IEEE-OSU PCB Design Challenge

The IEEE Student Branch at Oklahoma State University proudly organized its inaugural IEEE-OSU PCB Design Challenge. This event was designed to challenge members' design skills, introduce them to innovative tools and concepts, and provide a hands-on opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to a real-world project. Entries were evaluated on creativity, quality of design, and thorough documentation. The winning submission will be featured in an end-of-semester soldering activity, held during the final IEEE-OSU club meeting.

555 Stylophone by Eden Barnes

While there were many incredible submissions, the one that stood out the most was the 555 Stylophone designed by Eden Barnes. A stylophone is an instrument, similar to a piano, characterized by its small size, electronic sound, and the stylus used to play the instrument. Eden's stylophone is created from a single 155mm by 120mm circuit board, with each of its 13 keys being made from exposed copper fills. An alligator clip is attached to another exposed copper fill at the top of the board, and the other end of the alligator clip is pressed against each of the keys to play the instrument. Each key is played as a square wave from the speaker mounted to the board.

The device is powered by a single 9-volt battery and can be turned on and off with a switch. The square wave notes are generated by a 555 timer in its astable configuration. To create a specific note with the 555 timer, a certain resistance must exist between the discharge and threshold pins and between the discharge pin and 9-volts. The frequency of the note can be calculated with the equation f = 1.44 / [(R1 + 2*R2)C] where C is the capacitance between the threshold pin and gnd. Eden's device can play 13 different notes. This is done by placing a different resistance on each of the 13 keys. By touching the alligator clip to a specific key, the threshold pin will be connected to the discharge pin through the resistance of the key selected. The 555 timer will then generate a note at the desired pitch, which is played through a speaker on the board.

Each key is labeled with its note. Due to inaccuracies in the 555 timer, resistors, and capacitor, the pitch played does not match perfectly with the ideal pitch of the note. In practice, however, the entire stylophone will usually be out of tune to the same degree. This means that the keys sound good relative to each other but may sound out of pitch relative to a well-tuned instrument.

For ease of assembly, each of the 14 resistors are labeled with their respective resistances. The entire board can be assembled in 40 minutes, and consists of:

• 14 Resistors
• 2 Capacitors
• 1 555 Timer
• 1 Switch
• 1 Speaker
• 1 9V Battery Holder
• 1 Alligator Clip

We believe that a partnership with PCBWay will significantly elevate the IEEE-OSU PCB Design Challenge. By providing access to high-quality PCB manufacturing services, your sponsorship will empower participants to bring their designs to life with precision and professionalism. Moreover, your support will not only enhance the technical skills of our members but also inspire them to tackle ambitious projects with confidence and creativity. Together, we can continue to foster innovation, learning, and excellence within our engineering community at Oklahoma State University.