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People often ask, how to make a stand-alone rangefinder with a microcontroller?
Let’s find out!
How to Make a Stand Alone Rangefinder With a Microcontroller?
The main components of a rangefinder include a sensor, a circuit board, a display, and a battery. A microcontroller (MCU) is used to control the sensor and process the signals from it. This MCU will then send the processed signal to the display which displays the distance to the object.
Note: If you want to know a complete guide about rangefinder click HERE.
Principle of Ultrasonic Rangefinder
The distance can be measured by using the pulse-echo method. The ultrasonic module transmits a sound wave to an object, then receives echo signals from the object and produces an output signal whose period corresponds to the distance of the target.
This circuit calculates the distance of objects based on the speed of sound waves. It uses an ultrasonic sensor to detect the distance of objects. It also shows how to interface a 16×2 LCD with an 8051 microcontroller.
Components Required for Ultrasonic Rangefinder
This project uses an AT89C51 microcontroller, programming board, and several other parts. There is also a crystal oscillator, potentiometers, capacitors, resistors, and a push button. The project also uses a Keil uvision software development kit, proteus, and willar software.
Note: If you want to know How Accurate Are Rangefinders click HERE.
Circuit Design of Ultrasonic Rangefinder
This project uses an ultrasonic sensor to detect objects. When an object comes near the sensor, the echo pin triggers the microcontroller. The microcontroller then displays the distance of the object on the LCD.
This sensor detects objects up to 20 meters away. It’s suitable for detecting obstacles such as walls and other objects. It’s also useful for detecting people who may be hiding behind walls or other objects.
Features. Resolution of this module: 3mm. Ranging Distance: 2cm to 4m. Angle Measurement: 30°.
Trigger Input Pulse Width: 10µs. Trigger Signal: This pin is used as a trigger signal. When a valid trigger is applied, it generates eight pulses of 40Khz. Pin Configuration: Vcc: This pin connects to the positive power supply.
Trig: The trigger signal is sent to this pin for triggering the transmitter. This signal must be high for 10 µs. When a valid trig signal is applied, it triggers the transmitter. Frequency: 40kHz.
Echo: At this pin, the Module generates the signal whose time period is proportional to distance. Ground: This pin is connected to the ground. Non-contact digital tachometer circuit design using 8051 microcontrollers.
Note: If you want to know How Does a Rangefinder Work click HERE.
How to Make a Stand Alone Rangefinder With a Microcontroller?
How does Ultrasonic Rangefinder using Circuit work?
Ultrasonic sensors send out short bursts of sound waves. These sounds bounce off objects and back to the sensor. The time it takes for these sounds to reach the sensor and then return to the sensor gives an idea about how far away the object is.
The time taken for an ultrasound wave to travel 1 cm is 58 seconds. The time taken by an ultrasonic wave to travel 1 inch is 148 seconds. You can calculate the distance traveled by the sound wave using this formula. Distance (time / speed).
Algorithm for Program
The module sends a high pulse for 10 microseconds on the trigger pin. Initially P30; P31; Delay(10);. P30; Wait until the module transmited 40Khz pulses. When the eighth pulse is transmitted echo pin becomes high, Timer0 starts counting, when Input in t0 goes low and the timer counts the time
While loop takes half the time as compared to normal loops. Ultrasonic pulses travel faster than sound waves.
Distance speed * time 34000 * (TIMER1) / 2. At 12.5 µs, TIMER1 gets incremented for 1 µs. Range 17016 * TIMER1 X 10-6. Timer 0 timer increments for 58cm.
Note: If you want to know How Do the Rangefinder Scale in Old Binoculars Work click HERE.
How to Operate?
Initially turn off the power supply. Now connect the ultrasonic sensor to the microcontroller. Make sure that the Vcc of the ultrasonic module is connected with 5V DC. Place an obstacle in front of the ultrasonic module, and observe the distance on the LCD.
Ultrasonic Rangefinder Project Applications
An obstacle detection system is used to measure the obstacle distance in automotive parking sensors and other applications.
Conclusion
We hope that now you have an idea of how to make a rangefinder. If you have any queries feel free to reach out in the comments section below.
If you want to gain more information about rangefinder click HERE.
