submission by mark Goodwin – Scenario, I am leaving my house, pat down pockets, glimpse at exposed surfaces as well as yell to SWMBO “Has anybody seen my keys?”

If you are lucky sufficient to have a biometric, card entry system or other electrical gadget that has removed the need for standard aluminum or steel keys, then this project is not for you. However, if like me you manually open as well as close windows as well as doors then read on. I was fed up with continuously having to fix the riddle of the missing keys so I embarked on this project with the objective of automating my arrival as well as departure by using standard keys which I would integrate into “Homevision” as well as Frank McAlinden’s “probe zone Hub” as well as “FirM” to produce a catchall option which would resolve my “lost keys” situation while integrating into as well as enhancing my everyday arrival as well as departure experience.

Introduction – Each home varies according to the persons inhabiting the living space, as well as living routines tend to vary according to the age, gender, number of residents, their income, way of life as well as religious practices. These aspects tend to influence the need for as well as adoption of new technologies within the home. My habitat or living space consists of two able bodied adults who are interested in technology, nevertheless we typically discover ourselves having to discover ways of automating the seemingly basic yet discouraging daily tasks. On this occasion, we have made a decision to embark on the task of solving the mystery of the disappearing keys. having tried every offered or saleable product from whistling chains to glow in the dark essential rings, home keys were still a problem as well as the only response was to discover a way to produce a permanent yet visible base station that would integrate well with “homevision” I have assigned “Homevision” the task of automating the mundane yet important tasks of a normal home so took this opportunity to integrate the “power down” of my devices as well as lighting with the home keys in what has come to be known as the “key rack interface”.

I instantly set about some research as well as looked into various potential options such as iButtons, RFID as well as Magnetic Tagging, all of which might be interlinked into a house Automation System. Each had their technical advantages, however, they all fell short as they might not psychically store or hold the keys. part of the response presented itself from a past project by Shawn Boyle on his ‘Automated KeyRack’; it was a functional as well as expense efficient solution. Its restriction was in its fixed cable television length that connected to HomeVision. If the fixed length cable television might be replaced by a cat5 cable, the KeyRack would have greater flexibility relating to placement as well as positioning.

After several conversations with Frank McAlinden (who I had previously collaborated with on the Probe zone Hardware) cause the final thought that it was possible to re-engineering one of his Probe zone screen board as well as use his newly developed HomeVison I/0 Expander to produce a Cat5 enabled ‘KeyRack Interface’ for the HomeVision controller, with the addition of customized housing being created to look aesthetically pleasing so it can blend into the homes surroundings.

The idea – To have a control interface into my house Automation system that can run certain automation modes of “arriving home” as well as “exiting home”, which likewise doubles as storage for keys. This would enable for me as well as Swimbo’s keys to be appropriately stored for later retrieval as well as supply us a technique to setup the house when we show up house to our certain requirements as well as upon exiting the house all zones being automatically checked as well as powered down.

Proposed Functions:-

Enter Home

Problem – On arriving house the home is typically dark, I have too numerous remotes as well as the primary light is too aggressive . result is typically a poor welcome after slaying dragons!

Solution – place essential (3.5mm plug) into relevant socket , all Zones in the house are scanned to check whether any type of devices is switched on ,thus signalling that someone is home. If nobody is house a Macro is activated setting lights to certain levels dependent on the time of day. This likewise activates other functions such as TV/Cable or music which are routed to the suitable zones.

Result – Automatic Ambient house atmosphere without the need for remotes or manual control . I am welcomed by my house as well as feel much more relaxed.

Exit Home

Problem – When we try to leave in a hurry we don’t understand where the keys are , devices as well as lights have to be switched off in every zone not to mention trying to find my budget this equals Mega anxiety .

Solution – When the essential (3.5mm plug) is removed from the socket , all zones in the house are scanned by HomeVision + the Probe System for present status . If any type of devices or lighting is on then it’s turned off as well as HomeVision sets the mode as being away from home.

Result – By removing the essential (3.5mm plug) from the socket you have a single essential Power down which allows you to leave the home swiftly , safely as well as anxiety totally free .

