Plink-O-Rama Dave Hoffman Ben Breen

Presentation Outline 1. A Review of our Proposal −Compare / Contrast:  What did we set out to do?  What have we done? 2. Technical Implementation −Core Modules; How they function. −Setbacks and Failures −Contingency Plans

Presentation Outline 3. Demonstration −Driving the Stepper Motor −Plink-O-Rama: Let’s Play a Game 4. Conclusion −Suggested Improvements −Acknowledgements −Question Period

A Review of our Proposal

Survey Says: Students Are Stressed  Short breaks between periods of reading are proven to create a more productive study period.  Students will often take study breaks regardless of the situation. By structuring these breaks, the student would be fully aware of passing time. What could solve this issue?

Our Finished Product  Plink-O-Rama is an electronic game designed to: − provide amusement − reduce stress − and increase productivity.  Plink-O-Rama is Refreshing!

“This game would make a great study break” - Brian Paquette

Technical Implementation

Technical Overview I/O Computer Basket LED’s Sensor Circuitry Stepper Motor Score Displays

I/O Computer Technical Overview

I/O Computer Initial Design: PIC16C74B Microprocessor Processor was to control: Basket values. Detect scores on the pins. Display / keep track of scores.

I/O Computer Setbacks:  Processor damaged during development. Basis for Setback:  Attributed to the PC power supply. Adjustments  Design changed to utilize Parallel Port to replace function of microprocessor.

I/O Computer

 Adjustments: −I/O limitations require new components. −Additional Techniques required to reduce pin usage.  Basket values controlled by external logic gates.  Current player indicator controlled by 74LS04 chip.

Technical Overview Sensor Circuitry

Initial Design:  Small effective circuits using pull-up resistors designed to minimize noise on input lines to microprocessor.

Sensor Circuitry  Setbacks:  Sensors incompatible with parallel port.  Basis for Setback:  Attributed to the PC power supply.  Adjustments  Design changed to negative logic based sensors effectively debounced.

Basket LED’s Technical Overview

Basket LED’s  Initial Design:  Each basket controlled through the use of the microprocessor.  Setbacks:  Number of pins available reduced in switch to parallel port.  Basis for Setback:  Attributed to the PC power supply.

 Adjustments:  Sensors are driven using external logic to manipulate all bins based off a single bin. Basket LED’s

Technical Overview Score Displays

 Initial Design:  Each display driven through a complex network of logic chips.

Score Displays Completed Initial Design

Score Displays  Setbacks:  Two separate units needed to be placed on board. Space unavailable.  Basis for Setback:  Difficult to debug, other methods of driving displays found.

Score Displays  Adjustments:  Employs the 74LS47, BCD to Seven Segment Decoder IC.

 Adjustments: Score Displays

Stepper Motor Technical Overview

Stepper Motor  Evolution of Motors: Floppy Drive Motor Spare Parts Motor Digi-Key Motor

Stepper Motor  Initial Design:  Two bit counter used to drive logic into a series of transistors that in turn drive the stepper motor.

 Setbacks:  Damaged transistors.  Current requirements too high for slightly damaged parallel port.  Basis for Setback:  Did not order proper transistors.  Attributed to the PC power supply. Stepper Motor

 Final Design:  The ULN2003A, high current (500mA) Darlington transistor array was used as the central component in driving a single stepper motor. Stepper Motor

Demonstration

Stepper Motor

Demonstration The Physical Components:

Demonstration Plink-O-Rama: Features:  Two player board game.  Turn-based.  Each game goes to 15.  Three levels of difficulty:  1 st Level: Static Basket Values.  2 nd Level: Basket Values change each turn.  3 rd Level: Chaos Mode. TM Basket Values change randomly.  Winning Animations  Winning Histories

Demonstration Plink-O-Rama

Conclusion

 Improvements to Prototype:  External Component Independence: −Integrated Central Processing Unit −Embedded Power Supply  Wiring / Eliminating Protoboards  Additional Software Features: −Multiple Game Modes −Implemented Pause after long periods of play. Conclusion

Acknowledgements: We would like to express our sincere gratitude to: - Frank Comeau - Jim Holmes - Carl Adams - St F.X. Machine Shop: - Werner Schnepf - Steve MacDonald Conclusion

Questions / Comments