Light Dependent Resistors
Light Dependent Resistors
Light Dependent Resistors
Identification
A light dependent resistor is shaped like a quarter. They are small, and
can be nearly any size. Other names for light dependent resistors are:
photoconductors, photo resistor, or a CdS cell. There are black lines on one
side of the light dependent resistor. The overall color of a light dependent
resistor is gold. Usually other electrical components are attached to the
light dependent resistor by metal tubes soldered to the sides of the light
dependent resistor.
Function
The main purpose of a light dependent resistor is to change the
brightness of a light in different weather conditions. This can easily be
explained with the use of a watch. Some watches start to glow in the dark so
that it is possible to see the time without having to press any buttons. It is
the light dependent resistor that allows the watch to know when it has gotten
dark, and change the emissions level of the light at that time. Traffic lights
use this principle as well but their lights have to be brighter in the day time.
Considerations
Light dependent resistors have become very useful to the world. Without
them lights would have to be on all the time, or they would have to be
manually adjusted. A light dependent resistor saves money and time for any
creation that needs a change in light. Another feature of the light dependent
resistor is that it can be programmed to turn on with changes in movements.
This is an extremely useful feature that many security systems employ.
Security would be harder without light dependent resistors.
Expert Insight
Benefits
There are many great benefits to light dependent resistors. They allow
less power to be used in many different kinds of lights. They help lights last
much longer. They can be trigged by several different kinds of triggers,
which is very useful for motion lights and security systems. They are also
very useful in watches and cars so that the lights can turn on automatically
when it becomes dark. There are a lot of things that light dependent
resistors can do.
Measure Light Intensity using Light Dependent
Resistor (LDR)
Vo = 5*RL / (RL+3.3)
The figure to the right shows the functional block diagram of the
555 timer IC. The IC is available in either an 8-pin round TO3-style can or
an 8-pin mini-DIP package. In either case, the pin connections are as
follows:
1. Ground.
2. Trigger input.
3. Output.
4. Reset input.
5. Control voltage.
6. Threshhold input.
7. Discharge.
8. +VCC. +5 to +15 volts in normal use.
The operation of the 555 timer revolves around the three resistors
that form a voltage divider across the power supply, and the two
comparators connected to this voltage divider. The IC is quiescent so
long as the trigger input (pin 2) remains at +VCC and the threshhold input
(pin 6) is at ground. Assume the reset input (pin 4) is also at +VCC and
therefore inactive, and that the control voltage input (pin 5) is
unconnected. Under these conditions, the output (pin 3) is at ground and
the discharge transistor (pin 7) is turned on, thus grounding whatever is
connected to this pin.
The three resistors in the voltage divider all have the same value (5K in
the bipolar version of this IC), so the comparator reference voltages are
1/3 and 2/3 of the supply voltage, whatever that may be. The control
voltage input at pin 5 can directly affect this relationship, although most
of the time this pin is unused.
The ELECTRONIC LETTER BOX is a very useful gadget for homes and
offices the circuit uses single Monolithic -555 in dual in line plastic package
and a few external components.The main advantage of the letter box is we
can find out the presence and absence of letter inside the box without
opening the box.
PARTS LIST
INTEGRATED CIRCUIT
IC1---555
DIODES
D1-Red L.E.D,
D2-Green LED
RESISTORS
R1-220E/.25W,
R2-220E/.25W
PRESET
VR1-100KE
BULB
B1-9V BULB
LIGHT DEPENDED RESITOR (LDR)
BATTERY BI- 9V
WORKING
The L.D.R. is the most important part of this circuit.The Resistance of
L.D.R.is miniumWhen the light falling on is maximum and its resistance is
maximum when the lightfalling on is minimum.LD.R is connected to pin no2
of C-555.When the letter is insidethe letter box,the intencity of light falling on
L.D.R.is minmium, so resistance is high , the voltage across the threshold
pin no 6 goes above 2/3 VCC. The internal flip-flop resets and the output
goes low and the red L.E.D is In the forwared biased condition emitting red
light.In the absence of letter in the letter box, light falling on L.D.R. is
maximum so resistance is low and the voltage across the threshold pin goes
below 2/3 VCC. The internal flip-flop sets and its output goes high which
forwared bias the green L.E.D. emitting green light.
ELECTRONIC
LETTER
BOX
MADE BY
ATUL KUMAR (914003)
SUPERVISED BY
ANCHAL SRIVASTAVA
2009- 2010