Over ride

Problem – If someone is using devices or lighting as well as one more use wishes to leave for a short period HomeVision needs to be informed not to modification the present house status…

Solution – By activating the override toggle switch marked O/R any type of or all keys (3.5mm plug) can be removed without the exit house settings being activated . This indicates that any type of house occupants can continue enjoying the facilities undisturbed.

Hardware Components

HomeVision – house Automation Controller

Probe zone screen – used to hold Key(s) + user led indication

HomeVision I/O Expander – interface between HomeVision + Keyrack

X10 CHIME Module – status feedback for Override mode

3.5mm Stereo Plugs – used for keys

12v power supply – required to power the Probe zone Monitor

Cat5 cable television – cable television required to link the Keyrack to HV

Software

HomeVision XL – Runs macros + reads the HV I/O Expander

Setting Up/Configuration

Hardware Integration & Configuration

1. Powered down the HomeVision controller as well as connected the HomeVision I/0 Expander hardware by means of a 14 pin cable television to the HomeVisions growth Bus.

Figure 1: HomeVision I/0 Expander

2. Assigned the HomeVision I/0 Expander hardware a dedicated I2C Address by way of addressing its 3 programming pins. The KeyRack was provided an I2C address of 116 (Device 3). If using conventional HV software or 3A if using HomeVision XL software.

3. removed one end of a Cat5 cable television as well as stripped back the wires as well as proceeded to link the Cat5 wires to the HomeVision I/0 Expander screw connectors (Input).

HomeVision I/0 Expander Connections:

CAT5 cable television HV I/O Expander Port
Green white Port 1
Green Port 2
Blue white Port 3
Blue Port 4
Orange white Port 5
Orange Port 6
Brown white +12v
Brown 0v

4. The connection idea of a 12v power supply was removed as well as wires stripped back. The positive (+) wire was then attached to the +12v output on the HV I/0 Expander with the brown white cat5 wire . The negative (-) wire connected to the 0v connection with the brown cat5 wire. Please note the +12v leg must be fused . recommend using a reset able fuse rated at approx 100Ma.

5. Plugged in the Cat5 cable television into the Probe zone Monitor’s socket then re-connected the power supply to the HomeVision controller then proceeded to link the power supply for the HV I/0 Expander. The led’s on the Probe zone screen board lit up as well as displayed all six led’s as green, so all appears ok .

 

Figure 2: Probe zone screen Board

Software Configuration

1. Edited the Windows registry to activate the ‘I2C’ commands in HomeVisionXL.

2. created a macro for Homevision to read the status of the HV I/0 Expander. This macro forms the primary mechanics for the KeyRack.

Figure 3: I2C Macro for the HV I/0 Expander

 

Figure 4: I2C Macro for the HV I/0 Expander

Testing the HV I/0 Expander

To test if HomeVision was reading the appropriate 12C states of the HV I/0 Expander, I inserted a essential (3.5m Stereo plug) into the Probe zone screen sockets. then I would check the suitable variable . likewise inserting a plug into any type of of the sockets causes the corresponding user Led to modification displaying ‘Green’ to ‘Red’. I checked all 6 inputs as well as they changed status from ‘Green’ to ‘Red’.

Custom housing & Hardware modifications – With the prototype KeyRack interface up as well as running, the next stage was to style the KeyRack’s customized housing as well as the addition of a toggle switch to the Probe zone Monitor’s circuit board to enable for an override function. As the KeyRack was to be on screen within the home, not hidden out of sight in ‘Node 0’ or an Automation Closet, it was important that the style be aesthetically pleasing with clean lines to complement my attempt at a minimalist feel. The clean lines are important to guarantee that the project achieves user purchase in or acceptance as SWIMBO would turn down anything too visually disturbing which can potentially disturb the decoration as well as colour scheme. We had originally wanted a white square housing of similar size to the Probe zone Monitor; however, Frank McAlinden talked to the engravers who came up with the concept of using a brush aluminium surface with much more of a wedge shape which was wonderful in idea however even much better when the finished result was delivered.

