In the world of embedded systems, microcontrollers serve as the heart of countless applications, from simple home automation to sophisticated industrial systems. If you're looking to tackle a practical and rewarding project, a temperature and humidity monitoring system is a perfect example. Not only does it showcase your skills in working with sensors and data acquisition, but it also helps you understand how to interface sensors, process data, and manage outputs in real-time.

For this DIY project, we'll be using the MC9S08AW32MFGE microcontroller. This 8-bit MCU from Freescale (now NXP) offers a versatile set of features, including an integrated analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a low-power design, and various communication interfaces that make it ideal for embedded sensor applications.

The goal of this project is to create a system that can read temperature and humidity data from sensors, process the data, and display the information on an LCD screen. We will also add functionality to trigger an alert (visual or audible) if the temperature or humidity exceeds a certain threshold. The MC9S08AW32 will serve as the central controller for the entire system.

 

Components Required

Before we jump into the design and assembly of the system, let's list all the key components required for the project:

1. MC9S08AW32MFGE Microcontroller: The main controller for this project. It will read data from sensors, process it, and control the LCD display and alert system.

2. DHT22 Temperature and Humidity Sensor: This sensor will measure the ambient temperature and humidity.

3. 16x2 LCD Display: A simple, yet effective way to display the temperature and humidity readings in real time.

4. Buzzer: An audible alert that will be triggered if the temperature or humidity falls outside a defined safe range.

5. Push Button: To manually reset the system or set new thresholds.

6. Power Supply: Depending on your design, this could be a regulated 5V supply or a battery pack.

7. Resistors, Capacitors, and Connectors: For general circuit wiring and power conditioning.

8. PCB or Breadboard: For prototyping the circuit.

9. Optional: Enclosure: To house the components for protection and aesthetic purposes.

 

Design Overview

At its core, this project is designed to read temperature and humidity values, display the results, and trigger an alert if the values fall outside of a pre-defined safe range. The MC9S08AW32 microcontroller will interface with the DHT22 sensor, process the data, and display it on an LCD screen. Additionally, the microcontroller will monitor the temperature and humidity, triggering a buzzer to sound if the readings exceed a certain threshold.

The system will operate in a loop, constantly measuring temperature and humidity, updating the display, and checking whether the readings require an alert. This makes it a self-contained and autonomous monitoring system.

 

Step 1: Microcontroller Setup

The MC9S08AW32 is an 8-bit microcontroller with a built-in ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter), which will allow it to read analog signals from the DHT22 sensor. While the DHT22 is a digital sensor, it communicates via a one-wire interface, which makes it straightforward to interface with the MC9S08AW32.

To begin with, you’ll need to set up the basic architecture of your system, which includes:

1. Power Supply: The MC9S08AW32 operates on 5V, so ensure you have a stable 5V supply to power the MCU and peripheral devices.

2. Clock Setup: The microcontroller runs on a low-speed crystal oscillator or an internal clock, typically at around 8 MHz, which is sufficient for handling the processing needs of this project.

Once powered up, you can configure the GPIO (General-Purpose Input/Output) pins of the MC9S08AW32 to interface with the DHT22 sensor, the LCD, and the buzzer.

 

Step 2: Interfacing the DHT22 Sensor

The DHT22 is a popular temperature and humidity sensor that outputs data via a single-wire interface. The MC9S08AW32 will need to interface with this sensor and retrieve temperature and humidity data periodically.

● Data Pin: The data pin of the DHT22 will connect to a digital I/O pin on the MC9S08AW32. The pin must be able to handle the timing required by the DHT22 for communication.

● Power and Ground: The DHT22 operates on 3.3V to 5V, so it can be powered directly from the microcontroller’s power supply. Ground must be connected to the MCU’s ground.

The MC9S08AW32 will send a request to the DHT22 sensor, which will then respond with a data packet containing the temperature and humidity readings in digital form. The microcontroller will interpret this data and use it for further processing.

 

Step 3: LCD Display Integration

The next step is to connect the 16x2 LCD display, which will be used to display the temperature and humidity readings in real time. Most commonly, the LCD is controlled via an I2C or parallel interface.

For this project, we’ll use a parallel interface, where the LCD’s data and control pins are connected to several I/O pins on the MC9S08AW32. The LCD will display both temperature and humidity values, along with a label (e.g., "Temp:" and "Humidity:") to make the readings user-friendly.

1. Data Pins: Connect the 8-bit data bus of the LCD to the appropriate GPIO pins on the MCU.

2. Control Pins: The RS, RW, and E pins on the LCD will also be connected to GPIO pins. The RS pin determines whether data or commands are being sent to the LCD, the RW pin determines the read/write mode, and the E pin is used to latch data.

The MC9S08AW32 will continuously update the LCD, ensuring that the displayed temperature and humidity values are always current. The LCD screen will update every second or so, based on how frequently you retrieve data from the DHT22 sensor.

 

Step 4: Alert System with Buzzer

The alert system will be triggered if the temperature or humidity readings go outside the predefined safe range. For example, if the temperature exceeds 30°C or the humidity drops below 30%, the system will trigger an alert.

The buzzer will be connected to one of the I/O pins of the microcontroller. When the temperature or humidity is out of range, the MC9S08AW32 will set the corresponding I/O pin to high, which will activate the buzzer. The buzzer will sound continuously until the readings return to a safe range.

You can further enhance the alert system by adding visual alerts, such as an LED that lights up when the system is in an alert state. The LED can be connected to another I/O pin and activated in the same manner as the buzzer.

 

Step 5: User Interaction with Push Button

A push button will be used to allow the user to interact with the system. For instance, the button can be used to reset the temperature and humidity threshold values, or to reset the alert system manually.

When the button is pressed, the microcontroller will read the button’s state and execute a function. For example, pressing the button could reset the buzzer if it was previously sounding, or allow the user to input new threshold values.

 

Step 6: Power Considerations

The MC9S08AW32 microcontroller is known for its low power consumption, so it can be powered using a small 5V regulated power supply or battery pack. Depending on your usage scenario, you could even add a low-power sleep mode, which the microcontroller would enter after a period of inactivity, to save battery life.

If you are building this system to run continuously in a portable or outdoor environment, consider using a rechargeable battery and integrating a charging circuit.

 

Final Assembly and Testing

After all the components are connected, you’ll need to assemble everything on a breadboard or PCB. Make sure to carefully route the power and signal connections, keeping the circuit organized to avoid any accidental shorts or miswiring.

1. Verify Sensor Data: Ensure that the DHT22 is properly transmitting temperature and humidity data to the MC9S08AW32. You can test this by connecting an oscilloscope or using the LCD display to read out the values.

2. Test Alerts: Check that the buzzer sounds when the temperature or humidity goes out of range, and that the reset button works as expected.

3. Calibrate Thresholds: If your system has adjustable thresholds, calibrate them to the desired values and test how the alert system responds.

 

Conclusion

This DIY temperature and humidity monitoring system is a great way to get hands-on experience with embedded systems and microcontroller programming. By using the MC9S08AW32 microcontroller, the DHT22 sensor, and an LCD display, you can create a robust and functional system for monitoring environmental conditions.

Although this project does not require any complex algorithms or coding, it demonstrates fundamental embedded systems concepts such as sensor interfacing, data processing, and user interaction. It’s a great project for anyone looking to dive deeper into the world of embedded electronics while working with real-world applications. Whether you are looking to monitor the climate in your home, greenhouse, or office, this system can provide valuable insights into the temperature and humidity levels of your environment.