Instrument Cluster - Final Report

							                                             August 3rd


      Summary                                Capstone
                                             2010
Group Members: Emina Bartos, Kyle Leonard,   Group #5
Anthony Lui and Stewart Robson
                                             Instrument Cluster
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Abstract
Over the course of history, everything seems to be shifting from an analog functioning
world to a digital one. Whether it’s the obvious clock towers to digital displays of time
and temperature on company signs or record players to mp3 players. Anything that can
be translated to 0’s and 1’s is seemingly dubbed a more convenient and controllable way
of presenting a technology.

For Capstone 2010, this ideology represented itself in a project for developing an
instrument cluster to digitally display the most important readings for the (soon to be
electrically-powered) Porsche.

The electronic instrument cluster that was created displays voltage, speed, rpm, battery
level, left and right turn signals, 4-ways, a low-battery light, a seat-belt light, and a check
engine light. In the future this prototype will be receiving inputs from various
components of the car that other groups worked on.


Literature Survey
Traditionally the instrument cluster has always been created using analog gauges. In
1976, the first electronic instrument cluster was implemented in the Aston Marton
Lagonda and is shown in Figure C-2.




                      Figure C-2 – Lagonda dash in its early years
It was the first production car to introduce a computer management system and an
instrument cluster that used CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors instead of the traditional
gauges. The electronics that were used its production came to nearly four times as much
as the budget of the entire car. [3]
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Work Done
The designing of the visual aspect was done first because the instrumental cluster because
although performance is sought, the cosmetic make up of the device is sought after
almost as much.

Our instrument cluster was progrmmed to have the following readings shown in the
AUTOCAD design layout in Figure 1.




                         Figure 1 – AUTOCAD design layout

In order to accommodate the Porsche perfectly, the dashboard was taken apart and
measurements and photos were taken. The dismantled dash is shown in Figure 2.




                              Figure 2 – Dismantled Dash
Once the optoelectronics were decided on, the programming of the VB app. (VB6) and
the microcontroller (controls all LEDS and 7-segment displays) were done. From the
components that were available and from the circuit design, a multiplexing method was
decided on to implement the microcontroller. It was required to design a method to cycle
through outputs which would then be delivered to the correct 7 segment displays. Also it
was required to switch on the correct 7 segment display within a small time interval and
then quickly switch to the next display. From this a program was designed to implement
this method and is fully detailed in the full report. The circuity was designed and is
shown in Figure 2.
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                             Figure 3 – Circuit Schematic
From the breadboard layout the design layout was implemented in EagleCAD. Once all
the files were made it was all sent to PCB Express to manufacture a PCB. When the
board was received, all the components and wires were soldered on as shown in Figure 6




                          Figure 6 – Populated Circuit Board


After all the individual pieces were constructed, it was all put together into the current
instrument cluster prototype as shown in Figure 8




                      Figure 8 – Instrumental Cluster Prototype
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Team Members
Emina Bartos
                 Emina Bartos was born in Novi Sad, Serbia (former Yugoslavia) on
                 December 1st 1988. At the age of 2, she and her family moved to
                 Windsor, Canada because of religious persecution and economic
                 hardship. She was always drawn to mathematics and physic and decided
                 to Engineering. Emina became interested in Electrical Engineering with
                 the hope she could make a difference by helping the advancement of a
                 more environmentally friendly vehicle.
Kyle Leonard
                  Kyle Leonard was born on December 16th 1987 in Cambridge Ontario.
                  While he was growing up, he always had a passion for electronics
                  whether it was taking things apart and finding out how they work or
                  building a car computer from scratch. He was always interested in
                  hands-on technical courses throughout school. This combined with
                  his childhood interest led him to pursue Electrical Engineering with
                  the hope to become more knowledgeable with electronics.
Anthony Lui
                   Anthony Lui was born in Windsor, Ontario on March 28th, 1988.
                   Throughout high school he enjoyed his physics and mathematics
                   classes which led him to be interested in Electrical Engineering
                   program at the University of Windsor. Capstone 2010 allowed
                   Anthony to apply his experiences which he obtained in the past.


Stewart Robson
                    Stewart Robson was born and raised in Windsor, Ontario on May
                    12th 1988. He attended Vincent Massey Secondary School and was
                    included in the Enrichment Program. During his University co-op
                    terms, he was employed at Essex Power where he improved on his
                    power systems knowledge and computer programming skills.
                    Capstone 2010 provided an outlet to channel this knowledge.