Low Power Sensor Platform for PDA

Abstract: Most current hand-held devices today are equipped with a series of different sensors and built in wireless connectivities such as gyro meters and Bluetooth. This thesis touches the subject of adding an additional sensor platform to the handheld computer iPAQ H5500 while only being powered by the device’s battery. The Wasa Board v1.4 created by Prof. Mark Smith was redesigned to consume no more power than the iPAQ could supply. Taking advantage of the device ability to use serial communication without any conversion made it possible to greatly lessen the effect needed. A simple software that could display both temperature- and light sensor readings on the iPAQ was created in order to allow the user to interactively communicate with the board. It was fully able to provide enough power through its serial port to operate the Wasa Board at full speed while on an average not consuming more than 14.01mW. This thesis also verifies that there are great possibilities of taking the Wasa Board to even newer devices such as smartphones or making additions to what sensors are put on.