Embedded System for Sensor Communication and Security

Abstract

In this work, inter-integrated circuit mode (I2C) software was used to communicate between sensors and the embedded control system, utilizing PIC182585 MPLAB hardware. These sensors were built as part of a system on board that includes the sensors, microcontroller, and interface circuitry. The hardware includes the PIC18 processor, FPGA chip, and peripherals. A FPGA chip was used to interface the processor with the peripherals in order to operate at the same clock speed. This hardware design features high level of integration, reliability, high precision, and high speed communications. The software was first designed to operate each sensor separately, then the sensor system was integrated (to combine all sensors, microcontroller, and interfacing circuitries), and the software was updated to provide various actions if triggered by the sensors. Actions taken by the processor may include alarming signals that are based on threshold values received from the sensors, and inquiring temperature and CO2 readings. The system was designed for HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) applications and industrial settings. The overall system incorporating temperature and CO2 sensors was implemented and successfully tested. The response of the multi-sensor system was agreeable with the design parameters. The system may be expanded to include other sensors such as light senor, pressure sensor, etc. Monitoring the threshold values should add to the security features of the integrated communication system. This design features low power consumption (utilizing the sleeping mode of the processors), high speed communications, security, and flexibility to expansion.