LilyPad Arduino very open Watch
2021-Jan-15, Friday 03:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chebeI made a watch. Because of course I did. Same wrist-strap and general idea as the LilyPad and Protoboard Wrist Controller. But the protoboard is populated with a Real Time Clock (RTC) module, and four-digit seven-segment display.
I'm using the SparkFun DeadOn RTC module. I got it for another project and just happened to have it laying around. You can get others that use fewer pins though, like I used in the clock. (DeadOn RTC setup guide). Downsides include not being able to find the right sized battery. (I had to go to Belgium for it, and it still hasn't arrived.) Upsides include the module having two alarms. One to the second, the other to the minute.
If I have alarms I'm going to need an alert, so throw in a LilyPad Buzzer (as in speaker) (Buzzer setup guide), and a SPDT slide switch to put it into silent mode. And if it's on silent I'm going to want a vibrate option, so add a LilyPad Vibe Board. This is the Vibe Board setup guide, but I'm doing things a bit differently. I'm not using a MOSFET, and I connected - to GND, and + to PWM pin 6. It works just fine.
To see the time I'll need a nice display like Adafruit 4-Digit 7-Segment Display with I2C Backpack (Display Backpack library setup), and a nice Metal Ball Tactile Button to turn it on and off.
Then I just have to figure out how to connect everything together, and program it.
This build is all about layers upon layers. The LilyPad Arduino Main Board is the base layer. But the Prototype PCB for LilyPad Arduino itself has many layers.
The first layer of the underside of the protoboard, has a (rather melted) header for the RTC. With a Switched JST-PH 2-Pin SMT Right Angle Breakout Board soldered on to connect to a battery. The vibration board is also connected through removable headers.
Once they're in place you can add the battery and place the RTC on top. 150mAh just barely fits, but something like 105/110mAh is a better choice. (Also, it's best to make sure the JST board is switched to off while the battery is in place and the LilyPad FTDI Basic Breakout is attached.)
Then flip the board over to the topside. The header is for the display. The upside down LilyPad board is a buzzer (as in speaker). Otherwise there's a nice push button for turning on/off the display, and a slide switch to turn on/off sound.
Once they're all in place you can screw the protoboard to the LilyPad Main Board through standoffs. Because there is so much between the LilyPad and the protoboard longer standoffs are required; M2 20mm standoffs minimum. And finally seat the display.
I have the vibration board tucked away in a loop of bias binding glued to itself, to hold it next to, but away from, the skin.
Then just turn everything on! There is quite a lot you can do with this kind of completely hackable setup. As it is you can use the alerts to train yourself to have a better understanding of time. Just by having it vibrate on the hour every hour. You could make it a countdown timer so you can remind yourself to stop talking. Or any arbitrary period to remind yourself to take breaks. You could use some of the empty pins and add a motion sensor. Then you can keep track of your activity and if you don't move around enough each hour you can alert yourself. You can tailor everything to yourself exactly. But, as a reminder, do not get this wet. If you really want to use this as an activity tracker you'd be better off minimising it and adding a skin-safe water/sweat-proof enclosure. But for general time related body hacking this is a decent start.
I'm using the SparkFun DeadOn RTC module. I got it for another project and just happened to have it laying around. You can get others that use fewer pins though, like I used in the clock. (DeadOn RTC setup guide). Downsides include not being able to find the right sized battery. (I had to go to Belgium for it, and it still hasn't arrived.) Upsides include the module having two alarms. One to the second, the other to the minute.
If I have alarms I'm going to need an alert, so throw in a LilyPad Buzzer (as in speaker) (Buzzer setup guide), and a SPDT slide switch to put it into silent mode. And if it's on silent I'm going to want a vibrate option, so add a LilyPad Vibe Board. This is the Vibe Board setup guide, but I'm doing things a bit differently. I'm not using a MOSFET, and I connected - to GND, and + to PWM pin 6. It works just fine.
To see the time I'll need a nice display like Adafruit 4-Digit 7-Segment Display with I2C Backpack (Display Backpack library setup), and a nice Metal Ball Tactile Button to turn it on and off.
Then I just have to figure out how to connect everything together, and program it.
LilyPad Watch Circuit
Made with Fritzing
LilyPad pinout marked up
Made with Fritzing and edited in post
This build is all about layers upon layers. The LilyPad Arduino Main Board is the base layer. But the Prototype PCB for LilyPad Arduino itself has many layers.
The first layer of the underside of the protoboard, has a (rather melted) header for the RTC. With a Switched JST-PH 2-Pin SMT Right Angle Breakout Board soldered on to connect to a battery. The vibration board is also connected through removable headers.
Protoboard, underside, JST battery board layer
Photo by chebe
Once they're in place you can add the battery and place the RTC on top. 150mAh just barely fits, but something like 105/110mAh is a better choice. (Also, it's best to make sure the JST board is switched to off while the battery is in place and the LilyPad FTDI Basic Breakout is attached.)
Protoboard, underside, RTC layer
Photo by chebe
Then flip the board over to the topside. The header is for the display. The upside down LilyPad board is a buzzer (as in speaker). Otherwise there's a nice push button for turning on/off the display, and a slide switch to turn on/off sound.
Protoboard, topside, buzzer and buttons layer
Photo by chebe
Once they're all in place you can screw the protoboard to the LilyPad Main Board through standoffs. Because there is so much between the LilyPad and the protoboard longer standoffs are required; M2 20mm standoffs minimum. And finally seat the display.
Protoboard, topside, display layer
Photo by chebe
I have the vibration board tucked away in a loop of bias binding glued to itself, to hold it next to, but away from, the skin.
Vibration component in bias binding loop
Photo by chebe
Then just turn everything on! There is quite a lot you can do with this kind of completely hackable setup. As it is you can use the alerts to train yourself to have a better understanding of time. Just by having it vibrate on the hour every hour. You could make it a countdown timer so you can remind yourself to stop talking. Or any arbitrary period to remind yourself to take breaks. You could use some of the empty pins and add a motion sensor. Then you can keep track of your activity and if you don't move around enough each hour you can alert yourself. You can tailor everything to yourself exactly. But, as a reminder, do not get this wet. If you really want to use this as an activity tracker you'd be better off minimising it and adding a skin-safe water/sweat-proof enclosure. But for general time related body hacking this is a decent start.
LilyPad watch assembled and operational
Photo by chebe
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