I.

PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION

Think light emitting diodes (LED's) are just for flashlights and cell phone displays? Think again.
Today is an exciting time for those working closely with LED lighting systems, which allow completely
new uses of light. Once relegated to humble indicator lights in electronic devices, it would be able to
synchronize with the beat of the music.
These days, the LED is becoming a preferred light source for much more than simple indicators.
The LED has a simple and strong structure. The beauty of the structure is that it is designed to be
versatile, so we choose it to work with our transistor in this project. The project is fairly simple for
anyone with some electronic skills. “Sync LED to Music” shows how to build a LED lamp that
synchronizes with the beat of the music. It uses some blue LED's that pulses with the bass of the music.
 You are listening to your favorite tunes, and you would like some light to blink on the rhythm .
The solution is pretty simple, you solder a transistor together with a switch, some LED’s and a stereo
jack connector and it’s done. The circuit is very customizable because you can keep adding LED's
depending on what voltage your power supply is. The setup of the lights is really up to you. Also you
may need to add a resistor here if your power source is a higher voltage than what your LED's need. The
main thing to consider when choosing layout for the LED's is your audio source and the power supply
you will be using. For this particular project we choose to make it run off a 9v battery and use an
iPod /MP3 for input. The jack of the project will be plug into an audio source and turn it up until you see
the lights. All it is really is using the voltage from the audio input to activate a transistor and turn on the
LED's. After plugging, the LED's will blink to the rhythm of the music. Some players will not be
powerful enough to drive the lights. We suggest any song with a distinctive beat. If you want to listen to
the music as well you need to get a splitter.

Speakers

Music
2-way splitter
Source

Audio

Synchronizing LEDs
 Music is everything and its evolution can be found everywhere. The existence of iPods and
MP3’s are proof of how much we love music. It also shows how technology grows with it. Music lovers
on the go need to have accessible music and music gadget. And with this “Sync LED to Music”, we can
play our favorite song with LEDs blinking to the rhythm of its beat even on the road. It is portable,
which is good for people who are always on the go. Lights that blink on and off in time with music are
often used by dance clubs to excite the crowd. We can construct big ones so that parties and night outs
would be a lot more fun having speakers with synchronize LEDs in it. But you can create your own
"light show" with just the music coming from an iPod along with “Sync LED to Music”.

DVD player

VCD player Speakers

MP3 player

MP4 player Amplifier

(optional)

IPOD

PC Tablet Synchronizing
LEDs

Cellphone
II. TRANSISTOR UTILIZED IN THE PROJECT

A TIP31 is a standard type of NPN bipolar junction transistor used for medium power linear
switching applications. A TIP31 is complementary to a TIP31 PNP bipolar transistor. These transistors
are often designated as TIP31A, TIP31B and TIP31C. These additional designations indicate increasing
collector-base and collector emitter voltages. TIP stands for Texas Instruments Power transistor and 31 is
an arbitrary identifier.
The TIP31 pins are numbered from left to right: Base, Collector, Emitter.

Transistor operation:
TIP31 transistors amplify current, for they can be used to amplify the small output current from
a logic IC so that it can operate a lamp, relay or other high current device. In many circuits a resistor is
used to convert the changing current to a changing voltage, so the transistor is being used to amplify
voltage.

Ratings:

Model V V I Power (Tc = 25°C )

cb ce ce

TIP31 40 40 3A 40W
TIP31A 60 60 3A 40W
TIP31B 80 80 3A 40W
TIP31C 100 100 3A 40W
Characteristics:

Parameter Manufacturer Manufacturer Manufacturer

Fairchild Samsung Semiconductor Micro Electronics
Vce saturation 1.2V 1.2V 1.2V
Vbe saturation 1.8V 1.8V 1.8V
Small signal DC current 25 25 20
gain (Hfe)
Hfe bandwidth product 3.0 MHz 3.0 MHz 3.0 MHz
 Figure 3. Safe Operating Area Figure 4. Power Derating

III. CIRCUIT FLOW EXPLANATION

Schematic Diagram:

L eft
Pow er
C hannel

Right
Power
Channel

9V DC SPST
Circuit Operation

The journey of operation begins with connecting 4 LEDs in the +9V battery. The LEDs are
soldered to a 2-position switch that will connect to TIP31. The intensity transmitted by the audio cord is
taken by TIP31 which causes the LEDs to blink with the music. A small black box is used to install
everything inside. Six holes were made where 4 in the top for LEDs and the switcher and cables on one
hole in each side. To arrange the components easier inside the box, the LEDs were soldered with one
small cable connecting each one.

The 3 pins on the P2 connector consist of left channel, right channel, and the ground pin being
the bigger. The ground from TIP31 must be connected on the other pin from the switcher. If there is any
signal coming from the audio cord, the LEDs will blink or will always be ON if it is in another direction.

