Analog Electronics

Final Project
Ahnika Boring and Jonathan Larson
12/18/19
IR-Triggered Alarm System
For our final project, we designed and constructed an infrared sensor alarm with LEDs
and buzzers. The basic function of the circuit is to set off a buzzer alarm when the connection
between an infrared LED and a photodiode is broken. We wanted to expand on this though, and
include a blinking red LED when the buzzer was sounding and a stable, green LED when the
circuit was in a “ready” state. Additionally, we looked into making the volume of the buzzer
adjustable with a potentiometer, and wanted to incorporate a monostable timer. The timer would
enable the buzzer and blinking red LED to run for a few moments if the sensor was quickly
tripped.

We used the circuit diagram above as a basis for our design, adding our own extensions
by drawing inspiration from other circuits and ideas that came up during problem solving. By the
end of the construction we had incorporated a wide variety of circuit parts, including an op-amp,
capacitors, resistors, potentiometers, a relay, a photodiode, and a monostable timer.
 In creating our Multisim analysis, we had difficulty finding a timer, a relay, and a useful
photodiode. Eventually, we were able to find equivalent parts for the timer and relay, but ended
up running our analysis by using a simple switch instead of the photodiode. This was because we
had no way of simulating infrared light falling on the photodiode in a way that made things work
properly in the Multisim circuit.
Once our simulation was working, we were able to confirm timer and relay behavior
consistent with our project’s multimeter measurements. We also confirmed that the currents
running through our chips did not exceed the maximum limit of 50 mA. Aside from the
replacement of the photodiode component with a switch, the only other difference between our
simulation and our circuit is that our actual circuit uses the relay to connect to a steady green
LED when the IR beam is not interrupted. We did not include this in our simulation since it is a
minor, simple aspect of the circuit, and there were no relays in Multisim that enabled this type of
setup.
 On the left side of the above two schematics, there is a small circuit with the infrared
LED attached in series to a power source, green LED, and resistor. We decided to separate this to
add mobility to the infrared LED, which in turn makes tripping and un-tripping the main alarm
circuit easier. The purpose of the green LED was to let us know that the infrared LED circuit was
working, since we can’t see infrared light.
When the infrared LED light is reaching the photodiode, the photodiode generates a small
current and “closes” its branch of the circuit. This allows a higher voltage to reach the positive
end of the comparator op-amp. On the negative end, the op-amp is connected to a potentiometer
in series with the main voltage source. This provides a constant, yet changeable, voltage for
comparison. In this case the negative side is lower than the positive, so a high output leaves the
op-amp. When the connection between the infrared LED and photodiode is broken, a small
(almost nonexistent) voltage reaches the positive side, which means that only a tiny output leaves
the op-amp. The Multisim analysis is useful in demonstrating the op-amp basics as just outlined
- we can see how a high incoming positive voltage leads to a high output, and vice versa.
The output from the op-amp feeds into a timer, the output of which feeds into a relay
(more analysis on this part in a moment). We incorporated three extensions from the relay that
was connected to the timer. We decided to use a relay here for two reasons: the first is that it
would make designing the switching from “ready” to “alarm” easier. The second is that it
allowed us to draw power from the power source separate of the circuit (we were worried about
overloading some of our more sensitive pieces should we just essentially connect everything in
series).
When the infrared LED and photodiode are connected, the relay switches to the position
where the green “ready” LED glows. When the connection breaks, the relay switches to the other
position, which turns on the blinking red LED and buzzer. The blinking red LED is an oscillating
circuit, using capacitors, resistors, and transistors. We wanted the LED to blink pretty quickly, so
we used smaller capacitors (on the scale of nanofarads). As far as the buzzer goes, we put a
potentiometer in series with it. The potentiometer worked as expected and within a certain range
(closer to the 0 ohm end of the potentiometer) the buzzer made an audible sound with volume
that could be controlled. Any higher than around 200 ohms though and the buzzer only emitted a
faint whine.
Our Multisim transient analysis shows in more detail how the rest of the circuit responds
to the LED signal being interrupted (timer onward). We can see that at t=0, the trigger voltage
drops to 0, which causes the output voltage to jump to 10V, the timer’s input voltage. This
simultaneously causes jumps in voltage across the buzzer and LED. The red LED is originally
turned off, since the voltage across it is less than the required voltage which is just above 1 volt.
Unfortunately, this analysis crashes after the red LED switches on, but it still shows that it turns
from off to on. Interactive simulations show that the LED does oscillate.
 Furthermore, in the interactive Mulitism analysis, we can see that when the connection
between the infrared LED and photodiode is strong, there is no voltage across the extension
portions. When the connection is broken, there is 10V. The 10V in the timer output is used to
drive current through the relay, which then allows the buzzer and flashing LED to connect to the
power source. The timer output jumps all the way to 10V because the timer is set up to output a
potential equal to its source potential, while resistors connected to the red LED and buzzer
prevent them from reaching such a high voltage.
In order to analyze the timer’s behavior without crashing the simulation, we ran transient
analysis without the pulsing LED and instead measured the potential across the capacitor. In
these simulations, the connection to the photodiode is only interrupted briefly, as can be seen by
the pink and cyan lines that rise shortly after the output and buzzer voltages jump. This shows
that even after the connection between the IR LED and photodiode has been restored, the timer
continues to charge the capacitor until the voltage across the capacitor reaches two thirds of the
source voltage. Once this threshold has been reached, the timer switches off the output signal,
which also makes the relay reset and drops the buzzer voltage to 0V. The capacitor also
immediately discharges, and is prepared for the next signal.
 Looking back, one significant improvement we would make to the circuit is to extend the
range of the infrared LED. With our current equipment the infrared LED had to be with
centimeters of the photodiode, which doesn’t make for a particularly useful circuit. Replacing it
with an infrared laser or some sort of tripwire apparatus would be ideal. Additionally, we think it
might be useful to have an oscillating buzzer (where the sound “blinks” along with the red LED)
to make the sound less monotonous and more like an urgent alarm. Finally, incorporating a
variable capacitor into our timer section would enable users to adjust the duration of the alarm
after the infrared LED-photodiode connection has been restored. For example, noise-sensitive
people might appreciate having a shorter alarm so they are not overwhelmed while trying to
problem solve.
Building this circuit was both challenging and fun. We learned a lot about how several
different circuit pieces work together and individually, and continued honing our
problem-solving skills as we designed and debugged. Having done this project, we both agree
that we have grown in understanding of the basics of analog electronics!