*04 Electronics (160-187).

qxd 2/2/07 12:24 pm Page 178

Counting circuits 2
Key words
1 Switching machine off for 5 s in every 20 s
battery light-dependent
binary code resistor (LDR)
+ +
bistable A S Q S Q
clocked logic a
B
Clock Clock
C
D
1 Switching machine off for Reset R Q R Q c
b
5 s in every 20s a 1 Hz clock input
● The binary counter and timed b driver M
c relay
bistables provide an output of 0 for 15
out of every 20 second period. This is
inverted by the NOT gate which 2 Reversing action of food mixer every 5 s
activates the relay, turning the motor + +
A S Q
on. d
● For the remaining 5 seconds the
B
Clock
output is 1. This is inverted by the C
D M
NOT gate and thus deactivates the R Q
Reset
relay turning the motor off.

2 Reversing action of food d 1 Hz clock input

mixer every 5 s
● Thistype of circuit is sometimes used
in food mixers. Activating the relay 3 Flashing a lamp + + e 1 Hz clock input
A
does not turn the motor on or off, but e B
reverses the direction of the current Clock
and thus the direction in which the C
motor rotates. D
Reset 3
3 Flashing a lamp
● The output from a binary counter can
be used to turn a lamp on and off a
given number of times. When the
4 Automatic light buoy
1HZ
switch is turned on in this circuit the A g
Light is on for
f
lamp flashes 6 times. B one second Adaptation so that
Clock light only comes
C on at night
4 Automatic light buoy D (pull-up
● Flashing lamps have many possible Reset resistor
f 1 Hz clock input not shown)
applications including providing g to clock input
warnings such as buoys which mark
the position of an underwater hazard.
The circuit can be modified using an 5 Batch counter
Clock
LDR so that the light only flashes when A A h i
it is dark which preserves the battery. B
B
Clock
5 Batch counter C C
● Batches of articles can be counted
Reset D D
either by depressing switches manually Reset Hold
© Diagram Visual Information Ltd.

or having an arrangement in which a

switch is triggered each time an article j
passes a sensor.
h number of articles in batch SS Q
i number of batches Q
l articles pass the LDR to
operate clock M
(pull-up resistor not shown) R Q k
k conveyer belt motor