CHAPTER-4

4. OTHER SUPPLEMENTARY COMPONENTS

4.1 KEYBOARD

In computing, a keyboard is an input device, partially modeled after

the typewriter keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys,
which act as electronic switches. A keyboard typically has characters
engraved or printed on the keys and each press of a key typically
corresponds to a single written symbol. However, to produce some symbols
requires pressing and holding several keys simultaneously or in sequence.
While most keyboard keys produce letters, numbers or signs (characters),
other keys or simultaneous key presses can produce actions or computer
commands.

In normal usage, the keyboard is used to type text or numbers

into a word processor, text editor or other program. In a modem
computer, the interpretation of keypresses is generally left to the
software. A computer keyboard distinguishes each physical key from
every other and reports all keypresses to the controlling software.
Keyboards are also used for computer gaming, either with regular
keyboards or by using special gaming keyboards, which can expedite
frequently used keystroke combinations. A keyboard is also used to
give commands to the operating system of a computer, such as
Windows' Control-Alt-Delete combination, which brings up a task
window or shuts down the machine.

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4.1.1 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM OF KEYBOARD INTERFACE

4.1, Circuit diagram of keyboard interface

The key board here we are interfacing is a matrix keyboard. This key
board is designed with a particular rows and columns. These rows and
columns are connected to the microcontroller through its ports of the micro
controller 8051. We normally use 8*8 matrix key board. So only two ports
of 8051 can be easily

When ever a key is pressed, a row and a column gets shorted through that
pressed key and all the other keys are left open.. When a key is pressed only
a bit in the port goes high. Which indicates microcontroller that the key is
pressed. By this high on the bit key in the corresponding column is
identified.

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 4.2 ANTENNA

An antenna is a transducer designed to transmit or receive

electromagnetic waves. In other words, antennas convert electromagnetic
waves into electrical currents and vice versa. Antennas are used in systems
such as radio and television broadcasting, point-to-point radio
communication, wireless LAN, radar, and space exploration. Antennas
usually work in air or outer space, but can also be operated under water or
even through soil and rock at certain frequencies for short distances.

Physically, an antenna is an arrangement of conductors that generate a

radiating electromagnetic field in response to an applied alternating voltage
and the associated alternating electric current, or can be placed in an
electromagnetic field so that the field will induce an alternating current in
the antenna and a voltage between its terminals. Some antenna devices
(parabolic antenna, Horn Antenna) just adapt the free space to another type
of antenna.

Suitable antennas are required to the success of low-power wireless

application. There are some key points on applying the antennas:

A. Antenna should be placed on the outside of the product. And try to

place the antenna on the top of the product.

B. Antenna can't be placed inside a metal case because of its

shielding effect.

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C. Antenna design involves expensive test equipments such as
vector network analyzer and calibrated test antenna. Unless you
have access to these equipments, the use to an antenna consultant
is recommended.

D. In most indoor locations, dead spots can be found where

reception is difficult. These dead spots are due to multiple
transmission paths existing between two points because of
reflections off metal objects such as steel beams or metal doors.
They happen when the path lengths effectively differs by an odd
half-wavelength. This explains the phenomenon when you find
that at some locations the reception effect is very poor, but
beyond that the reception becomes normal.

E. 50-0hm antenna is recommended for the best matching.

F. For 433.92MHz application, antenna length =17 cm.

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4.3 DISPLAY
A liquid crystal display (LCD) is an electronically modulated optical
amplification shaped into a thin, flat display device made up of any number
of color or monochrome pixels arrayed in front of a light source (backlight)
or reflector. It is often utilized in battery- powered electronic devices
because it uses very small amounts of electric power.

4.2 Model liquid crystal display (LCD)

Each pixel of an LCD typically consists of a layer of

molecules aligned between two transparent electrodes, and two polarizing
filters, the axes of transmission of which are (in most of the cases)
perpendicular to each other. With no actual liquid crystal between the
polarizing filters, light passing through the first filter would be blocked
by the second (crossed) polarizer.

The surface of the electrodes that are in contact with the liquid
crystal material are treated so as to align the liquid crystal molecules
in a particular direction. This treatment typically consists of a thin
polymer layer that is unidirectionally rubbed using, for example, a
cloth. The direction of the liquid crystal alignment is then defined by
the direction of rubbing. Electrodes are made of a transparent
conductor called Indium Tin Oxide (ITO).

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