Silicon ChipVoice-operated and proximity lift controls - November 2021 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Standardising on USB-C: a good idea
  4. Mailbag
  5. Feature: Big Brother is Tracking You! – Part 1 by Dr David Maddison
  6. Project: USB Cable Tester – Part 1 by Tim Blythman
  7. Feature: El Cheapo Modules: 6GHz Digital Attenuator by Jim Rowe
  8. Review: R80 Synthesised Aviation Band Receiver Kit by Andrew Woodfield
  9. Circuit Notebook: Modifying Micromite software to use a 3.5in display by Tim Blythman
  10. Circuit Notebook: Voice-operated and proximity lift controls by Bera Somnath
  11. Project: Pocket Weather Station by Aarav Garg
  12. Project: Model Railway Carriage Lights by Les Kerr
  13. Vintage Radio: Stromberg-Carlson model 496 radio by Associate Professor Graham Parslow
  14. Project: Two- or Three-Way Stereo Active Crossover – Part 2 by Phil Prosser
  15. Serviceman's Log: That ‘80s gear and the art of printer repair by Dave Thompson
  16. PartShop
  17. Ask Silicon Chip
  18. Market Centre
  19. Advertising Index
  20. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the November 2021 issue of Silicon Chip.

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Articles in this series:
  • Big Brother is Tracking You! – Part 1 (November 2021)
  • Big Brother is Tracking You! – Part 2 (December 2021)
Items relevant to "USB Cable Tester – Part 1":
  • USB Cable Tester main PCB [04108211] (AUD $7.50)
  • PIC16F18877-I/P programmed for the USB Cable Tester [0410821C.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $15.00)
  • Relay - EA2-5NU (Component, AUD $3.00)
  • IPP80P03P4L-07 high-current P-channel Mosfet (Component, AUD $2.50)
  • Short form kit for the USB Cable Tester (Component, AUD $110.00)
  • USB Cable Tester front panel PCB [04108212] (AUD $5.00)
  • Laser-cut acrylic bezel for USB Cable Tester (PCB, AUD $2.50)
  • Firmware and bezel laser cutting files for the USB Cable Tester [0410821A.HEX] (Software, Free)
  • USB Cable Tester PCB patterns (PDF download) [04108211/2] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • USB Cable Tester – Part 1 (November 2021)
  • USB Cable Tester – Part 2 (December 2021)
Articles in this series:
  • El Cheapo Modules From Asia - Part 1 (October 2016)
  • El Cheapo Modules From Asia - Part 2 (December 2016)
  • El Cheapo Modules From Asia - Part 3 (January 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules from Asia - Part 4 (February 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules, Part 5: LCD module with I²C (March 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules, Part 6: Direct Digital Synthesiser (April 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules, Part 7: LED Matrix displays (June 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Li-ion & LiPo Chargers (August 2017)
  • El Cheapo modules Part 9: AD9850 DDS module (September 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules Part 10: GPS receivers (October 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules 11: Pressure/Temperature Sensors (December 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules 12: 2.4GHz Wireless Data Modules (January 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 13: sensing motion and moisture (February 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 14: Logarithmic RF Detector (March 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 16: 35-4400MHz frequency generator (May 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 17: 4GHz digital attenuator (June 2018)
  • El Cheapo: 500MHz frequency counter and preamp (July 2018)
  • El Cheapo modules Part 19 – Arduino NFC Shield (September 2018)
  • El cheapo modules, part 20: two tiny compass modules (November 2018)
  • El cheapo modules, part 21: stamp-sized audio player (December 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 22: Stepper Motor Drivers (February 2019)
  • El Cheapo Modules 23: Galvanic Skin Response (March 2019)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Class D amplifier modules (May 2019)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Long Range (LoRa) Transceivers (June 2019)
  • El Cheapo Modules: AD584 Precision Voltage References (July 2019)
  • Three I-O Expanders to give you more control! (November 2019)
  • El Cheapo modules: “Intelligent” 8x8 RGB LED Matrix (January 2020)
  • El Cheapo modules: 8-channel USB Logic Analyser (February 2020)
  • New w-i-d-e-b-a-n-d RTL-SDR modules (May 2020)
  • New w-i-d-e-b-a-n-d RTL-SDR modules, Part 2 (June 2020)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Mini Digital Volt/Amp Panel Meters (December 2020)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Mini Digital AC Panel Meters (January 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: LCR-T4 Digital Multi-Tester (February 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: USB-PD chargers (July 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: USB-PD Triggers (August 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: 3.8GHz Digital Attenuator (October 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: 6GHz Digital Attenuator (November 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: 35MHz-4.4GHz Signal Generator (December 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: LTDZ Spectrum Analyser (January 2022)
  • Low-noise HF-UHF Amplifiers (February 2022)
  • A Gesture Recognition Module (March 2022)
  • Air Quality Sensors (May 2022)
Items relevant to "R80 Synthesised Aviation Band Receiver Kit":
  • R80 Assembly Instructions (Software, Free)
Items relevant to "Modifying Micromite software to use a 3.5in display":
  • Firmware for Micromite 3.5-inch display emulation (Software, Free)
Items relevant to "Voice-operated and proximity lift controls":
  • Firmware for the Voice-Operated Lift Controls (Software, Free)
Items relevant to "Pocket Weather Station":
  • Arduino sketch for the Pocket Weather Station (Software, Free)
Items relevant to "Model Railway Carriage Lights":
  • Model Railway Carriage Lights PCB [09109211] (AUD $2.50)
  • PIC12F617-I/SN programmed for the Model Railway Carriage Lights [0910921A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • Hard-to-get parts for the Model Railway Carriage Lights (Component, AUD $25.00)
  • Firmware for the Model Railway Carriage Lights [0910921A.HEX] (Software, Free)
  • Model Railway Carriage Lights PCB pattern (PDF download) [09109211] (Free)
Items relevant to "Two- or Three-Way Stereo Active Crossover – Part 2":
  • Two- or Three-Way Stereo Active Crossover PCB [01109211] (AUD $15.00)
  • Two- or Three-Way Active Crossover PCB patterns (PDF download) [01109211] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Two- or Three-Way Stereo Active Crossover – Part 1 (October 2021)
  • Two- or Three-Way Stereo Active Crossover – Part 2 (November 2021)

Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $11.50.

Voice-operated and proximity lift controls One big problem with lifts is that you usually have to press a button to select which floor you want to go to. And with everyone pressing these buttons, there is the possibility of spreading disease. So I came up with these voice-operated controls for the service lift at my workplace. It takes a voice command from people inside the lift and converts them into electrical signals which operate solenoids to press the lift buttons. To call the lift, one or two proximity sensors are provided at each floor, for up & down. All you need to do is wave your hand near the sensor to call the lift. This project can handle other voice commands, such as opening and closing doors, controlling a fan or triggering an alarm. A laptop with an Intel Core i3 processor handles the voice recognition, passing commands to the Arduino via a USB connection. Within the lift, nine solenoid thimbles placed on the control switch touchpad operate the buttons. This is attached to the lift using a 160mm x 10mm wire frame on top of the lift command keypad. A technician from 54 Silicon Chip the turbine maintenance department made the small cage-like solenoid holding pads which push the switch pads. After receiving a command, the machine speaks out the intercepted command and then executes the command to actuate the right solenoid to press the button. This is handled by the Arduino triggering a transistor to drive the solenoid coil using one of its digital outputs. Commands are supported in English and Hindi, including “first floor”/“ek number”, “second floor”/“do number”, “third floor”/“teen number” and “fourth floor”/“char number”. If the command is not understood, it will ask for you to repeat it. Arduino digital outputs D5-D13 provide the following functions, in order: fan stop, fan start, alarm, door open, door close, first floor, second floor, third floor and fourth floor. The extended commands “pankha chalu”/“fan on”, “pankha band”/“fan on”, “darvaja kholo”/“door open”, “darvaja band”/“door closed”, “ghanti”/“alarm” are used for the other commands on digital outputs D5-D9. Australia’s electronics magazine The software running on the PC was developed using Python and Google Speech. Its source code (plus the Arduino program that it controls) is available at siliconchip.com.au/ Shop/6/5780 The solenoids are powered from a 5V 2A plugpack, while the Arduino is powered from the laptop’s USB 5V supply. As the solenoid driver transistors are on the low side, 12V or 24V solenoids could also be used with a matching power supply. Each solenoid has a diode, which is normally reverse-biased, connected across it to absorb the back-EMF spike when it switches off. The circuit below is much simpler, providing the interface to call the lift. The ATmega328 is programmed using the Arduino IDE and it periodically sends pulses to the two ultrasonic distance sensors and ‘listens’ for an echo. If it senses an object near one of the sensors (within about 22cm), it triggers the associated solenoid, in much the same manner as the in-lift circuit shown at right. Bera Somnath, Vindhyanagar, India. ($150) siliconchip.com.au Circuit Ideas Wanted siliconchip.com.au Got an interesting original circuit that you have cleverly devised? We will pay good money to feature it in Circuit Notebook. We can pay you by electronic funds transfer, cheque or direct to your PayPal account. Or you can use the funds to purchase anything from the SILICON CHIP Online Store, including PCBs and components, back issues, subscriptions or whatever. Email your circuit and descriptive text to editor<at>siliconchip.com.au Australia’s electronics magazine November 2021  55