Voice-Activated Television Remote Control (VAR)

Senior Design II

Mid-Semester Presentation

[1]

VAR Team MembersTeam LeaderElectrical Engineer

• Hardware• PCB Design• PCB Components• Packaging

Computer Engineer

• Website•PIC programming• Voice Recognition testing

Computer Engineer

• Website• GUI Creator• PIC programming• Voice Recognition Testing

Adviser: Dr. Pan Li

Electrical Engineer

• Hardware • PCB Design• PCB Components• Packaging

Melissa Webb

David Trosclair

Bobby Britton

Bader Yaseen

Outline

• Problem• Solution• Constraints

• Technical• Practical

• Hardware• Software• Questions

Problemand

Solution

Problem

Some people do not have the ability to operate a standard hand-held television remote control.

Our market is the elderly and/or disabled.

 

“During the 20th century, the number of people in the United States aged 65 or over increased by a factor of 11, growing from 3 million to 33 million” [2, 3].

Solution

The VAR will allow users to operate their television by using voice commands.

By speaking into a microphone, the user is able to control 6 functions of the television:

- Power - Mute

- Volume Up - Volume Down

- Channel Up - Channel Down

What is the VAR?

• The user will speak the commands into a microphone attached to a computer with our voice recognition software.

• The software will translate and wirelessly send the signal to the VAR.

• A microprocessor will convert from the wireless input to an IR signal and output to the television.

VAR

Technical and PracticalConstraints

System Overview

Technical Constraints

Name Description

Power SupplyThe VAR must operate from a standard 120V wall outlet.

Response TimeTarget time for complete process is less than two seconds.

Transmission Distance

The wireless signal and the IR signal’s maximum distances are 15 feet.

Voice Commands The VAR will recognize six vocal commands.

IR AccuracyThe IR signal must be transmitted and received accurately 98% of the time.

Practical Constraints

Name Description

Product Size The VAR will be no larger than 8” x 8” x 3”.

Operating System The VAR will be Windows OS compatible.

Practical Constraints Manufacturability: Product Size

The VAR will be no larger than 8’’ x 8’’ x 3’’.

• Convenient for user

• Easily fits into any space

• Portable

• Comparable to devices such as modems and routers

Practical Constraints Manufacturability: Operating System

The VAR software will be Windows OS compatible.

• Microsoft Windows is one of the most commonly used operating systems for personal computers [4].

• Executable files of the program can easily be made.

Hardware

PCB Schematic

PCB Layout

Front

Back

PCB Layout

Front

Back

Power Jack

PCB Layout

Front

Back

Power Switch

PCB Layout

Front

Back

IR LEDs

PCB Layout

Front

Back

Voltage Regulator

PCB Layout

Front

Back

PIC24

PCB Layout

Front

Back

Bluetooth

PCB Layout

Front

Back

PIC Kit

PCB Layout

Front

Back

Extra Holes

Testing: Footprints

Back

Back

Power Jack

Power Switch

Front

Front

IR LEDs

To Do

• Order the PCB

• Order the packaging

• Populate the board

• Test the hardware constraints

Software

Reminisce: Previous Voice Recognition Software

Current Voice Recognition Software

Alteration of Keyword

Previous Keyword: “Listen” Current Keyword: “Attention”

VAR GUI Operations

COM Port Menu Item COM Port Selection

VAR GUI Operations

New Feature: Channel Customization

• Customize up to 7 channels

• Add Channels

• Delete Channels

• Error Detection strictly enforced when attempting to authorize a new channel

• Channel authorization success grants local integration of that channel to VAR’s customized dictionary

Add / Delete Channel Menu Items

Add Channel Menu Item Delete Channel Menu Item

Add Channel Operation

Add Custom 1 Slot after Add Channel Operation

Delete Custom 1 Slot after Add Channel Operation

Delete Channel Operation

Error Detection: Inadequate Information

Error Detection: Channel Name Already Assigned

Error Detection: Channel Number Already Assigned

Error Detection: Invalid Channel Name

Error Detection: Invalid Channel Number

Channel Customization Integration to VAR GUI

To Do

• Test / Verify Voice Recognition Accuracy • Test / Verify Error Detection

• Verify that executable is stable with other PCs

Timeline

August September October November

Software Refinement

PCB Design

PCB Populating

Enclosure

Testing

References

[1] (2012, February 18). “Elderly Couple Watching TV,” in fotosearch. [Online]. Available: http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/television-programme.html

[2] F. Hobbs. (2012, January 21). “The Elderly Population,” in U.S. Census Bureau. [Online]. Available: http://www.census.gov/population/www/pop-profile/elderpop.html

[3] (2012, January 21). “Sixty-Five Plus in the United States,” in U.S. Census Bureau. [Online]. Available: http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/statbriefs/agebrief.html

[4] (2012, February 18). “Operating System,” in StatCounter Global Stats. [Online]. Available: http://gs.statcounter.com/#os-ww-monthly-201202-201202-bar

Voice-Activated Television Remote Control (VAR)

Senior Design IIMid-Semester Presentation

Questions?