Design Problem 1: Switch-mode Light Dimmer Using Multivibrators

I. INTRODUCTION

he objective of this experiment is to design and implement a dimming circuit for a 12V light bulb using multivibrators. The method used in this design problem is implemented by connecting a switch in series with the bulb and voltage source as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Method Implementation

The duty cycle should be equal to 50% for a T H of 10 s and 98% for a TH of 500 s. The following formulas were used to compute for the value of R3 that would give TH = 10 s.

T = TH + TL TH = 0.69C1R3 TL = 0.69C2R2
For T = 20 s, TL = 10 s, TH = 10 s, C2 = C3 = 4.7nF, R2 = R3 = 3.1 k. For T = 510 s, TL = 10 s, TH = 500 s, C2 = C3 = 4.7nF, R2 = 3.1k, and R3 = 154.2k.

II. PROBLEM SPECIFICATIONS The given design problem requires the student to implement a variable duty cycle astable multivibrator with the following specifications: 1.) The base drive is an astable multivibrator with TL equal to 10 s. 2.) TH may be varied between 10 s and 500 s. 3.) The duty cycle should vary along with the majority of the range of the potentiometer. III. SOLUTION A. Computed Values Figure 2 shows the schematic diagram of an astable multivibrator using the simulation software, SIMetrix
Figure 2. Schematic Diagram

B. Simulation Results Figure 2 shows the simulation result for T = 20 s with 50% duty cycle.
Figure 2. TH = 10 s

Using a standard value, 3.3k for R2 and R3, the simulation shows TL and TH are both equal to 10 s.

Figure 4 shows the simulation result for T = 510 s with TL and TH equal to 10 s and 500 s respectively. For the design problem, the value of R3 should be varied in order to vary TH. The formula for the duty cycle is given by:
Figure 4. TH = 500 s

Using a standard value of 150k for R3, T H is now equal to 500 s while TL stays at 10 s as shown in the next figure.
Figure 5. TL = 10 s

C. Actual Values The actual circuit was constructed according to figure 1 using a TIP31 transistor and a voltage source of 12V. A 250k potentiometer was used in place of R3 in order to vary its value. Due to the additional load of the bulb, the values of both R2 and R3 changed. The actual values and the computed values are shown in the following table.
Table 1. Actual vs Computed Values

Resistor R2 R3 (TH = 10 s) R3 (TH = 500 s)

Computed Value 3.1 k 3.1 k 154.2 k

Actual Value 7.65 k 3.74 k 185.5 k