Figures 5: customized KeyRack Housing

 

Figures 6: customized KeyRack Housing

Up as well as Running With the prototype Keyrack mechanics in full operation, the final stage was the style of the keyRack modes. Swimbo as well as I made a decision that the best way ahead was to conduct an analysis of our living as well as social routines over a normal 24 hour period, this would then be checked against a weekday schedule as well as a weekend schedule. A separate schedule would be created to take into consideration any type of guests that we may be entertaining. having worked out the schedule, we wrangled over whether we must use a chime to reveal that an override to the system had been set. However, it was agreed that the chime must remain as it is essential to understand when the override is complete.

For the settings to work efficiently we had to look at the routines as well as patterns of the users as well as put the moods into context as to who was present at what time. For example, I have a stressful task as well as on returning home, I delight in an ambient atmosphere including dimmed lights as well as soothing music. I as a result created a mood suitable for these purposes which I called the “arriving house mode” see table on weekday settings below. However, this mode is only efficient if we do not have guests as the mood may be a little too relaxed. As part of this process we made a decision that anybody undertaking such a project must conduct a extensive contextual review of the settings as well as exactly how they will make us as well as anybody who shares our habitat feel as well as the subconscious psychological cues that they may lend to any type of provided setting.

It was likewise agreed that a separate group of settings be constructed for the weekend. Again, this was due to the wish to psychologically separate the weekend from weekdays. We looked at our behaviour patterns of a weekday as well as weekend as well as pertained to the final thought that we like to unwind after work, whereas we like a higher octane weekend. We as a result took the decision to have brighter lighting, selected music that was much more upbeat as well as typically strove to produce a balanced yet uplifting weekend atmosphere that would support comfortable moseying, writing or reading, cooking as well as entertaining Guests. The weekday mode selection concentrated on maximum relation as well as de-stressing after a difficult days work.

The different Modes are described below for the “Weekday” settings:

Enter Home

Morning mode [ 6am – 8am]

If I have an early morning jog , on my return , my normal morning settings are run.

Action
The bedroom TV is switched on as well as the cable television channel is changed for the news as well as morning lighting set to 70%.

At work mode [8am – 6pm]

If anybody arrives house during working hours only the lighting mode is activated.

Actions
Whole home lighting set to 75%

Arrive house mode [6pm – 8pm]

On arriving house , lighting is dimmed as well as suitable ambient music is selected for the kicked back welcome house .

Actions
The CD Jukebox is switched on as well as the “Lounge Music” is selected for the Lounge as well as whole home lighting is set to 65%.

Evening mode [8pm – 9pm]

If anybody arrives house late after a long day at work , a much more soothing mode of music is selected with lower light levels .

Actions
The CD Jukebox is switched on as well as the “Mood Music” is selected for the Lounge as well as whole home lighting is set to 45% .

Late evening mode [9pm – 12am]

If we have been out , on return the home entertainment system is activated displaying a listing of programmes suitable for checking out .

Actions
PVR mode is selected to see what TIVO has recorded for the Day ? as well as the Lounge lights are set for 30% .

Night mode [12am – 6am]

If we have been out , on return only the lighting mode is selected.

Actions
Whole home lighting is set to 20% with a worldwide home timer set to power down all zones in 30 minutes.

Exit house Mode

Available 24 hrs

Exit house is a fixed mode . It has been set to power down devices , lighting in all Zones as well as set exit house flag. Actions
All house Zones are scanned for status , any type of devices or lighting that is on is powered down as well as the “Away from Home” mode is set.

Outcome

The Keyrack has been up as well as running for over 3 months with no problems. It has proven to be very responsive as well as stable. We have discovered it has supplied us with a special way to remove dependence on remote controls when setting up as well as powering down zones; to date we have not misplaced a set of keys considering that the implementation. The physical style has been a resounding success as well as SWMBO (she who need to be obeyed) has remarked on the way it has slotted quickly into our existing house routine while enhancing our overall automation experience in the hom