3D Printed Smart Watch Bluetooth/UART Feedback and Guidance

Projects General Guidance
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Hey Arduino Forum :slight_smile:

Over the past month or so I have been designing an Atmel/Arduino powered smart watch, the reason I am posting here is to request feedback and guidance on its programming interface and the watch in general, the watch will be Bluetooth enabled, have an oled screen and a five way joystick. My concern is whether I should allow it to be programmed over Bluetooth or have an FTDI or other USB to UART chip on board (the watch will have Bluetooth regardless). I have achieved arudino programming over bluetooth in other projects, it just requires Bluetooth to virtual com port drivers and a small reset circuit. So basically all I ask is your opinion on whether I should make the watch programmable over Bluetooth or using the UART, as I am having trouble deciding.

A few solutions I thought of:

  • Bluetooth and reset circuit only
  • Pads available on the circuit board for the user to add reset components if they want to program it over Bluetooth
  • adding a USB to UART chip for wired programming
  • using an AVR with two serial lines so both can be used without the need of a header to switch modes

Here is a YouTube video I made with lots more detail if your interested in the watch, check the description for an overview and specs:

Thank You,
Will

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Upload over Bluetooth, but requiring reset sequence via joystick

PS> Why are you using OLED, won't that flatten the battery really quickly.

I'd go for a 5110 LCD to start with, or perhaps a newer phone LCD screen.

What did you model the 3D box in ? OpenSCAD I'd round the top and make it look less like a square box.

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Upload over Bluetooth, but requiring reset sequence via joystick

PS> Why are you using OLED, won't that flatten the battery really quickly.

I'd go for a 5110 LCD to start with, or perhaps a newer phone LCD screen.

What did you model the 3D box in ? OpenSCAD I'd round the top and make it look less like a square box.

I chose oled for its high resolution in such a small size, I believe it draws around 20Mah but it depends how much is lit up.

I plan to run the avr in sleep mode and use its interrupts to wake it up, with the joy stick or alarm clock, so the screen won't always be on.

I had a look at the 5110 LCD but its pretty big compared to the oled and has a lower resolution.

I have never heard of OPENSCAD before, it looks pretty cool, I designed the case in autodesk 123d. In a different version of the case I added curves to the top, but its kind of difficult to put the curves over the tightly packed electronics, I'm sure I'll add them in the final design. :slight_smile:

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I have never heard of OPENSCAD before, it looks pretty cool,

OpenSCAD is great for designing stuff if you come from a programming environment, i.e you're more comfortable coding than using design packages.

I use it for most of my enclosure designs.

There is also a package called openJSCad which you can run in the browser, which is pretty cool (and save save in STL)

I chose oled for its high resolution in such a small size

OK. I'd be a bit concerned about power usage, but I guess its similar to those new smart watches that Samsung etc are bringing out.

I presume that you'll power it from a single cell LIPO battery.

I've got some small OLED displays on order (from eBay), so it will be interesting to see what they are like.

but its kind of difficult to put the curves over the tightly packed electronics

I mean only put the curves on the outside profile, the inside can be cuboid.

Anyway, good luck with the project.

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OpenSCAD is great for designing stuff if you come from a programming environment, i.e you're more comfortable coding than using design packages.

I use it for most of my enclosure designs.

There is also a package called openJSCad which you can run in the browser, which is pretty cool (and save save in STL)

I'll take a closer look at it later

I presume that you'll power it from a single cell LIPO battery.

Yes I am using a 140Mah Li-ion Battery

I mean only put the curves on the outside profile, the inside can be cuboid.

I'm sorry you misunderstand me, I mean as the curve is added the material between the outside and electronics will become thinner

Thanks,
Will