Wireless Cubicle Doorbell Using the PIC16F18075

Getting someone’s attention when they’re working on a computer can be a challenge if they’re wearing headphones. This post gives a high-level overview of a customizable cubicle doorbell framework.

Overview of a Customizable Cubicle Doorbell Framework

Interrupting someone during an online meeting to get their attention is a modern problem that requires a modern solution. Whether it’s to ask a quick question or just to chat, it can be hard to get someone’s attention when they’re in an online meeting or wearing headphones while working. At Microchip, we’ve developed a framework for a cost-effective doorbell that is solderless, wireless and customizable.

The doorbell requires a transmitter and receiver pair, which are both built on Curiosity High Pin Count (HPC) boards. These boards break out the microcontroller’s pins and program the microcontroller. For the main microcontroller, we are using a PIC16F18075 in a DIP package because it offers a cost-effective way to directly interface with various sensors and devices without additional circuitry. This allows anyone to swap out the parts we chose for their own, making this system easily adaptable. The HPC board also comes with a DIP socket, so soldering is not necessary. To communicate with each other, a Bluetooth®Click board™ from MikroElectronika was installed on each board so the doorbell can be used wirelessly through doors and without long wire runs. The click simply installs into the designated click socket on the HPC board.

For the transmitter, we used a capacitive touch sensor to serve as the doorbell button, specifically the MikroElectronica Cap Touch Click, and for the receiver, we used an LED array that will flash to get the person’s attention. Both components can be easily swapped out for a more basic button on the receiver, or something like a speaker or buzzer on the transmitter due to the PIC16F18075’s flexibility.

To program both sides, download the code from Microchip Discover and open it in MPLAB® X IDE. In the upper-left, there are four programming configurations—two using the pro version of the compiler and two using the free. The programming process is the same regardless of the version used. Program the transmitter with the “door” configuration since it will be on the door. Switch to the desk configuration, but before programming, change lines 23, 24 and 153. 23 and 24 are relevant to your LED array. For line 153, change the highlighted characters to match the MAC address of your transmitter’s Bluetooth module.

After installing the doorbell in your desired location, it’s now easier to get someone’s attention when they’re in a meeting or they are working with headphones on. For more information about this application or if you are looking to modify it to use different hardware, Microchip Discover has a more in-depth dive about how this doorbell works.

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