Changing the way consumers and businesses improve their lives, for more than 35-years, through "Technologization"! 4-Channel Light Chaser

A great many of the products and projects that I have involved myself in over the years have been developed around semiconductor products that had already established a long-standing reputation for providing low-cost, flexible design solutions for circuit designs that used to require a much larger number of components and elaborate circuit design concepts. Of these, some of the more popular products would include the 555 timer I.C. (Integrated Circuit), and its derivative, the 556 Timer I.C. (Contains two 555 timer functions within a single D.I.P. (Dual In-Line Package), J-K Flip Flop I.C.s, and Dual J-K Flip Flops; as well as a host of other supporting products including Operational Amplifiers (Op-Amps), Hybrid power packs and power amp modules, SCRs (Silicon Controlled Rectifiers), DIACs (Diode for Alternating Current), and TRIACs (Tri-State Silicon Controlled Switches for Alternating Current, or more commonly referred to as; Bidirectional Triode Thyristor or Bilateral Triode Thyristor), L.E.D.s (Light Emitting Diode), L.C.D.s (Liquid Crystal Display), Opto-Isolator TRIAC Drivers, and a wide variety of other support components.SCRTRIAC ZENER DIODE DIAC J-K Flip Flop & Dual J-K Flip Flop

4-Channel Light Chaser While this 4-Channel Light Chaser was originally requested by a client and went through the entire design, development, and all phases of good project management, it was never fully developed into a working, finished prototype, as the client changed their mind at the last moment, and decided to purchase a similar device from a national stage production company. Even still, all of the steps necessary to getting a product from idea to physical working model were followed and performed, including: Rough draft of product requirements Rough draft of product requirements Risk assessment Risk assessment Preliminary circuit design Preliminary circuit design Mathematical and electrical verification and validation Mathematical and electrical verification and validation Bread-boarding the circuits involved and testing Bread-boarding the circuits involved and testing Documentation of all related specifications and summary Documentation of all related specifications and summary Preliminary enclosure design and human interface controls Preliminary enclosure design and human interface controls

4-Channel Light Chaser The first steps in any electronics project often involves determining the power requirements for the devices and components being incorporated, and for any external add-ons that will be incorporated into its application. If DC (Direct Current) sources are involved, then it will be necessary to determine both the DC and AC (Alternating Current) power requirements. From here, DC power supply design and architecture can be developed. Because DC power does not occur naturally from common wall outlets, developing a DC power source almost always involves converting the available AC current and signals, into DC current and signals. The steps involved include conversion from AC to unfiltered DC, filtering the DC, regulating the DC, and distribution of the DC power. AC -to- DC Conversion Pre-Filtering DC

4-Channel Light Chaser Filtering DC (Remove AC Ripple Content) Removing as much AC ripple from the filtered DC current is critical to establishing stable operation of circuits that derive power from the power supply. Ripple noise riding on the DC power can lead to false triggering of electronic devices and components, as well as interfere with internal and external timing parameters established, and could even be destructive to more sensitive components. Regulating the filtered DC provides stable DC supply voltages within the upper and lower range tolerances of the regulator design. Fully Regulated + 5 VDC (.0001% AC Ripple)

4-Channel Light Chaser Once the DC power supply source has been created, the DC output may be distributed to the circuits involved in the project. In this case, a +5 VDC tap provides 5 volts DC to a 555 Timer circuit that is running in astable-multivibrator mode. The output pulse width and gain remain constant; however, the pulse rate (frequency) is continuously variable throughout the range of the Rate Control potentiometer (VR1).

4-Channel Light Chaser The output pulse from the 555 timer circuit is used as an input control pulse for the J-K Flip Flop I.C. and chaser driver circuit.

4-Channel Light Chaser The heart of this 4-channel Light Chaser design, illustrated below, depicts the main components involved in running a variable-rate chaser pulse capable of driving L.E.D. devices. When these L.E.D.s are substituted with Opto-Isolator TRAIC driver I.C.s, you have the makings of a great DC controlling AC lighting control/switching circuit.

4-Channel Light Chaser The circuit illustrated below demonstrates that the output control signals from each channel of the J-K Flip Flop I.C. can be used to drive a Zero-Crossing, Opto-Isolator Triac Driver I.C., which then controls the flow of AC current through the AC load, in this case Flood Lamps. Using the Opto-Isolator Triac Driver I.C., as opposed to driving the gate of the TRIAC devices through direct connection, separates or isolates the DC circuits from the AC circuits, protecting both from feed-back related problems, and is a much better design from a number of important efficiency of operation, and quality of design perspectives.

4-Channel Light Chaser Bringing it all together...

4-Channel Light Chaser While a great deal of what has been demonstrated here will seem foreign or alien to those who do not have a background in electronics theory, design, and development, the ideas and concepts form the basis for a number of other product and electronics designs that have been adopted and enhanced over the years, throughout many industries. A great many of the electronics, devices, appliances, and lighting products you see on the market, and use in your homes and businesses today, have been based on designs that myself, and others, pioneered and developed many years ago!

Changing the way consumers and businesses improve their lives, for more than 35-years, through "Technologization"! End of Presentation 4-Channel Light Chaser