these events are counted each hour, and if the number is less than a preset value between certain hours, a notification is sent to a family member. Thus alerted, the family can contact the senior by phone, or visit, or inform a neighbour. The total movement events per hour are also logged to an SD card file that can be reviewed online and graphed for the current or any previous day. The LED flashes briefly when movement is detected, and when the PIR resets after the timeout delay. The PIR timeout pot should be set to about 10 62 Silicon Chip several keywords such as “H” to show the help, “S” for settings, “L” for the hourly event log, “ST” for statistics of the previous 35 days and more. Notifications can be temporarily turned off for a number of hours using preset buttons, or for longer times in the modify settings option. There is also an hourly blackout option to cease notifications for individual hours. Configuration seconds, and the sensitivity pot to about midrange. While the PIR module operates from 5V it outputs at 3.3V, for compatibility with the I/O pins of the ESP8266. The remote device runs the Blynk IoT platform with a basic software interface comprising the main Terminal screen with RTC and Notification Widgets, two Value Displays, two Tabs and five Buttons to disable and re-enable notifications. The second screen has a chart that plots total and daily movement events against time. If the available internet service has limited monthly data allowance, then a limited data option can be set. This activates the WiFi only for a 90 second period if an alarm message is required, and also once a day when a status message is sent that confirms the system is functional, allowing the user to remotely interrogate the hourly movement events for the day. The terminal screen understands Australia’s electronics magazine A web page-based configuration is provided on first power up after loading the software sketch. It permits selection of an existing WiFi network, the network password, the Blynk Authorisation Token and the text for two notification messages (the monitored person’s name and a ‘not OK’ message.) This means that the WiFi and Blynk connection parameters do not have to be hardcoded into the sketch. The settings are then saved to EEPROM and are loaded on bootup. Other settings are changed using the modify settings option in the terminal screen. See the user manual for more details of installing, setting up and using the Wellbeing Monitor (available for download from siliconchip.com. au/Shop/6/5680). A QR Code download is also provided to quickly recreate a copy of the Blynk Project. If you have Blynk already on your smart device, open the app, log in, create a new project then tap on the QR Code icon next to the info icon at the top right of the project page. Then scan the QR Code for this project using the device camera. Phillip Webb, Hope Valley, SA. ($100) siliconchip.com.au