Final Design

Liquid consumption will cause a pressure differntial to form due to change in liquid height. Air buffer will mirror this pressure change which will be read by a pressure senor attached to the air buffer column

Signal is amplfied and filtered through the PCB and then read through the ESP. The ESP will then send data wirelessly in the form of a csv file to the home computer at the end of the 2-hr drinking trial

Encased photo interrupters sense interaction with the sipper valves. When interaction is sensed, the system will allow pressure measurements to be read from the pressure sensor

1. Heights are equal, an addition of liquid will raise both liquid levels

2. Toggle On: opens air buffer tube (left tube) to ATM, taring the system in the beginning of each test

1. Fixed air pressure in air buffer column creates a reaction force that holds the fluid height in the air buffer tube at constant height

2. Toggle Off: closes air buffer tube from ATM, starting a new test trial

3. Liquid consumed from sipper valve results in decrease of liquid level in right tube

1. Pressure differential caused by difference in liquid heights (P=ρgh)

2. Pressure differntial read by pressure sensor

▹This pressure sensor is designed for low pressure applications; capable of measuring pressure up to 2 in of H2O

▹Pressure differential between Port 1 and 2 allows for a gauge pressure measurement

▹Using the relation P=?gh, we are able to obtain the height of the water column at all times

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▹Sipper valve utilized for small mamamal animal liquid consumption trials

▹Biting or licking the stainless steel stem releases plunger from diaphragm, allowing fluid to release

▹Brass design minimizes damage from chewing from mice that was experienced in plastic sipper valves

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▹Photo interrupter utilized to confirm mouse interaction with sipper valve (versus valve leakage without mouse interaction)

▹Uses an opposing emitter and detector to sense presense

▹10mm gap allows for the sipper valve to be placed between the two branches

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▹Custom PCB that adjusts the range of the pressure sensor to 0-2 in of H2O over 0.33-2.97V to maximize useable output

▹Amplifier circuit that applies rough gain of ~2 to analog output. Consists of op amp and resistors.

▹Low pass filter to reduce low frequency noise in output

▹Adjustingable ADC capabilities between 10-12 bit Analog to Digital Conversion

▹On board WiFi capabilites is built on board, allowing for wireless data transfer

▹Coded through Adruino IDE for sensor reading functions and Python for data formatting for Excel

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▹Built to contain and connect glass tubes for air bufer and liquid column

▹Material stainless steel for chemical capability for water and alcohol

▹Glass tubes are epoxyed with JB Weld and Gorilla Epoxy to ensure a hardened connection beteween stainless steel base and glass tubes

▹Utilized to hold entire lickometer system and to be mounted on wire rack

▹flat base is laser cut with divots to mount additional boxes and containers for compoments

▹3D printed casings and containers are attached on and glued

▹Utilized to create glass tubes that will contain the water and/or alcohol for the mice

▹10mm O.D. and ~8.5 I.D. to maximize fluid height different in volume change

▹2 inch water column corresponds to ~2.5mL of water contained in the tube, meeting our targetted containment of 2mL

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▹Utilized to toggle on and off airflow in the tubing in order to create an air buffer column

▹Toggle Onto "tare" pressure system and set initial pressure difference to zero

▹Toggle Off once testing begins to close air buffer from ATM so that a pressure differential can be created in the air buffer

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▹Utilized for connections in contact with fluid (ie: between the water column and sipper valve)

▹Material has excellent chemical resistence to both water and alcohol

▹Duromter 65A : ensures high flexibiliy in the tubing for ease of connection

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LInk to Product (3/16" I.D.)

▹Utilized for connections in contact with only air (ie: between the air column, toggle valve, and pressure sensor)

▹Used in pump applications ensuring minimal air leakage to secure the pressurized air buffer

▹Duromter 50A : ensures high flexibiliy in the tubing for ease of connection

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LInk to Product (3/32" I.D.)

▹Utilized for dampening vibrations in the lickometer systems that may be caused by mouse interaction

▹Lined between acryllic base pieces and on the underside of the wire rack to minimize vibrations

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▹Utilized for creating a local, private internet connection for wireless data transfer to operate

▹Portable internet base that will be dedicated to only the lickometer device; allowing for ease of IP address discovery which is essential to WiFi data transfer

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▹Utilized for supplying a portable power source for the lickometer device

▹Micro-USB outputs do not have a built in shut-off design. There is no current threshold that is required for the power bank to continue charging

▹Tested to last appoximately 142 hours before requiring a full charge

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▹#10-32 to 1/8” ID Hose Connector

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▹Clear Inline Reducer, for 1/8" x 3/32" Tube ID

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▹Reducer, for 3/16" x 1/8" Tube ID

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▹#10-32 Male Captivated O-Ring Plug

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▹Machined Stainless Steel Cap for Air Buffer

▹3D Printed NinjaFlex Cap for Liquid Column

▹Various Screws and Winged Nuts