CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY
CAMEL is designed to create a new laboratory experience that would provide CPU
students access to commonly used laboratory tools/equipment. The objective of the study
includes designing an interface device that would send data to the smartphone. An android
application installed on the smartphone would then analyze the data and display the output
through the smartphone's screen.
The proposed interface device is a microcontroller-based device equipped with voltage,
resistance, and frequency sensors. A Bluetooth module will send the collected data to the
smartphone.
The proposed android application will include pre-programmed tools, specifically a
voltmeter, an ammeter, an ohmmeter and an oscilloscope. The application will analyze the
received data and perform computations to obtain the necessary results. It will then display the
output on the smartphone's or tablet's screen.

Design Criteria
Functionality
Functionality is the sum or any aspect of what a product, such as a software
application or computing device, can do for a user. Functionality test will verify that the
system is fully functional after assembly and installation. This should be performed to
verify that the system and each of its components performs and function individually and
as a whole.

Accuracy
In the fields of science, engineering, industry, and statistics, the accuracy of a
measurement system is the degree of closeness of measurements of a quantity to that
quantity's actual (true) value. Accuracy test will verify that the systems output is more or
less similar to the output of existing functional laboratory equipment. Its accuracy will be
measured by comparing its output to the output of a similar tool. Both results will be
listed in the table below; also percent difference will be calculated.

Reliability
Reliability is the ability of a system or component to perform its required
functions under stated conditions for a specified period of time. The purpose of reliability
testing is to discover potential problems with the design as early as possible and,
ultimately, provide confidence that the system meets its reliability requirements.
Reliability testing may be performed at several levels, component, circuit board, unit,
assembly, subsystem and system levels.

Portability
Portability refers to the capability of the device to be transferred or carried easily.
The portability test will be used to verify that the devices size and weight is significantly
less than the existing equipments.

Design Plan Preparation

Circuit
or
Devices
under test

MCU
Based
Interface
Device

Sensing
Circuit

Antenn
a
Bluetooth
Module

Anten
na
Smartphone

Figure 1. Block Diagram of CAMEL

The figure above shows the block diagram of the design of the system. The sensor circuit,
comprised of a voltage sensor, a current sensor and a frequency sensor, is responsible for data
gathering. This will be connected to the interface device. Then, the MCU-based interface device
is responsible for processing the gathered data. The Bluetooth module incorporated in the MCU
will be responsible for sending the data wirelessly. Lastly, the smartphone will be receiving the
data, and the android application, equipped with pre-programmed tools, will display the output
accordingly.

Design and Construction Procedure

The system will be designed based on the block diagram shown in figure 1. The
components of the system will be designed and constructed individually and will be mounted on
a breadboard to test each component's functionality. The sensing circuit will be designed and
constructed on a breadboard first, followed by the design and construction of the

microcontroller-based interface system, along with the Bluetooth module. After the verification
of functionality, the final sensing circuit will be designed on a printed circuit board (PCB).

Procedure in Programming the Microcontroller-based Interface System

The Arduino platform will be used to program the MCU. The program will enable the
MCU to read and analyze data from the sensing circuit. And, by using a Bluetooth module, the
data will be sent wirelessly to the smartphone or tablet.

Android Application Development for user interface

The android application will be developed using android SDK, a complete kit for
developing android applications, and by following suggested structured information needed to
build an application. First, design the user interface and make it fit for android experience, the
design should be sleek, simple and tailored to the android experience, focused on how users will
interact with it. Second, develop, once the design is finalized, all that is needed are the tools to
turn the app ideas into reality. Android's framework provides Application Programming Interface
(APIs) to build apps that take full advantage of device hardware, connected accessory devices,
the Internet, software features, and more. The application then should be built it to support a
variety of screen sizes and densities, and tested it on the Android emulator and on real devices

Testing Procedure

System testing will start in the sensor circuit, output of the sensor will be checked to
ensure data is gathered. Next, the MCU programming will be tested to ensure that it can receive
data from the sensors and can send data through the Bluetooth module. Then, the android
application and user interface will be tested to ensure that it can receive data via Bluetooth and
display data accordingly.

Instrumentation
The commonly available equipment used to conduct the study were:
DMM/VOM
The DMM/VOM will be used for testing. The output of the ammeter, ohmmeter,
and voltmeter in the system will be verified using the DMM/VOM as reference.

Oscilloscope
The oscilloscope will be used for testing. The output waveform and frequency in
the system will be verified using the oscilloscope as reference.

Personal Computer (PC)

A PC will be used in programming the components of the system, namely, the
MCU and the android application. For this to be possible, the PC should be equipped
with the necessary software for each specific purpose. The Arduino platform will be used
for programming the MCU, android SDK will be used for programming the android
application.
Data Gathering

Voltage, current, and frequency will be read by the sensor circuit. The sensor circuit is
comprised of a voltage sensor, a current sensor, and a frequency sensor. The voltmeter will only
be using the voltage sensor. The ammeter will only be using the current sensor. The ohmmeter
will be using both voltage and current sensors to compute for the resistance. The oscilloscope
will be using both voltage and frequency sensors.

Parameters to be Analyzed
A. Resistance
The resistance will be obtained using Ohms law, which utilizes both voltage and
current values.
R=

V
I
B. Period
The period will be obtained by computing for the inverse or reciprocal of the
frequency.

T=

1
F
C. Duty Cycle
The duty cycle will be obtained using the formula below.

DC=

PW
T