LASER TORCH-BASED VOICE

TRANSMITTER AND RECEIVER

Using this circuit you can communicate with your neighbors wirelessly. Instead oI RF signals,
light Irom a laser torch is used as the carrier in the circuit. The laser torch can transmit light up to
a distance oI about 500 meters. The phototransistor oI the receiver must be accurately oriented
towards the laser beam Irom the torch. II there is any obstruction in the path oI the laser beam,
no sound will be heard Irom the receiver. The transmitter circuit (Fig. 1) comprises condenser
microphone transistor ampliIier BC548 (T1) Iollowed by an pomp stage built around A741
(IC1). The gain oI the op-amp can be controlled with the help oI 1-mega-ohm potmeter VR1.The
AF output Irom IC1 is coupled to the base oI transistor BD139 (T2), which, in
turn, modulates the laser beam.



The transmitter uses 9V power supply. However, the 3-volt laser torch (aIter removal oI its
battery) can be directly connected to the circuitwith the body oI
The torch connected to the emitter oIBD139 and the spring-loaded lead protruding Irom inside
the torch to circuit ground. The receiver circuit (Fig. 2) uses an npn phototransistor as the light
sensor that is Iollowed by a two-stage transistor preampliIier and LM386-based audio
Power ampliIier. The receiver does not need any complicated alignment. Just keep
the phototransistor oriented towards the remote transmitter`s laser point and adjust
The volume control Ior a clear sound. To avoid 50Hz hum noise in the speaker, keep the
phototransistor away Irom AC light sources such as bulbs. The reIlected sunlight, however, does
not cause any problem. But the sensor should not directly Iace the sun.







A BRIEF SUMMARY OF COMPONENTS USED

hen a beginner to electronics Iirst looks at a circuit board Iull oI components
he/she is oIten overwhelmed by the diversity oI do-dads. In these next Iew sections we will help
you to identiIy some oI the simple components and their schematical symbol. Then you should
be able to call them resistors and transistors instead oI 'hatchamacallits.

Electronic component are classed into either being Passive devices
Or Active devices.

A Passive Device is one that contributes no power gain (ampliIication)
to a circuit or system. It has not control action and does not require any
input other than a signal to perIorm its Iunction. In other words, 'A
components with no brains! Examples are Resistors, Capactitors and
Inductors

Active Devices are components that are capable oI controlling voltages
or currents and can create a switching action in the circuit. In other
words, 'Devices with smarts! Examples are Diodes, Transistors and
Integrated circuits. Most active components are semiconductors.

Resistors:

This is the most common component in electronics. It is used mainly to control
current and voltage within the circuit. You can identiIy a simple resistor
by its simple cigar shape with a wire lead coming out oI each end. It uses a
system oI color coded bands to identiIy the value oI the component (measured
in Ohms) *A surIace mount resistor is in Iact mere millimeters in size
but perIorms the same Iunction as its bigger brother, the simple resistor. A
potentiometer is a variable resistor. It lets you vary the resistance with a dial
or sliding control in order to alter current or voltage on the Ily. This is opposed
to the 'Iixed simple resistors.




Condensers/Capacitors:

Capacitors, or "caps", vary in size and shape - Irom a small surIace mount
model up to a huge electric motor cap the size oI a paint can. It storages electrical
energy in the Iorm oI electrostatic charge. The size oI a capacitor generally determines
how much charge it can store. A small surIace mount or ceramic cap will
only hold a minuscule charge. A cylindrical electrolytic cap will store a much
larger charge. Some oI the large electrolytic caps can store enough charge to kill
a person. Another type, called Tantalum Capacitors, store a larger charge in a
smaller package.




Inductors:
You may remember Irom science class that adding electrical current to a coil oI
wire produces a magnetic Iield around itselI. This is how the inductor works. It is
charged with a magnetic Iield and when that Iield collapses it produces current in
the opposite direction. Inductors are used in Alternating Current circuits to
oppose changes in the existing current. Most inductors can be identiIied by the
"coil" appearance. Others actually look like a resistor but are usually green in
color.


Diodes:
Diodes are basically a one-way valve Ior electrical current. They let it Ilow in one
direction (Irom positive to negative) and not in the other direction. This is used to perIorm
rectiIication or conversion oI AC current to DC by clipping oII the negative portion oI a AC
waveIorm. The diode terminals are cathode and anode and the arrow inside the diode symbol
points towards the cathode, indicating current Ilow in that direction when the diode is Iorward
biased and conducting current. Most diodes are similar in appearance to a resistor and will have a
painted line on one end showing the direction or Ilow(white side is negative). II the negative side
is on the negative end oI the circuit, current will Ilow. II the negative is on the positive side oI
the circuit no current will Ilow.





LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes)

LEDs are simply diodes that emit light oI one Iorm or another. They are used as
indicator devices. Example: LED lit equals machine on. The general purpose silicon
diode emits excess energy in the Iorm oI heat when conducting current. II a diIIerent
semiconductor material such as gallium, arsenide phosphide is used, the excess
energy can be released at a lower wavelength visible to human eye. This is the
composition oI LED. They come in several sizes and colors. Some even emit InIrared
Light which cannot be seen by the human eye.




Switch :

This is a mechanical part which when pressed makes the current to Ilow through
it. II the switch is released the current stops Ilowing through it. This helps to control a
circuit.




Transistors:

The transistor perIorms two basic Iunctions:

1) It acts as a switch turning current on and oII.

2) It acts as a ampliIier.This makes an output signal that is amagniIied version oI the input
signal.Transistors come in several sizes dependingon their application. It can be a
big power transistor such as is used in power appliIiers in your stereo, down to
a surIace mount (SMT) and even down to .5 microns wide (I.E.: Mucho Small!)
such as in a microprocessor or IntegratedCircuit.







NPN Transistor: Bipolar junction perIorm the Iunction oI ampliIications where
a small varying voltage or current applied to the base (the lead on the leIt
side oI the symbol) is proportionately replicated by a much larger voltage or
current between the collector and emitter leads. Bipolar junction reIers to sandwich
construction oI the semiconductor, where a wedge oI "P" material is placed
between two wedges oI "N" material. In this NPN construction a small base current
controls the larger current Ilowing Irom collector to emitter (the lead withthe arrow).




PNP Transistor: Similar to NPN transistors, PNP's have a wedge oI "N" material
between two wedges oI "P" material. In this design, a base current
regulates the larger current Ilowing Irom emitter to collector, as indicated
by the direction oI the arrow on the emitter lead. In CED players, PNP transistors
are used less Irequently that the NPN type Ior ampliIication Iunctions.



PCB`s:

PCB stands Ior printed circuit board which are used Ior wiring up oI the components oI a
circuit. PCBs are made oI paper phenolic FR2 grade (low cost, Ior low Irequency and low power
circuit assembly) and glass epoxy FR4 grade (Ior high Irequency, high power circuits) copper
clad laminates (available in 1.6mm, 2.4mm and 3.6mm thickness). Singlesided PCBs have
copper Ioil only on one side while double-sided PCBs have copper Ioil on both side oI the
laminate. Thickness oI copper Ioil is 35 micrometer minimum on cheaper PCBs and 70
micrometer on slightly costlier PCBs. Tracks (conductive paths) are made by masking (covering)
the track part oI copper
with etch-resist enamel paint (you can even use nail polish) and later dipping the
laminate in Ierric chloride solutions to dissolve all copper except under the masked
part. Holes in PCBs are drilled aIter etching is over. The tracks on two sides oI a PCB are joined
using printed through hole (PTH) technique, which is equivalent to using slotted copper rivets
Ior joining tracks on both sides. On cheaper PCBs, PTH are not provided, only Pads (i.e. circular
copper land with centre hole) are provided and you have to join the tracks on both sides by
soldering a copper wire to the pads with a copper wire. In singlesided PCB components are
mounted on the side which has no track (called component side). In a double-sided PCB the
component side is deIined (marked beIore hand) or it will show component outline (also called
silk screen)
Green masking is the process oI applying a layer oI green colour insulation varnish on all parts
oI tracks except near the holes, to protect the tracks Irom exposure to atmosphere and thus
prolong its liIe and reliability.




Batteries:

Symbol oI batteries shows ve terminal by a longer line than the ve terminal.
For low power circuit dry batteries are used.




Speakers:

These convert electrical signals to accoustic viberations. It comprises a permanent
magnet and a moving coil (through which electrical signal is passed). This moving coil is Iixed
to the diaphram which vibrates to produce sound.





ICs (Integrated Circuits):

Integrated Circuits, or ICs, are complex circuits inside one simple package. Silicon
and metals are used to simulate resistors, capacitors, transistors, etc. It is a space
saving miracle. These components come in a wide variety oI packages and sizes.
You can tell them by their "monolithic shape" that has a ton oI "pins" coming out
oI them. Their applications are as varied as their packages. It can be a simple timer, to
a complex logic circuit, or even a microcontroller (microprocessor with a Iew added Iunctions)
with erasable memory built inside.