Introduction: Animated Sonic Ruler / Parking Sensor Using Arduino

By github.com/Raphango
About: ...

## UPDATED WITH CODE, SCHEMATICS AND PARTS WITH LINKS ##

= Introduction =
Hi everyone! This is my first instructable!

After reading hundreds of instructables, I decided to make one myself!

As a brazilian, my mother language is portuguese. So, please be patient with my english.

= What did I make? =
I have built an animated Sonic Ruler using an Arduino, an HC-SR04, a buzzer, two resistors, some wires and a LCD Display. I also used an expansion module for Arduino (optional) and a breadboard. It had a very defying coding and debugging, but now I see it did worth the effort!

The mounting should be easy if you have already mounted some gadgets on breadboards, so any Arduino enthusiast can actually build it! Even begginers!

= Why did I make it? =

There are many projects so far using a HC-SR04 as a measurement gadget, but I have seen none using an animated LCD and a buzzer integrated. This one got style and personality!

My project can also be used as a parking sensor. Just by adding some meters of wire you can actually install this on your vehicle to make sure you'll never hit that wall again.

Step 1: Gathering Materials...

Total cost (suposing you already have an Arduino - do the math) = LESS THAN 10 DOLLARS!!!

Step 2: Breadboard Mounting and Wiring

    Mount the components using these images as guidelines. The most important thing is to make the connections as follows:

    • LCD VSS pin to ground;
    • LCD VDD pin to +5V;
    • 2K2Ohm resistor: ends to LCD VO pin and ground;
    • LCD RS pin to digital pin 9;
    • LCD R/W pin to ground;
    • LCD Enable pin to digital pin 8;
    • LCD D4 pin to digital pin 5;
    • LCD D5 pin to digital pin 4;
    • LCD D6 pin to digital pin 3;
    • LCD D7 pin to digital pin 2;
    • LCD A pin to +5V;
    • LCD K pin to ground;
    • Buzzer + to 220Ohm Resistor leg and - to ground. The other resistor leg goes to pin 12.;
    • HC-SCR GND to ground;
    • HC-SCR Echo to pin 11;
    • HC-SCR Trig to pin 10; and
    • HC-SCR Vcc to +5V.

    Step 3: Code & Upload

    Here goes the code:

    https://github.com/Raphango/Animated-Sonic-Ruler/blob/master/AnimatedSensor.ino

    And the sounds library used with the code:

    https://github.com/Raphango/Animated-Sonic-Ruler/blob/master/pitches.h

    DO NOT FORGET TO PUT THE SOUNDS LIBRARY IN THE SAME FOLDER OF THE .INO FILE!

    Attachments

    Step 4: Final Thoughts

    At this project you have learned how to use the HC-SR04 and the LCD with Arduino.

    Feel free to make yourself one! And once you make it, why not to make it more permanent, by putting it on a PCB? Why not to embed it in a 3D printed case?

    Use your creativity!


    Thank you for reading!