REPORT # 9

Photo-coupler and Touch Alarm Switch

An Opto-coupler (photo-coupler), is an electronic components that interconnects two
separate electrical circuits by means of a light sensitivity optical interface.
Phototransistor Opto-coupler:

Assume a photo-transistor device as shown. Current from the source signal passes through
the
Input LED which emits an infra-red light whose intensity is proportional to the electrical
signal

This emitted light falls upon the base of the photo-transistor, causing it to switch ON and
conduct
in a similar way to a normal bipolar transistor.

The base connection of the photo-transistor can be left open (unconnected) for maximum
sensitivity to the LEDs Infra-red light energy or connected to ground via suitable external
high
value resistor to control the switching sensitivity making it more stable and resistant to false
triggering by external electrical noise or voltage transients.

When the current flowing through the LED is interrupted, the infra-red emitted light is cut-
off
causing the photo-transistor to cease conducting. The photo-transistor can be used to switch
current
in the output circuit. The spectral response of the LED and the photosensitive device are
closely
matched being separated by a transparent medium such a glass, plastic or air. Since there is
no
direct electrical connection between the input and output of an optocoupler, electrical
isolation up
to 10KV is achieved.

Optocouplers are available in four general types, each one having an infrared LED source but
with different photo-sensitive devices. The four optocouplers are called the: Photo-transistor
Photo-darlington, Photo-SCR and Photo-triac as shown below.
Optocoupler Applications:
Optocouplers and opto-isolators can be used on their own, or to switch a range of other
larger electronic devices such as transistors and TRIAC’s providing the required electrical
isolation between a lower voltage control signal, for example one from an Arduino or
microcontroller, and a much higher voltage or mains current output signal.

Common applications for opto-couplers include microprocessor input output switching. DC

and AC power control. PC communications, signal isolation and power supply regulation
which suffer from current ground loops, etc. The electrical signal being transmitted can be
either analogue (linear) or digital (pulses).

In this application, the optocoupler is used to detect the operation of the switch or another
type of digital input signal. This is useful if the switch or signal being detected is within an
electrically noisy environment. The output can be used to operate an external circuit, light or
as an input to a PC or microprocessor.

Touch Alarm switch

A touch switch is a type of switch that only has to be touched by an object to operate. It is
used in many lamps and wall switches that have a metal exterior as well as on public
computer terminals, touch screen includes an array of touch switches on a display. A touch
switch is the simplest kind of tactile sensor.

Touch the sensor of the alarm with your finger and it starts beeping, goes on for some time
and then stops. Touching it again, and it goes again! This little and flexible circuit consists of
touch sensor and a directly coupled transistor amplifier with a small buzzer as the output
load.

Types of touch switches:

 Capacitance switch (Capacitive Touch)
A capacitance switch needs only one electrode to function. The electrode can be placed
behind a non-conductive panel such as wood, glass. or plastic. The switch works using body
capacitance. A property of the human body that gives it great electrical characteristics. The
switch keeps charging and discharging its metal exterior to detect changes in capacitance.
When a person touches it, their body increases the capacitance and triggers the switch.

Capacitance switches are available commercially as integrated circuits from a number of

manufacturers. These devices can also be used as a short-range proximity sensor.

 Resistance touch switch (Resistive Touch)

A resistance switch needs two electrodes to be physically in contact with something
electrically conductive (for example a finger) to operate. They work by lowering the
resistance between two pieces of metal. It is thus much simpler in construction compared to
the capacitance switch. Placing one or two fingers across the plates achieves a turn on or
closed state. Removing the finger(s) from the metal pieces turns the device off.

 Piezo touch switch

Piezo touch switches are based on mechanical bending of piezo ceramic, typically
constructed directly behind a surface. This solution enables touch interfaces with any kind of
material. Another characteristic of piezo is that it can function as actuator as well. Current
commercial solutions construct the piezo in such a way that touching it with approximately
1.5 N is enough, even for stiff materials like stainless steel. Piezo touch switches are available
commercially.

EXPERIMENT

Photo-Coupler and Touch Alarm Circuits

OBJECTIVE
1. Understanding the characteristics of photocouplers.
2. Understanding the characteristics of FETs.
3. Performing the photocoupler control circuit
4. Performing the FET touch alarm circuit.

DISCUSSION
Photo coupler

Light emitting devices and light sensing devices have major applications in areas where
electrical isolation between the input signal and the output is important. Fig. 17-1 shows the
appearance and circuit symbol of a photo-coupler, optical isolator, or phototransistor
coupled pair.

The advantages of photocouplers over relays and transformers are:

(1) Low Cost
(2) Small size and light weight
(3) High speed switching with bounceless
(4) No contact spikes

The operation of the photo-coupler can be considered as a communication system as shown

in Fig. 17-2. When an input signal is applied to the light emitting diode (LED) the light
emitted is detected by the phototransistor and converted back to an electrical signal.

The photo coupler is widely used as an interface between two different voltage levels.
Fig.17-3 shows the applications for the conversion between high voltage Indicator and low
voltage signal. In each of these two circuits, the electrical Isolation between high voltage
signal and low voltage signal is excellent.
The resistor R the circuit of Fig 17-3(a) is used to limit the current flow in lamp. When the
switch is opened, the lamp extinguishes since no voltage applied. The resistance of
photoconductor increases and drives the transistor to conduct into saturation. Therefore,
the output voltage is 0. When the switch is closed, the lamp lights up. The resistance of
photo conductor decreases and causes the transistor to cut off. The output voltage equal to
Vcc.

