Wireless Signal

Detector Circuit

ECEGR 191: Introduction to Engineering

Professor Louie
Fall 2012
 Battery

• 9-Volt Battery
• Do not short-circuit battery terminals
• Red wire (positive, +)
• Black wire (negative, ground, -, )

Circuit symbol

+
-
9V

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 Resistors

• Resistors are color-coordinated to indicate value

Example: 6.8 MW is
Blue, Grey, Green, (Gold/Silver)
68 x 100k = 6.8MW

Circuit symbol

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 Circuit Board

• Internal connections
• Place IC chips to straddle the channel
• Plan ahead to maximize the usable space on the
breadboard
channel

Holes on the same row AND

same side of channel are
internally connected

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 Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)

• Diodes that emit light under the proper

conditions (bias)
• Act as one way streets for current
• If voltage to the cathode is sufficiently higher
than the anode, current will flow
 Different color LEDs require different voltages to
allow current to flow
• Applying too large a voltage (in either polarity
can destroy the LED)

anode cathode
(longer leg) (shorter leg)

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 Illuminate an LED

1kW

+
9V -

+
-

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 Integrated Circuit (IC)

• Two Operational Amplifiers (Op-Amps)

• Note the Pin numbering
• Chip must be connected to + and – battery
connection to work

1 + 8 Battery positive
-
2 7
3 - 6
Ground +
4 5
(battery negative)
LM 358

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(data, voice)
?
detector
circuit

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(data, voice)
detector
circuit

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 LED lights
up when
signal is
Amplifies
Powers detected
the
the circuit received
signal

Receives
wireless
signals

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1. Place Op-Amp IC chip on board straddling the
channel. Note the orientation of the chip.

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2. Place variable resistor on the board. The pins
should be on separate rows.

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3. Connect the center pin of the variable resistor to Pin 6 of
the IC, and top and bottom pins to the bottom rows of the
board. The bottom two rows are where the battery will be
connected.

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4. Insert one capacitor between the middle and top
pin of the variable resistor.

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5. Connect Pin 4 of the IC to the bottom left row.
Several other locations will use this connection for
ground (negative battery terminal).

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6. Connect a 6.8MW resistor and a capacitor
between Pin 3 and Pin 4 of the IC. Note that Pin 4
is connected to ground.

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7. Connect a capacitor between Pin 3 and Pin 2 of
the IC.

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8.Connect a 6.8MW between Pin 3 of the IC and bottom pin of the
variable resistor. A wire is likely needed to make this connection.
Note the bottom pin of the variable resistor will be connected to the
battery positive terminal.

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9. Connect a 6.8MW between Pin 1 and Pin 2 of the
IC.

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10. Use a wire to connect Pin 1 to Pin 5 of the IC.

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11. Connect one leg of the 1kW resistor to Pin 7 of the IC. Connect
the other leg to the row above Pin 8. Connect the long leg of the LED
to Pin 8, and the short leg to the row above Pin 8 (the row where one
of the 1kW resistor’s leg is connected).

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12. Use a wire to connect the bottom right row to
the long leg of the LED (Pin 8).

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13. Connect one end of a long wire (antenna) to Pin 2 of the IC.
Connect the black wire of the battery to the bottom left of the board.
Connect the red wire of the battery to the bottom right row of the
board. Congratulations, your circuit is complete!

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Physical Circuit

C3

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 Notes
• The variable resistor controls the sensitivity of the circuit.
• Use a fingernail or small screw driver to adjust the variable
resistor. Turn it until the LED turns on, then slightly turn it
the other way until the LED turns off.
• Try various features of your cell phone to see what sets off
the LED. Results depend on your phone type, carrier,
antenna length and cell phone features.
• Bring your circuit home and try to detect the signal from
your wireless router.
• Try connecting the buzzer to your circuit

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