Audio Peak Indicator

,
. , ,
, .....
.
CMOS Schmitt trigger
74C14. .
TR1. .
D1. R1
, [ ] Schmitt
trigger. .
5V 3.6V.
C2.
, [],
C2. C2 R1.

[L], D4
. trimmer TR1 ,
.

A peak level indicator when a signal exceeds a certain maximum value. It can be quite
useful, for instance, with tape recorders, mixing consoles etc. One of the most important
requirements of a peak level indicator is that it should respond to very short signals. The
circuit is built using a CMOS inverting Schmitt trigger type 74C14. The input impedance of
the peak indicator is fairly high. The value depends to some extent on the position of TR1.
The unit functions as follows. The input is half- wave rectified by D1. When the voltage
across R1 exceeds the upper trigger threshold, a logic [H] is produced at the output of the
second Schmitt trigger. The trigger threshold depends on the supply voltage. With a 5V
supply the trigger level is 3.6V. The positive pulse at the output of the second trigger is
feedback to the input via C2. If the input signal was very short, the logic H level will be
maintained during the charging time of C2. This time is determined by the values of C2 and
R1. During this time the output of the third trigger is logic L, so that LED D4 lights up as an
indication that the level of the input signal is too high. The TR1 trimmer is adjusted to the
maximum desired level that the peak indicator should begin to function at.
Part List
R1=1Mohms
TR1=1Mohms trimmer

C2=150nF 100V MKT

D1-2-3=1N4148

C1=100nF 100V MKT

D4=RED LED DIODE

Sam Electronic Circuits

IC1=74C14

5/02

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Audio Peak Indicator

,
. , ,
, .....
.
CMOS Schmitt trigger
74C14. .
TR1. .
D1. R1
, [ ] Schmitt
trigger. .
5V 3.6V.
C2.
, [],
C2. C2 R1.

[L], D4
. trimmer TR1 ,
.

A peak level indicator when a signal exceeds a certain maximum value. It can be quite
useful, for instance, with tape recorders, mixing consoles etc. One of the most important
requirements of a peak level indicator is that it should respond to very short signals. The
circuit is built using a CMOS inverting Schmitt trigger type 74C14. The input impedance of
the peak indicator is fairly high. The value depends to some extent on the position of TR1.
The unit functions as follows. The input is half- wave rectified by D1. When the voltage
across R1 exceeds the upper trigger threshold, a logic [H] is produced at the output of the
second Schmitt trigger. The trigger threshold depends on the supply voltage. With a 5V
supply the trigger level is 3.6V. The positive pulse at the output of the second trigger is
feedback to the input via C2. If the input signal was very short, the logic H level will be
maintained during the charging time of C2. This time is determined by the values of C2 and
R1. During this time the output of the third trigger is logic L, so that LED D4 lights up as an
indication that the level of the input signal is too high. The TR1 trimmer is adjusted to the
maximum desired level that the peak indicator should begin to function at.
Part List
R1=1Mohms
TR1=1Mohms trimmer

C2=150nF 100V MKT

D1-2-3=1N4148

C1=100nF 100V MKT

D4=RED LED DIODE

IC1=74C14

Sam Electronic Circuits 5/02

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