Due to the photo coupler is suited for AC or DC signals, it is also called the universal signal
transformer. The most popular type of photo couplers consisting of an LED and a
phototransistor is shown in Fig. 17-3(b). When the positive voltage is applied to LED, the
light emitted is detected by the phototransistor and converted back to an electrical signal.

The light emitting diode is p-n junction which when forward biased will emit light. The
phototransistor can operate in extremely high response. There are several inherent
advantages of an LED-phototransistor combination over conventional light sources and
detectors.

The advantages of the circuit of Fig. 17-3(b) over the circuit of Fig. 17-3(a) are:

(1) Long life - The life of LED is longer than any types of lam bulb (10000-hour typical).
(2) High shock and vibration immunity - These features make LED-phototransistor
combination to suit for industrial control applications
(3) High speed-LED-phototransistor combination is suited in the application of high
frequency switching

Figs. 17-4 shows the characteristics of a photocoupler.

The region to the left of the dashed curve in Fig. 17-7 is replotted to an expanded scale in
Fig. 17-9 and the curves are extended into the third quadrant. The resistance at the origin is
the reciprocal of the slope of the curves at the origin. The slope of the curve for the gate
voltage equal to pinch off voltage (-3V) is zero, and the corresponding value for off
resistance Ron is infinite or an open circuit. The curve for zero gate voltage yields a value for
on resistance Ron of several hundred ohms. In this region, the JFET is useful as a voltage-
controlled variable-resistance ( VVR) for the applications of automatic gain control (AGC) and
switch circuits.

Testing FET with Ohmmeter

To identify the terminals of a JFET with an ohmmeter, the following steps useful:

1. Set range selector of ohmmeter at R x 1K range. Measure the junction resistance either
G-to-D or G-to-S to find the gate terminal. Assuming an N-channel JFET under testing,
connect the black lead (battery positive) of ohmmeter to the gate (G) and the red lead
(battery negative) to either D or S, the resistance indication should be low. If a P-channel
JFET is tested, reverse the leads of ohmmeter.

2. If the range selector of ohmmeter is set at Rx1, some troubles may be encountered in
the measurement step 1 This is caused by the difference of p-n forward characteristics
between JFET and conventional transistor as shown in Fig. 17-10. The forward characteristic
of conventional transistor or diode is that the forward Voltage drop holds between 0.6V and
0.7V once the forward current flowing. The p-n junction characteristic of JFET is like a diode
series with a resistor. In other words, the junction resistance of JFET is greater than that of a
transistor. Therefore, a high resistance range of ohmmeter should be used.
3. The resistance of drain-to-source should be several hundred ohms either forward or
reverse. Assume an N-channel JFET under testing. Set the range selector of ohmmeter to low
resistance range Connect the black lead of ohmmeter to the terminal D or S and the red lead
to the other terminal. With your finger, touch the black lead and terminal G simultaneously
and record the resistance reading. Reverse the leads and repeat the measurement.
Comparing these two results, the measurement of low reading is proper bias arrangement.
That is, the terminal with the black lead is terminal D and the terminal with the red lead is
terminal S.

Description of Experiment Circuit

Fig. 17-11 shows the experiment circuit. It consists of photo-coupler control circuit and
touch alarm circuit. The operation of each circuit is described as follows.

1. Photo-coupler Control Circuit

Transistor Q1 and photo-coupler form the photo-coupler controller. Transistors Q3 and 04

and relay form the control circuit. When DC 5V is applied to the base of Q1, the collector
current of Q1 drives the LED of the photo-coupler to light and the phototransistor conducts.
The voltage across R3 drives both Q3 and Q4 to conduct. Thus relay is energized and LED2
lights.

When the base of Q1 is connected to OV, Q1 off and phototransistor off result in Q3
off and Q4 off. Hence the relay is not energized and LED1 is on.

2. Touch Alarm Circuit

FET Q2 acts as a touch switch. Transistors Q3 and Q4 and buzzer for alarm circuit. Since the
input impedance of FET is extremely high, the sensitivity of the gate is very high. The
maximum drain current occurs at VGs=OV. When the TOUCH point is open, resistor R4
provides a bias for the FET. The drain current l D flows through R5 resulting in a large voltage
drop across R5. The result is the drain voltage at low potential to force Q3 and Q4 off.
Therefore, the buzzer is off. If a finger touches the TOUCH point, the induced signal forces
FET to off and hence the drain voltage rises to high voltage. This voltage drives Q3 and 04 to
conduct. Hence the buzzer sounds. When the finger is removed from TOUCH point, the
circuit recovers its initial state and buzzer returns off.

Conclusion :
Touch Sensor :

When a finger contacts the TOUCH point the induced signal powers FET to off and
subsequently the channel voltage ascends to high voltage which results in Q3 and Q4 to on.
Therefore the buzzer start. Alarm circuit comprises of Q3, Q4 and buzzer. At the point when
the finger is expelled from TOUCH point, the circuit recoups its previous state and buzzer will
be off.