DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A REMOTE CONTROL SWITCHING DEVICE FOR HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES APPLICATION

1.1 Introduction

Remote controls devices are devices that sends digitally-coded pulses to control functions like power, volume, tuning, temperature set point, fan speed, just to name a few, to control different equipments. These devices are usually small wireless handheld objects with an array for various adjustable setting buttons for television channel, track number, and volume. For many devices, the remote control contains all the function controls while the controlled device itself has only a handful of essential primary controls. The earlier remote controls used ultrasonic tones (Delgado et al., 2013). Remote control has continually evolved and advanced over recent years to include Infrared (IR), Radio frequency, Bluetooth connectivity, motion sensor-enabled capabilities, voice control. IR remote control has been proved to be the most popular equipment for office application (Abdulaleem et al., 2012).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

The early wired remotes made possible for users to control appliances at a distance, but the wired remote also limited the user's mobility by either tethering or tripping the users. If the user ran the remote control's cord under the rugs and furniture, effectively anchoring the device to one location in the room, the remote thereby limits the freedom of movement for which it was designed to provide. But if the cord is left out in the open, the users might stumble over it. The wireless remote control solved all these challenges of the wired remote control and effectively takes control of the household. The use of remote to restore order to the household (Woodford, 2015), changes life style; brings multi-function and multi-platform lives easy.

Remote controls are devices that send digitally encoded pulses to control functions such as power, volume, configuration, set temperature, fan speed, to name a few, to control different equipment. These devices are typically small portable wireless objects with an array for several adjustable tuning buttons for the TV channel, track number and volume. For many devices, the remote control contains all the function controls, while the controlled device has only a handful of essential main controls. Previous remote controls used ultrasonic tones. The remote control has constantly evolved and advanced in recent years to include infrared (IR), radio frequency, Bluetooth connectivity, motion detection capabilities and voice control.

The infrared remote control has proven to be the most popular equipment for office applications, for example to control the air conditioning, turn the light on or off, as well as the normal use of satellite receivers and televisions. In this article, while implementing the use of various technologies that integrate security, a remote control system that uses radiofrequency technology is developed.

Most homes use many electrical and electronic devices such as TV, floor fan, ceiling fan, air conditioning, light bulbs, video players, radio, etc. All these devices require switching to turn these devices on and off in the traditional way. This manual change of any appliance is an impractical method for the physically disabled or the elderly or even for the young and busy when a frequent change is required. Therefore, an easier switching method is developed to replace this manual switching method, using an advanced switching method for household appliances.

The early wired remotes made possible for users to control appliances at a distance, but the wired remote also limited the user's mobility by either tethering or tripping the users. If the user ran the remote control's cord under the rugs and furniture, effectively anchoring the device to one location in the room, the remote thereby limits the freedom of movement for which it was designed to provide. But if the cord is left out in the open, the users might stumble over it. The wireless remote control solved all these challenges of the wired remote control and effectively takes control of the household. The use of remote to restore order to the household changes life style; brings multi-function and multi-platform lives easy.

Various technologies have evolved in the past: controlled by radio waves; used to execute commands transmitted by electromagnetic waves; and also the use of battery-operated lowfrequency radio transmitter remote control for consumer electronics. The idea for an electronic remote control, which worked wirelessly by shining a beam of light onto a photoelectric cell, came up in the United State in 1955. Advancement in remote control kept going till recent days where many technologies such as infrared, radio frequency, Bluetooth, Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications control are used for remote control.

The major technology used in home remote controls is infrared (IR) light. The signal between a remote control handset and the device that it controls consists of pulses of infrared light, which is invisible to the human eye, but can be seen through a digital camera, video camera or a phone camera. The transmitter in the remote control handset sends out a stream of pulses of infrared light when the user presses a button on the handset. A transmitter is often a light emitting diode (LED) which is built into the pointing end of the remote control handset.

The infrared light pulses form a pattern unique to that button. The receiver in the device recognizes the pattern and causes the device to respond accordingly. Radio Frequency (RF) remote control is used to control distant objects using a variety of radio signals transmitted by the remote control device. As a complementary method to infrared remote controls, the radio remote control was used with electric garage door or gate openers, automatic barrier systems, burglar alarms (for security and also for restriction of the use of household appliances) and industrial automation systems.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to design and construct a Remote Control Switching Device for Household Appliances Application.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that the problem statement is that most aged people have electric receptacle phobia, in order to avert heart attacks and prevent accidents it is imperative to introduce a more convenient and safer way of switching home appliances. Due to the high costs involved in the current methods used by various companies and institutions for monitoring lights and doors and other weaknesses like security measures being compromised, these have driven us in developing and implementing a cost effective Remote Control Switching Device for Household Appliances Application of doors and lights using an android phone via Bluetooth technology.

The need for a remote control alert system that can control domestic appliances and various lighting points and sockets has often been a concern for users. At times users find it inconvenient and time consuming to go around turning their appliances on or off each time there is power outage or each time they are leaving the house for work. It has also often led to damage of appliances due to the fact that an appliance was not turned off before leaving the house.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to design and construct a Remote Control Switching Device for Household Appliances Application. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To design an equipment that can facilitate a convenient and easy way of controlling our domestic appliances, lighting points and sockets especially in powering them, without always going to appliances physically by ourselves.
2. To test and validate the implemented Remote Control Switching Device for Household Appliances Application.

This objective will be accomplished using various components which include a Microcontroller (AT89C51) which acts as the backbone of the project together with other components.

1.5 Significance of Study

The ease of putting our appliances, lighting points and sockets on or off has made it necessary to develop this system in order to control our appliances, lighting points and sockets from a central point using a remote control. The issues of always forgetting our appliances ON when leaving the house has often caused fire outbreak and explosion in homes and this is another reason that led to designing and construction of this system.

In this research report, the diagrams will range from simple block diagrams to complex circuit diagrams which will comprise mostly of common electrical and electronics symbols. Some of the diagrams that will feature in this report will be used as the main block on which certain parameters will be explained upon. Relevant electronic components will also be shown and described.

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

1.6 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Design and Construction of a Remote Control Switching Device for Household Appliances Application. In this research work, the diagrams will range from simple block diagrams to complex circuit diagrams which will comprise mostly of common electrical and electronics symbols.

Some of the diagrams that will feature in this report will be used as the main block on which certain parameters will be explained upon. Relevant electronic components will also be shown and described.

This project report will also contain an outline of the circuit diagram as it is seen physically. The package design diagram will be included showing the width, height in millimeter (mm).

1.7 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).