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Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Sound operated flip flop

This is a circuit which the status of the output pins of a Flip Flop IC can be toggled by using sound. A condenser microphone is used for picking up the sound.

The first two opamps in the IC1 LM 324 is used to amplify the sound picked by the condenser microphone. The third opamp inside LM 324 is wired as a level detector. When ever the voltage produced due to sound have a level more than that of the reference voltage at pin 5 of the third opamp, its output (pin 7) goes high, triggering the flip flop IC1 CD 4027.As a result the state of the output pins of CD 4027 ( pin 1 & pin 2) toggles for each burst of sound

Notes.

* The circuit can be powered from three 1.5 V cells in series.
* The ICs must be mounted on holders.
* The mic M1 is a condenser mic.
* The sensitivity of the circuit can be adjusted by varying the preset R9.
* Assemble the circuit on a good quality PCB.
* All capacitors must be rated 10V.

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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Valve Sound Converter

‘Valve sound’ is not just an anachronism: there are those who remain ardent lovers of the quality of sound produced by a valve amplifier. However, not everyone is inclined to splash out on an expensive valve output stage or complete amplifier with a comparatively low power output. Also, for all their aesthetic qualities, modern valve amplifiers burn up (in the full sense of the word!) quite a few watts even at normal listening volume, and so are not exactly environmentally harmless. This valve sound converter offers a cunning way out of this dilemma. It is a low cost unit that can be easily slipped into the audio chain at a suitable point and it only consumes a modest amount of energy.

A valve sound converter can be constructed using a common-or-garden small-signal amplifier using a readily-available triode. Compared to using a pentode, this simplifies the circuit and, thanks to its less linear characteristic, offers even more valve sound. For stereo use a double triode is ideal. Because only a low gain is required, a type ECC82 (12AU7) is a better choice than alternatives such as the ECC81 (12AT7) or ECC83 (12AX7). This also makes things easier for home brewers only used to working with semiconductors, since we can avoid any difficulties with high voltages, obscure transformers and the like:the amplifier stage uses an anode voltage of only 60 V, which is generated using a small 24 V transformer and a voltage doubler (D3, D4, C4 and C5).

Since the double triode only draws about 2mA at this voltage, a 1 VA or 2 VA transformer will do the job. To avoid ripple on the power supply and hence the generation of hum in the converter, the anode voltage is regulated using Zener diodes D1 and D2, and T1. The same goes for the heater supply: rather than using AC, here we use a DC supply, regulated by IC1. The 9 V transformer needs to be rated at at least 3 VA. As you will see, the actual amplifier circuit is shown only once. Components C1 to C3, R1 to R4, and P1 need to be duplicated for the second channel.

The inset valve symbol in the circuit diagram and the base pinout diagram show how the anode, cathode and grid of the other half of the double triode (V1.B) are connected. Construction should not present any great difficulties. Pay particular attention to screening and cable routing, and to the placing of the transformers to minimise the hum induced by their magnetic fields. Adjust P1 to set the overall gain to 1 (0 dB). The output impedance of 47 kΩ is relatively high, but should be compatible with the inputs of most power amplifiers and preamplifiers.

For a good valve sound, the operating point of the circuit should be set so that the audio output voltage is in the region of a few hundred millivolts up to around 1.5 V. If the valve sound converter is inserted between a preamplifier and the power amplifier, it should be before the volume control potentiometer as otherwise the sound will change significantly depending on the volume. As an example, no modifications are needed to an existing power amplifier if the converter is inserted between the output of a CD player and the input to the amplifier.

http://www.ecircuitslab.com/2012/04/valve-sound-converter.html

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Car Alarm Sound Booster

For car alarms, emphasis should be put on hearing the audible alert and identifying it as belonging to your ‘wheels’. Unfortunately, modern car alarm systems seem to have more or less the same alarm sound especially if they are from the same brand. Also, to comply with legal noise restrictions, the alarm sound is not always loud enough to be heard if the car is parked down the road.

The circuit shown here is designed to help boost the alarm sound by also activating the car’s horn(s) when the alarm goes off.Internally the car alarm system often provides a signal that activates the (optional) engine immobilizer and/or volume (ultrasound) sensors. This signal usually goes Low upon system triggering and high again when the alarm system is deactivated.

Car Alarm Sound Booster Circuit Diagram :

The alarm activation signal is fed to the circuit through D1. When in idle state, T1’s gate is High and consequently the FET conducts, keeping power FET T2 firmly switched of f. When the system gets an active low signal, T1 switches of f allowing timing capacitor C2 to charge via R2. About 15 seconds later, when the voltage across C2 is high enough, T2 starts to conduct and relay RE1 is energized. This, in turn, provides the required path for the ‘lights flashing’ signal to energize RE2 and feed battery power to the car’s horn(s).

When the alarm system is turned off the activation signal returns to High. T1 starts to con-duct and rapidly discharges C2 via R3. T2 is then cut off and RE1 is de-energized. Diode D2 suppresses back EMF from RE1.The circuit draws less than 2 mA when idling. When activated the circuit’s current consumption is virtually that of the RE1 coil.RE1 is any simple SPST or SPDT relay, capable of switching about 0.5 A (at 12 V). The coil rating is for 12 VDC and a current requirement as low as you can find. Fuse F1 should be a slow blow type and rated about twice RE1’s coil current.

The BS170 in position T2 can sink a continuous current of about 0.5 A. However, a value of 1.2 A pulsed is specified by Fairchild for their devices. To keep the FET’s d-s current due to C2 discharging within safe limits, R2 may be increased, C2 decreased and R3 increased, all proportionally. A factor of 2 will keep the FET out of harm’s way with maybe a slight change in the 15-second delay and the sensitivity of the circuit.C1 is used as a smoothing capacitor and F2 should be rated in accordance with the horn(s) maximum current draw.

Caution.The installation and use of this circuit may be subject to legal restrictions in your country, state or area.

Source : ecircuitslab.com

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