Project
| # | Title | Team Members | TA | Documents | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | Color Control Toaster |
Ignacio Diez de Rivera de Solis Omar Ayala-Bernal Sean Cashin |
Jacob Bryan | final_paper0.pdf other0.pdf proposal0.pdf |
|
| Although we concede the toaster is a great invention, we feel that it could use a much needed upgrade. We are proposing to build a system that more accurately results in the desired brownness for either a piece of toast, bagel, or English muffin, compared to the standard timing mechanism of most toasters on the market. Not only that but the toaster we design will be able to keep the object warm while it waits. The way we are proposing to implement "Toast Control" is through the use of color sensors. Although the idea of using a wide-viewing camera,which was proposed earlier, is an option, we believe that using color sensors would be more cost-effective. The specific color sensor would be an RGB Color Sensor with IR filter & White LED--this will calculate an initial bread color and will continuously monitor the changing color (sample rate will be controlled by the micro controller). We will maintain a relative maximum temperature for the purpose of toasting the bread, while also having a low-temperature setting in order to keep the warm bread after it’s toasted. This low-temperature setting solves the issue of forgotten bread, by first clocking in the instance of when the bread is inserted and then determining if it’s been there too long. If it has it will switch to low-temperature mode, otherwise it will remain inside until after an LED is flashed ready, along with a sound signal. In order to determine whether the toast has been removed, we would be using either a light sensor or a pressure sensor at a height of the toaster or at the bottom respectively. The clock will be generated by the micro-controller and maximum high temperature time would be around 4-5 minutes. In order to lower and lift the bread, we will be using a small linear actuator, possibly spring assisted, (up to 5N) which will be driven by a control circuit for forward and reverse motion. This is useful for keeping the bread warm after it has been toasted. If a traditional methodology were to be used, it would require the user to push down on the lever at all times, and since we want our toaster to pull the bread back in during the warm state, a linear actuator would be better suited. In order to select the level of brownness, we will be using a potentiometer. It will be connected in series to a resistor and powered up to 5V. For each value of the output voltage in this system, a threshold value for the sensors will be generated and then, using a comparator, the toaster will know when the piece of bread has reached the desired color. To argue against using a camera, in addition to our previous points, we plan to use several color-sensors positioned in predefined positions so as to accommodate various foods. We will have a way of detecting whether a sensor is in the viewing area of bread or toast, this will be accomplished by an algorithm that checks if the colors detected match that of the side a toaster that does not possess any items in front of it. These values will be found experimentally, by reading in data of an empty toaster. An average of all the color sensors will be used to calculate the optimal toasting time. An array of white LED’s will solve the issue of potential inconsistent lighting, as well as mechanically blocking the light coming from the outside (if necessary). Regarding the problem of working with sensors at high temperatures, we thought of a couple of feasible solutions. To begin with there are many sensors already made for working at hot environments such as chains of production operating with melted metals. Our other option is to design the toaster in a way that will keep the sensor far away from the heating area (i.e. making a hole in the toaster and placing the sensor a couple of inches away or using a transparent material). |
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