Victorian Style Collar With Neopixel Ring

Feeling Victorian? Got a knack for Arduinos? Say hello to your new favorite accessory. Keep reading for the how-to for this heartbeat controlled light-up Victorian-esque lace collar.

1. Arduino Uno
2. A-B USB Cable
3. Breadboard
4. Male to male jumper cables
5. Amped Pulse Sensor
6. Neopixel Ring
7. Generic USB to 5.5 mm/2.1 mm 5 Volt DC Barrel Jack Power Cable
8. Rechargeable battery pack
9. Stranded wire of various colors (3 minimum)
10. Wire stripper
11. Soldering iron and solder
12. Proto-board (dual-sided)
13. Pins
14. Hot glue gun and glue
15. Assorted lace trims and ribbons
16. Bead trim
17. Velcro

Follow this tutorial (starting page 6) to prepare your pulse sensor. Specifically, make sure to hot glue the side without the sensor to protect the solder points, apply the sticker over the sensor, and apply hot glue to the cord where it meets the sensor to make it more stable. At this point you can also attach the ear clip using hot glue.

Solder stranded wire to data in (yellow), ground (black), and power (red) on Neopixel 12 Ring. Make sure to cut wires longer than needed, you can always trim later.

Begin with a breadboard:

Attach power and ground from Arduino to breadboard power and ground with jumpers.

Attach power and ground for Pulse Sensor to breadboard power and ground with jumpers.

Attach purple cord of Pulse Sensor to the breadboard and connect a jumper to same row on breadboard and then attach this jumper to the A0 pin on Arduino.

Attach ground and power wires from Neopixel to ground and power on breadboard.

Attached data-in on Neopixel to digital pin 5 on Arduino.

Gather code from this Adafruit tutorial and follow instructions. Make sure you use two separate code files (pulsesensor.ino and interrupt.ino). Also, download Adafruit Arduino Neopixel library and place in your Arduino directory.

Once you have the code setup, at the bottom of the pulsesensor.ino file, you can change the color of your Neopixel when it blinks. I changed mine to have more blue.

Make sure both code files are in the same directory, (interrupt.ino in pulsesensor folder) and compile and upload pulsesensor.ino to Arduino Uno. (To upload make sure your Arduino is plugged in using A-B USB cable.)

Now that your code is uploaded to the Arduino Uno, you can test that your Pulse Sensor and Neopixel Ring are working properly. Place your finger over the sensor and it should light up with your pulse (if you have already followed instructions from step 4).

Note: You may also attempt just using the Pulse Sensor at first and watch the light blink on the Arduino board. Then, you can connect the Neopixel Ring data-in to the breadboard and use jumper cables to connect this to the digital 5 pin on Arduino.

Once you have fully breadboarded and tested your Arduino code on the Uno device, you can start to prepare your device for a sturdier shell.

Using a dual-sided protoboard, fit a DIY shield for your Arduino. You may need to cut down your protoboard to fit.

Align holes on board to fit over PINs on Arduino that you will be using. On this project you need to assure you have PINs covered for power 5V, two grounds, A0, and digital pin 5.

Use pin rows to attach protoboard to Arduino. Solder key pins on the end of each row to protoboard. Then, solder the rest of the pins after you have assured again that pin rows fit properly into Arduino.

Solder purple Pulse Sensor wire to A0, Pulse Sensor ground to an Arduino ground, Pulse power to Arduino power 5V. Solder Neopixel digi-in to digital pin 5, Neopixel ground to an Arduino ground, Neopixel power to Arduino power 5V (on top of the Pulse Sensor's connection to power 5V).

Connect the shield to the Arduino using the proper pin row placement.

This removable shield not only allows your project to be sturdier, but also allows your Arduino to be reusable for future projects.

Note: The yellow board seen in the pictures was not dual-sided, hence the change to green protoboard in the final images.

Now, use your battery source and barrel jack cord to power your Arduino Uno. If everything is soldered in the correct places, it should blink to your heart rate when your finger is pressed on the sensor!

Now it’s time to create the collar! Go to your favorite craft store and find some assorted lace trims, ribbons, and pearls or other beads, even some crystals if you’d like.

Try some different designs for your collar on paper and research inspiration images. Once you have decided a design for your collar, measure out a base ribbon for neck circumference. Use stick-on Velcro to create a clasp on this base trim. You will use this main piece to assemble the rest. Use hot glue to attach different trims to create a unique design.

If you'd like, you can create the collar to have two size options. Simply add an extra portion of the lace used for the base using hot glue, and then place another piece of stick-on Velcro. Now, it can fit multiple users.

Connect battery pack and Arduino using Velcro. This way you can detach battery to recharge.

Now, create a pouch to hold your electronics. This pouch will attach to the back on the neck. The Neopixel ring will be in the center like a vintage portrait.

Use either white fabric or white ribbon to create the pouch. Measure how much fabric needed to wrap around. Hot glue edges of fabric to reduce fraying. Use Velcro on this main piece for closure. Then, cut another piece to close the bottom. Hot glue this to the main piece. Leave the top exposed so Pulse Sensor and Neopixel ring wires can come out and also for easy access to plug in your battery pack.

Now, hot glue the pouch to one end of the collar on the inside. You want this to be as hidden as possible at the shoulder or back of neck.

Finally, you want to connect the Neopixel ring at the center of the collar. Mark where the center is while you are wearing the collar. Take collar off and place the ring at the center. Use fabric or ribbon to cover the back of the ring so as not to irritate the neck. Hot glue these pieces of ribbon onto the collar with the ring in between. It is okay to hot glue over the wires during this, it will help the Neopixel ring stay in place.

Now that you have attached all electronics, try out your new collar! Attach the Pulse Sensor to your ear using the ear clip. Plug in your battery pack and you're all set!