Dena Yoder

Gerald Choate

Elen 4206

 

Accelerometer Mouse

Description:

Accelerometer-based, wireless mouse

Objectives and Approach:

            The main objective of this project is to explore an alternative design for the measurement of movement of a mouse or joystick. The control of this design will utilize accelerometers with both digital and analog output to determine motion. Infrared technology will be used to implement the wireless communication.  Since the standard mouse and optical mouse both rely on flat surfaces, another goal will be to design the controller such that no surface is needed for its operation. The device will read data from the dual-axis accelerometer and the input buttons.  Depressing the main switch will allow the accelerometer signal to be transmitted to the base unit only if the accelerometer reading is greater than at (threshold acceleration between 0.3g and 0.7g).  The voltages seen at the outputs of the accelerometer will be converted to a signal to be sent to the base unit via an infrared transmitter and receiver. From this point the signal will go to the microcontroller, which will then convert the signal to instructions that the PC can process using standard mouse drivers.

Specifications:

a    Small hand controller, approximately the size of a small joystick handle

a    Wireless communication from controller to PC

a    Full mouse functionality

›    X-Y movement from system of two dual-axis accelerometers

›    Right, left, and double click

›    Vertical scrolling

a    Use of standard mouse drivers in CPU for ease of installation on computer and ease of user changes to mouse sensitivity, speed, and other parameters

a    On/Off switch to conserve power usage

a    Activation button to control whether accelerometer measurement is used

a    Battery monitoring (LED based)

Diagrams:

 

Cost Estimate:

 

Microcontroller

 

15

 

Wireless Receiver and    

                Transmitter

 

15

 

Signal Generator

 

10

 

Buttons

 

5

 

Accelerometer

 

10

 

          Accelerometer (Donation)

10

 

 

Power Supply

 

10

 

Standard Mouse

 

10

 

Packaging

 

10

 

Sub Total

 

85

 

 

 

(10)

 

Total

 

75

 

Schedule:

Semester  I

            Week              Task

1-4                                     Research: electronic applications, components for IR circuit, accelerometer availability, components for accelerometer circuit

5                                            Prepare a kinematical diagram detailing motion of the mouse

6-8                                     Design circuit interface for accelerometer (accelerometer circuit)

9-10                                Troubleshoot accelerometer circuit

11                    Design interface between accelerometer and IR circuits

12                    Troubleshoot interface

13                    Prepare final proposal (labor, parts, etc.) for power point

14                    Present final proposal (post on webpage, jpegs, etc.)

 

Semester  II

1-4                  Install and troubleshoot accelerometer and accelerometer circuit

(filtering, sensitivity, etc.)

5-8                  Test and troubleshoot mouse operation (accuracy, sensitivity,    and accelerometer re-calibration)

9                      Test and troubleshoot IR transmission (interface circuit)

10-11              Troubleshoot PC interface and testing on multiple computer s

12-13              Design a smaller, more mobile mouse

14-15              Test and troubleshoot complete system (Accelerometer & IR)