Week 7- Journal

Create Smart Focus Timer . 🖲️⏲️⏳

Tell us about your assignment's idea for this week.
Why do you care about this idea? What inspired you?
(Please include images or links to sources of inspiration)

Assignment Idea: (Theme Work Desk )

My idea is the Smart Focus Timer, built with an Arduino Uno and a buzzer. It alerts after a set time (like 1 minute) to help with focus and time management.

I care about this idea because many people, including myself, lose track of time while studying or working .
This timer supports techniques like the Pomodoro method without the distractions of a phone.

The inspiration came from seeing DIY Arduino timers online and my personal need for a simple, low-cost focus tool.

Tool Chain

Which software/machines/materials did you use in the assignment? Why?

Tinkercad

🔹 Software/Machines:

Tinkercad → to design and test the circuit before building it.
to provide electricity to the circuit.

🔹 Electronic Components:

Jumper wires & crocodile clips → to connect the circuit parts.
Breadboard → to assemble the circuit easily without soldering.
LED → to control the circuit and show when it is working.
Resistor → to control the current and protect the components.
Crocodile clips : quickly connect wires to components without soldering.
Push button → to start and stop the timer.
Potentiometer → to adjust the time.
Buzzer → alarm when time ends.

🔹 Craft Materials (for the model):

Cardboard & white paper → for the body of the bell model.
Cutter, pencil, ruler → for measuring and cutting the shapes.
Glue → to fix the parts together.

buzzer

Breadboard

Power supply 5

Jumper wires

crocodile clips

Arduino

Potentiometer

Design/Preparation Process

Explain the design and/or preparation process of your assignment.
How did you use the tool or software to design and/or prepare your assignment before fabrication/implementation?

Design and Preparation Process:

Planned the smart device circuit using Tinkercad before building it.

Selected the Arduino UNO as the main controller.

Inputs used:

Push button → to start/stop the timer.
Potentiometer → to adjust the study duration.

Outputs used:

LED → stays ON while the timer is active.
Buzzer → rings when the timer ends.

Tested the wiring and logic using Arduino code in Tinkercad simulation.

Verified that the LED turned ON during the timer and the buzzer worked at the end.

Recreated the same circuit on a breadboard with Arduino UNO, jumper wires, and components.

Created a wiring diagram using Tinkercad to clearly show all connections.

🔌 Circuit Connections

LED
- LED anode (long leg) → Arduino pin 9
- LED cathode (short leg) → GND via 220 Ω resistor
Buzzer
- Positive pin → Arduino pin 8
- Negative pin → GND
Button
- One side → Arduino pin 2
- Other side → GND

Potentiometer
- Middle pin → Arduino A0
- One side → 5V
- Other side → GND

Then I created the prototype of my project by cardboard .

Development/Implementation Process

Explain the development/implementation process of your assignment.
How did you use the machine/tool to manufacture or implement the design of your assignment?

Collected all components: Arduino UNO, breadboard, button, potentiometer, LED, buzzer, jumper wires.
Wired the circuit on a breadboard following the wiring diagram prepared in Tinkercad.
Programmed the device using Arduino C (ino code) in the Arduino.
Used two dynamic variables:
- One for potentiometer input (study time).
- One for button state (start/stop).
Added an if condition to check button press and start/stop the timer.
Used a logical operator (&&) to check two conditions together
( timer running AND time finished).

-----------------------------------------
Problem: Hard to stay focused while studying.
Inputs: Button (start/stop) + potentiometer (set study time).
Outputs: LED (ON while timer active) + buzzer (rings when time ends).
Logic: Start Pomodoro-style timer → focus light ON → buzzer rings after set duration.
------------------------------------------
Uploaded the code to the Arduino board and tested functionality.
Verified that the LED lights up during the timer and the buzzer rings when the set time ends.
Built a simple cardboard enclosure to hold the circuit neatly inside.
Ensured the device works as intended and recorded a short video demo of the final prototype.

LED
- LED anode (long leg) → Arduino pin 9
- LED cathode (short leg) → GND via 220 Ω resistor

2. Button

- One side → Arduino pin 2
- Other side → GND

Potentiometer
- Middle pin → Arduino A0
- One side → 5V
- Other side → GND

Buzzer
- Positive pin → Arduino pin 8
- Negative pin → GND

smart timer.mp4

Finally I took the measurements for my project and Cut .

Cut and replace on cardboard

20250904_170755.mp4

Overcoming Challenges

When you got stuck, what/who did you turn to?
At what point did you have to pause to research or learn more before moving on?
What are some mistakes, pitfalls, or challenges that others can avoid if they were doing this assignment?

At first, I faced a problem in coding because the buzzer did not activate as expected.

I watched several tutorial videos on Arduino coding to understand how to set the timer correctly.

After forming my own code, the LED worked but the buzzer did not buzz.

I checked the Serial Monitor and noticed that the timer was set to 60 minutes instead of 10 seconds or 1 minute.

To solve this, I reviewed the code carefully and also asked ChatGPT for clarification about the mistake.

The issue was in the way the time value was calculated. Once corrected, the buzzer worked properly after the set time.

Key to the solution: a mix of trial and error,

checking the Serial Monitor for debugging, and seeking guidance from online resources.

Assignment Design Files