Output
Battery

TIP31

Audio Source
Project Construction

The design of the project uses the following materials:TIP31 (NPN transistor), blue LEDs, 220Ω
resistors, audio cable, RCA jack, rocker switch, PCB, 9V battery, battery clip and connecting wires. It
includes soldering 2 LEDs together in series. Connecting the anode (long pin) of the first LED to the
cathode (Flat side/short pin) of the second LED. And the anode (long pin) of the second LED will be
connected to the middle pin of the TIP31 (the collector). It will be repeated for the second part of the
stereo input that is for the remaining pair of LEDs. The anodes of the last LEDs go to positive voltage.
The right pins of the TIP31s (emitter) go to ground. And the remaining pins of the TIP31s (base) go to
the input. Then take the audio cable, strip the ends, and determine which wire is right and which is left.
Red is usually right and white is usually left. Another way to determine the sides is to take a multimeter
and do a connectivity test with each wire and part of the jack. The tip of the jack is right. The middle of
the jack is left. And the bottom of the jack is ground. Decide which set of LEDs will be right and which
will be left. Then connect the corresponding wires to the left pin of the TIP31. The positive part of the
battery clip will be connected to one side of a switch. Then the negative part of the battery clip will be
connected on the right pins of the TIP31s (emitter). And the other side of the switch will be connected to
the resistors. Then mount it all in a case.

Project Behavior

Condition 1: At less audio power output

If the output power produced by the audio source is low the light of the LED is less because in
this case the transistor would not drive enough current to the LEDs.

Condition 2: At high audio power output

When high power output is being produced by the audio source, the LED will eventually follow
the rhythm of the music being played at greater illumination intensity. This is because the transistor will
produce greater current across the LEDs.
 Table 1.4

The Light Strength and Type of Music Relationship

The strength of light is dependent also to the type of music being played as shown in the
Table 1.4. To gain the maximum light strength one must play a Hip-hop type of music or any
techno remix.
Output Overview

Previously, the function of our transistor is to amplify current. As we all know in many circuits
a resistor is used to convert the changing current to a changing voltage, so the transistor is being used to
amplify voltage.

This simple project aims to build a circuit that can make the LEDs blink with the sound that
comes out from the audio cord. It synchronizes with the bass sound of the music. Typically, the LEDs
light up whenever the bass hits.

For some additions/modifications for this project we recommend the following:

• The first addition is adding an output jack wired in parallel to the audio input wire. Unfortunately
the case we used was a little too small for this.

• Different configurations of LEDs. Many people may prefer to use different numbers/colors of
LED. The main thing to be careful of is VOLTAGE that you draw. (Series vs. parallel). The next
step that we are going to try is maybe using a RGB LED.

• Transistors. Use an NPN that is rated for the appropriate voltage.

• The LEDs in interesting cases. We are going to try mounting them in a pair of portable
speakers.

IV. PICTURES OF THE PROJECT

 The Materials

The gathering of materials: starts from the left side( 9V battery, battery clip, 4 blue LEDs, 2
TIP31 transistors, 2 220 Ω resistors, audio cable, jumper wires)

Additional:

Breadboard Testing
 cathode (negative)
anode (positive)
Collector of TIP31

The cathode of the LED will be connected to the

middle pin (collector) of the transistor and the
anode will be conneted to the resistor.

resistor

switch wire

T he other leg of the resistor is connected to the

switch.

Base of TIP31

Emitter of TIP31

T he switch is connected to the positive node of the

battery and the negative node of the battery will be
connected to the right pin (emitter) of the transistor.
Then the left pin (base) of the transistor is connected
to the input.

(+) Positive node of battery

(-)Negative node of battery

blue LED

audio cord
 LED lights up, an indication for its operation. If there is
any a signal coming from the audio cord, the LEDs will
blink.

The Assembling

switch

connecting
wires battery clip
LEDs transistors audio cord

The journey of operation begins with connecting 4 LEDs in the +9V battery. The LEDs are
soldered to a 2-position switch that will connect to TIP31. The LEDs were soldered with one small cable
connecting each one. The 3 pins on the P2 connector consist of left channel, right channel, and the
ground pin being the bigger. The ground from TIP31 must be connected on the other pin from the
switcher.
 The Final Product

Top view of the final product connected to an iPod. If there is any signal coming from the audio
cord the LEDs will blink following every beat of the bass of music being played.

V. BILL OF MATERIALS
 QUANTITY MATERIAL COST (Php.)
2 TIP31 (NPN transistor) 18.00 each
4 Blue LED 6.75 each
2 220Ω Resistor 0.35 each
1 Audio cable 37.85
1 Plastic case 60
2 RCA jack 19.75
1 Rocker switch 15
1 PCB 2.8
1 9V battery 62
1 Battery clip 5
½ meter wire 2.25
TOTAL COST Php. 230.50

Equipments:
• soldering iron
• soldering lead
• wire cutters/ strippers
• mini power drill
• screw driver
• electrical tape
• lactite

VI. REFERENCES
• http://www.danielandrade.net/2005/12/06/howto-blinking-leds/
• http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Music-Sync-Lamp/
• http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/components/tran.htm
• http://www.electronics-project-design.com/LightingProjects.html
• http://www.instructables.com/pages/search/search.jsp?cx=partner-pub-25
• http://www.colorkinetics.com/support/tutorials/quickview/index.html
• http://en.electronics.org/Light-emitting_diode
• http://www.explainthatstuff.com/howtransistorswork.html
• http://www.zambotimes.com/archives/26753-Gadgets-With-3GB-Memory-Sometimes-Just-Isnt-
Enough.html

MINDANAO UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 College of Engineering and Architecture

SYNC LED TO MUSIC

In Partial Fulfillment as a Requirement for ECE 21 (Electronics II)

Submitted By:

DUNQUE, KRISTINE MAE P.

TUBOJAN, JUNEL A.

BUSIS, LOEMIRO B.

Submitted To:

LLOYD JHON B. ESTAMPA, MSEcE

February 2011