Sound Sensor - Caution.

[zbasicandy]

For those "daring users" who attempt to construct this simple sound sensor a word of caution. The Electret microphone has a protective felt-like protective cover of which you will have to remove to have the microphone functional. Also, on the schematic R17 should be a 1M not 1K!







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ZBasicAndy and Neighbor Design Team

[spamiam]

Well, I was amused to see that the last thread got locked. You 2 were going at it!

I will throw in my 2 cents-worth. One can not argue facts. Only conculsions based on facts.

It looks as if the fact is that the circuit "works". Presumably as intended. The needs of a sound "sensor" which probably is more-or-less a digital device (Is there sufficient sound intensity to trigger, or not?) are quite different from a transducer which might need to relatively accurately reproduce the spectrum of the sound.

Using parts outside their specifications >>is<< just asking for trouble, but if it works within the range of the required conditions for a specific application, then it is de-facto "adequate". Who said anything about "ideal". Nothing is ever ideal.


I must say, however, since I have very limited electronics judgement, and even less design ability, especially for non-digital (i.e not more or less plug and play) systems, then I try to start with components operating within their specified ranges and hope for the best.

So, I think that this was a good discussion at its foundation. One person submitting a design that works OK for them, and another suggesting possible improvements if anyone else were thinking about moving forward with it!

We are all happy, right!?

-Tony

[zbasicandy]

It looks as if the fact is that the circuit "works". Presumably as intended

For some reason it even works for the robotic hobbyist, which used this circuit for his robotic audio sensor. The design came from one of the brightest engineers that work in the valley. We just modified its use with the ZBasic controller. We were totally amused at the response given that this design is one of simplest yet useful which only cost $2.00 plus Electret Mike!

Using parts outside their specifications >>is<< just asking for trouble, but if it works within the range of the required conditions

Just like overclocking a microcontroller - you should never do this but a lot of people do all the time and it works.
As for our design, we even suggested a drop-in replacement for the LM741. It really doesn't matter which opamp is selected they both will work perfectly.

Nothing is ever ideal

A lot of common sense will go a long way. You could become a good engineer!

[spamiam]

I planned on being an engineering major, but as I was delecting my first courses in engineering, I realized that their plan and mione were too different. I wanted to take a variety of courses in EE, ME, and maybe some CE. They had the curriculum structured so narrowly that you were funneled into one of the above due to prerequesites. There was no way to get enough of the prerequesites for me to be able to take the courses I WANTED and still finish within 4 years.

So, I was a Biology major (and had enough courses in English Lit for a double major). I ended up tutoring the engineering students in their courses eventhough I never actually took their courses. Much of the physics I did take enabled me to be rather conversant with much of the engineering curriculum. Enough to be able to do tutoring!

-Tony

[TheHammer]

I am new to ZBasic.
My main interests are robotics.
This sound sensor would be an excellent robotic left
right robotic ears.
I did notice that under files that most if not all of ZBasicAndy's files are the same from Batman's downloads at www.comfiletech.com. This must be the website the ellusive Batman engineer disappear to.
He is by far the smartest engineer comfile ever had on their forum.