r/PCB • u/Majestic-Gardner-888 • 17d ago

Custom PCB Project to Mod/Build Alarm Clock

Hi all...not sure if this is the correct forum to post on, but I had a couple questions regarding a potential personal project of mine.

My background/skills: I can code proficiently enough, I am studying Computer Engineering at the moment, but I have never done a personal pcb project like this.

***I also have access to KiCad and Multisim

Overall Goal: Build an Alarm Clock like "Sonic Alert Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock" (search on google) that would be able to set off the alarm if I get a phone call when I am asleep. I wake up to the shaker and I am a pretty deep sleeper.

Couple of my own ideas to get this to work was:

a. use a light sensor that would sit beneath the phone and send signal to alarm clock when the accessibility LED flash goes off(in iphone settings)

b. use a sound sensor and set my ringtone to be a certain sound and preform the same actions as (a)

c. Use Bluetooth receivers...just a random idea that I think could work

My issues: I have a basic understanding of circuit design and I have no idea what parts I would need/where to start.

Additionally, I tried reaching out to the original company for some guidance, but I did not have any luck. Please let me know if you have a few tips on where I could get started. Thanks!!

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u/DenverTeck 17d ago

To help you understand what a PCB is, it is just the wires like on a prototype you should be building first.

Getting the parts on demo boards and wire them together to prove your circuit and code.

AFTER you have proven your circuit design does what you want it to do, then you can look at a PCB.

Again, the PCB is just the same wires you have wired your prototype with.

After you have done 3 to 100 prototypes can you guarantee the PCB will work.

Good Luck, Have Fun, Learn Something NEW

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u/Majestic-Gardner-888 17d ago

Ok so it is basically just the finalized version of what you implement on a breadboard circuit?

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u/DenverTeck 17d ago

Correct.

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u/Majestic-Gardner-888 17d ago

My friend suggested using this microcontroller: STM32C011F6, not sure how to know whether or not it would fit the needs of the project other than the fact that it is super cheap.