Know About Operation of 8051 Microcontroller based Pendulum

Pendulum is one apparatus which is weightless, stiff bar that experiences no friction, and can swing freely. Pendulum can move to and fro from its equilibrium position, depending on restoring the force due to the gravity and can accelerate back to its equilibrium position. Pendulum is not only used in clocks it can also be used in seismometers. During Middle Ages pendulums were used for torturing victims wherein pendulum bobs were replaced by axe and rotated in to and fro motion until the demise of the victim.

This article discusses the operation of the pendulum implemented by using basic 8051 microcontroller. The bob motion is indicated with the use of LED lights and its frequency of turning on and off is decided by the microcontroller. A brief description about the pendulum circuit and its operation is given below.

8051 Microcontroller Based Pendulum Operation

Nowadays many of us are buying different types of wall clocks available in the market. These clocks produce sound, but are quite expensive. The circuit described here produces sound which means time is indicated with the help of LEDs. In this circuit, the LEDs are arranged in such a way that you will get time in the form of a pendulum in one direction and then moves in opposite direction.

Circuit Description:

The circuit is based on an 8051 microcontroller and a few other components such as crystal oscillator, capacitor reset circuit, capacitors, resistors and LEDs. The 8051 microcontroller is most popular microcontroller as many of the projects are done by using this microcontroller. An 8-bit microcontroller is used to control all the operations. It controls all the LEDs through ports.

This project employs multi-pattern running lights for generating several designs of running lights. Moreover, LEDs are used for display. The design of the LEDs can be selected by moving up and down. A Microcontroller is used for continuously monitoring the switches, and the switching off the LEDs is done in accordance with the embedded C programming done in the microcontroller by using KEIL software. The power for the entire circuit is derived from a step down transformer, and a voltage regulator is used in the power supply circuit. The voltage regulator produces a constant output of 5V.

Circuit Diagram:

Components

Resistors: Resistors are passive components used to control the current in circuit. Resistance is defined as the ratio of voltage applied across its terminals to the current passing through it. The value of resistor depends on a fixed voltage that limits the current through it.

Capacitors: Capacitor is a component used for storing charge. The charge stored in the capacitor is defined as the product of its capacitance value and the voltage applied across it.

Crystal Oscillator: Crystal oscillator circuit is an electronic circuit that makes use of the mechanical resonance of a vibrating circuit to generate an electrical signal with respect to the frequency. An 8051 operates the crystals for synchronizing its operation. The kind of synchronization made is known as machine cycle.

Reset Circuit: Reset is used to set the primary values of an 8051 microcontroller. This reset circuit purpose is to set the elevation of two machine rotations.

8051 Microcontroller: This microcontroller consists of 40 pins dependent on the Harvard architecture in which the program memory and data memory are entirely different. This microcontroller can be used in a wide range of systems because it can be easily integrated in any project.

LEDs: Light emitting diodes are semiconductor light sources. The light emitted from the LEDs varies between visible to Infra red and ultra violet region. This diode operates at low voltage and power. LEDs are one of the most common electronic components used for indication purpose in circuits.

Circuit Operation

• In this system, a crystal oscillator is connected between the pins 18 and 19 of the microcontroller used for operating the set of instructions at a certain clock frequency. A machine cycle is used to measure the minimum time during the execution of a single instruction set.
• Reset circuit is connected to the pin 9 of the microcontroller with the use of a capacitor and resistor. The resistor and capacitor are connected in such a way that they perform a manual reset mode of operation. If the switch is closed, then the reset pin is set high.
• There are eight sets of LEDs, and each set of LED is connected to each pin in the port 1 of the microcontroller. The other ends of the LEDs are connected to the ground. The remaining sets of LEDs are also connected to the remaining pins in the port 1 of the microcontroller and the other end is connected to the ground.
• Each set of the LEDs is switched for particular time duration as with the case of a pendulum in which the microcontroller is programmed in KEIL software.
• When the power supply is given to the circuit, the LEDs glow in a pendulum like fashion i.e.,from left to right and then from right to left with the time period set in the microcontroller program. We can also reset the output display by pressing the reset button.

Thus, this microcontroller based project describes about the design of a pendulum, and its operation is displayed by using a set of LED lights. You can also get some more 8051 microcontroller based projects from the list given below:

Microcontroller 8051 Based Mini Projects

Earlier we have published different project ideas such as ECE mini projects; microcontroller based mini project ideas, and so on. All those project ideas were collected from different sources owing to their helpfulness for engineering students. Moreover, this particular article also mentions some latest microcontroller 8051 based mini projects. These 8051 projects are very useful for the engineering students pursuing III and IV year.

1. 8051 Microcontroller Based Automatic Parking Slot Indicator
2. RFID based Time Attendance System and Access Controlling Using Microcontroller
3. Microcontroller based automatic bell System for Institutions and Schools
4. Color Sensing Interfacing with Different Wavelengths to Microcontroller
5. Password Based Digital Locking System with 8051 Microcontroller
6. Bio medical heart beat monitoring using 8051 Microcontroller
7. 8051 Microcontroller Based Seven Segment Multiplexing
8. Water Level Monitoring and Controlling System Using 8051 Microcontroller
9. Parallel Telephone with Auto Secrecy Using 8051 Microcontroller
10. 8051 Microcontroller Based Non Contact Digital Tachometer
11. Standalone Temperature Measuring System Using Microcontroller
12. Color Sensing Interfacing with Different Wavelengths to Microcontroller
13. GSM based Patient Monitoring System with 8051 Microcontroller
14. Digital Card Dash Board with Data Recording Capability Using8051 Microcontroller
15. 8 Candidate Quiz Buzzer Circuit by Using 8051 Microcontroller

Therefore, the above mentioned 8051 microcontroller based project for observing the pendulum operation providesclear explanationwith simple circuit connections. You might have followed the given list of projects for your further application based ideas, and therefore, you can comment below for any technical help to implement these projects.

Photo Credits

• Pendulum by appstate
• 8051 Microcontroller Based Pendulum Operation by wordpress