converting programs~

[skimask]

What Skimask mean between the line (or colon), is that YES we can help you, but you'll need to tell us a little bit more about what you already find/tested. Sensor, , additional hardware, links, datasheet, method etc etc.

Yep...what him said...
(colon.........Oh you're a riot nowadays!!! )

[BobK]

Hi sanquine,

I replied earlier this morning about the same thing that Melanie did but for some reason it didn't get posted.

Stop for a minute and re-read what you have posted here. You want to know when a sleep walker gets up and starts walking around. You are wanting to put sensors on the patients shoes or slippers. Like Melanie stated, most sleep walkers just get up and start walking. I think you are over complicating things here.

I think all you need are a couple of pressure mats placed on each side of the bed connected to a simple sounder circuit or even something like a 555 timer. You could even put an opening sensor on the door into the patient's room with a pressure pad inside the door and using a 555 timer, when the patient steps on the mat it enables the 555 timer to operate as soon as the door is opened. This configuration would not sound if the door is opened first such as when the nurse comes in to check on the patient. If you are hell bent on using a PIC then something like the 12F chips could be used instead of the 555 timer. Yea I remember from one of your posts that you need to use a 18F452 but they gave you an 16F877A. Well you can use that in place of the 555 or 12F PIC. Fancy up the project once you have the basics working by adding flashing lights outside the patient' s room or have a LCD display with alerting beeper at the nurse's station display something like "Mr Smith is sleep walking again!"

What you are asking for or being asked to do isn't difficult to do, but to put sensors on a patient's shoes is a big waste of time.

I have in the past two years provided numerous solutions for my biggest security client. The last project was for unassisted apartment dwellers on this retirement campus that are in the beginning stages of dementia but not quite ready for the full assistance package. The apartments already have alarm dialers for the emergency cords and smoke detectors. We put together a PIC controlled clock that enables a wireless door transmitter between 10pm and 7am. If the person leaves during these hours, then security personnel go and check on them. While one person is responding, another person is monitoring the 4 main exits on the video system to see if they leave the building before help arrives. The PIC controlled clock is not affected by the spring and fall time change and needs a new backup battery every 5 years. Works great and all we need the patient to do is walk out the door. No shoes? No problem.

Take your project in small steps then build it up to the grand finale!

Sure hope this helps you in some way.

By the way, I noticed that you wanted to do your project in assembly. This forum is for people using PICBasic and PICBasic Pro. You might want to look over the software most of us use here and switch to this because your developement time will be alot shorter.

Good luck!

BobK

[Melanie]

I think in some instances students are given a task by a lecturer and are expected to run with the assigned project (whether it's a good idea or not is irrelevant). The lecturer is looking to see how each student will cope with the assignment.

[sanguine]

THX BOB~
=)
yea..i know...would not want to have complicated things but its just that, as melanie said, its an assignment given to us. The teacher does not expect us to tell him there might be another better choice in this or that way.
He just want us to do what he ask for and give us the grades.
Anyway, i'm trying~
And i'm really thankful for the concern and suggestion that i've received!

[T.Jackson]

As my grandfather always said to me; don't do as I do - do as I bloody say.

[RussMartin]

I think in some instances students are given a task by a lecturer and are expected to run with the assigned project (whether it's a good idea or not is irrelevant). The lecturer is looking to see how each student will cope with the assignment.

I think Melanie has correctly assessed the situation; I'm sorry that skimask wasn't a little gentler.

A young friend of mine (he's about 35 now) went to a private (expensive) tech school about 10 or 12 years ago. In one class they were divided into teams and each team was challenged, in addition to regular course work, to design and specify a portable scoreboard for Pop Warner football ("American football"; Pop Warner is the football equivalent to Little League baseball). At the time of the assignment, no student had any experience in specification, nor in microprocessors. They had learned basic digital, discrete analog, and op amps. As Melanie said, they had to "run with it". Anyway, his team needed a simple, reliable clock signal source, so he called me for ideas. I showed them how to do it with a couple of buffer gates and a crystal. (The teacher told them it wouldn't work. I breadboarded it and brought it to his class. Yes, it worked--just not a circuit you find in the textbooks!)

Sanguine, just keep at it. Don't let the naysayers get you down. We were all once newbies!

[sanguine]

oh..thank you RussMartin..
I'm alright with skimask actually, its just that i was quite unused to the way he say things. I just felt like he wasn't trying to understand my situation.
I really would have prefered things where i get to start at more basic things.
But anyway, i'm still browsing through the net n see if i can more information regarding my project. I have met many helpful people so far and its kind of more encouraging.
i'll work harder~