About your snap circuits, Parts, Electronic modules – Elenco Snap Circuits Motion User Manual

Page 11: Transistors, Leds

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About Your Snap Circuits

®

Parts

ELECTRONIC MODULES

IN1

(–)

IN2

IN3

OUT

Connections:

IN1, IN2, IN3 - control inputs

(–) - power return to batteries

OUT - output connection

Connect control inputs to (+) power to make five

alarm sounds, see project 39 for an example of

proper connections.

The alarm IC (U2) contains a specialized sound-

generation integrated circuit (IC) and other

supporting components (resistors, capacitors,

and transistors) that are always needed with it.

A schematic for it is available at

www.snapcircuits.net/faq.

The motion detector (U7) contains an infrared

detector, amplifier-filter circuit, and timing circuit.

A schematic for it is available at

www.snapcircuits.net/faq.

All objects (including people and animals)

produce infrared radiation due to the heat in

them. Infrared radiation is similar to visible light

but has a longer wavelength that our eyes cannot

detect. The lens on top of the motion detector

module filters and focuses the radiation, it is most

sensitive to the radiation produced by our bodies.
Inside the motion detector module is an infrared

detector with pyroelectric crystals, which create

a tiny voltage when exposed to infrared radiation.

A circuit amplifies and filters this voltage, but only

responds to changes in the radiation level - so is

only triggered by moving objects (motion). When

motion is detected a timing circuit is used to

control other snap circuits devices for a few

seconds, such as an alarm.

(+)

OUT

(–)

Connections:

(+) - regulated power from batteries

(–) - power return to batteries

OUT - output connection

Lens

LEDs (D8 & D10)

TRANSISTORS

The NPN transistor (Q2) uses a small electric

current to control a large current, and is used in

switching, amplifier, and buffering applications.

Transistors are easy to miniaturize, and are the

main building blocks of integrated circuits

including the microprocessor and memory

circuits in computers.

LEDs

The color LED (D8) and red/yellow bicolor

LED (D10) are light emitting diodes, and may be

thought of as a special one-way light bulbs. In the

“forward” direction, (indicated by the “arrow” in

the symbol) electricity flows if the voltage

exceeds a turn-on threshold (about 1.5V for red,

slightly higher for yellow, about 2.0V for green,

and about 3.0V for blue); brightness then

increases. The color LED contains red, green,

and blue LEDs, with a micro-circuit controlling

then. The red/yellow bicolor LED contains red &

yellow LEDs in connected in opposite directions.

A high current will burn out an LED, so the

current must be limited by other components in

the circuit (though your Snap Circuits

®

LEDs

have internal resistors to protect against incorrect

wiring). LEDs block electricity in the “reverse”

direction.

NPN Transistor (Q2)

SCM-165_Manual_061114.qxp_Layout 1 7/7/14 11:28 AM Page 11

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