Technological Institute of the Philippines

938 Aurora Blvd., Cubao, Quezon City

ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING PROGRAM

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Completion of ECE402

Sound Activated Intercom

Submitted By:
Alvarez, Ganimid Jr. D
Ducha, Christian T.
Iglesias, James Theodor E.
Itum, Jonathan P.
Razon, Jan Joevil A.
Valdellon, Miguel Antonio G.

Submitted To:
Engr. Samuel P. Mabanta

Date Submitted:
March 19, 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Project Description..3
Specifications...4
Schematics...5
Bill of Materials....7
Design Calculations....9
Test Results .11
Photos of the Actual Prototype.......12
Lesson Learned.13
Conclusion..13
Recommendation......14

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
With the trend of technology today, a lot of work was made easier for a human being to do in his
everyday life. The Sound Activated Intercom is simply an AC switch designed to respond to high frequency
audio signals generated by hand claps. This circuit will be beneficial to disabled people and even to normal
people who wants to have easier manipulation on turning off/on of any device or appliance that is powered
by AC voltage thus we used it to power an Intercom that can be used.
The sound activated switch that we used is called the Clap Switch and was first known as the
Clapper and was invented by Robert E. Clapper, Sr. and Richard J. Pirong and first sold to the public on
September 1, 1986 at San Francisco, California. This device is operated easily; all you need to do is to clap
twice. The microphone condenser is the electronic component used for picking up the clap sound which will
activate the circuit. This electronic component is not only used to pick up the clap sound but also the sound
of cough, knock, and many more.
The circuit of the sound activated switch uses a CD4013 (CMOS Dual D flip-flops), which is a basic
design for sequential circuits, digital systems whose output states changes with time. It does for the
Clapper Circuit what the NAND gate does for logic systems and what the Operational Amplifier (Op-Amp)
does for amplifiers. Thus, it shows the application of an Op-Amp as a bistable (flip-flop) that can store state
information.
A flip-flop can be made to change state by signals applied to one or more control inputs and will
have one or two outputs. Flip-flops are fundamental building blocks of digital electronics systems. One of

their chief applications is in storing data and as such it is used in the sound activated switch of the
intercom.
The clap sound sensed by condenser microphone depends upon the sensitivity of the trimmer, the
intensity of the sound produced by clapping and the distance away from the prototype. Eventually, by
having a higher sensitivity, the Clap Switch can also recognize other sound vibration.
The sound activated switch can function properly by responding to both hand claps about three to
five meter away and finger tap sound at very close range. This is very useful in the field of electronic
circuits and by using modification its area of application can be extended in various fields. By applying it to
our project, Sound Activated Intercom, it can be efficient and useful to a disabled person or other people
that uses the intercom under any circumstance.
The sound activated switch is used to power up the intercom that results this project, Sound
Activated Intercom. This project uses the application of concepts from power supplies to amplifiers and
application of op-amp ICs. We used a sound activated switch, 12V DC power supply, 60 watts amplifier and
the intercom to have a Sound activated Intercom that can be very useful in our lives.

SPECIFICATIONS
The project has the following specifications:
The input supply of the sound activated switch is 220V AC and the output supply is also. 220V AC
The main DC line of the sound activated switch is ranging from 12-14V.
The sound activated switch can receive the signal (by clap) up to 5 meters
The power supply of the intercom has an input of 220V AC and has an output of 12V DC.

The amplifier for the intercom is 60watts for louder and audible transmission of sound.
The distance the intercom can transmit audible sound from master to slave is 15 meters.

SCHEMATICS
In this section, you can see how the group designed the project and the schematic diagram used in
the Sound Activated Intercom mainly, the. We can see how the components are interconnected together to
produce the desired results of the project.

SOUND
ACTIVATED
SWITCH

The Schematic Diagram for the

Circuit

Sound Activated

Electronic Enthusiasts #69 (Alexan)

BILL OF MATERIALS
This section shows a list of all the needed components for this project with brief descriptions and
specifications of each component to give the reader a broad overview of the materials used to create the
Sound Activated Intercom. The list also includes the quantities and cost of each product to provide an
economic analysis of the project.

Components
Designation
D1, D2, D3
D4
IC1
IC2
Q3
Q1,Q2
LED1, LED2
R1
R2,R3
R4
R5,R6
R7,R8
R9
R10
R11
R12
R13
R14
C1,C2
C3

Sound Activated Switch

Description
No. of Items
1N4001 50V 1A
Rectifier Diodes
1N5240B 10V Zener
diode
LM555 Timer IC or
equivalent
CD4013 Dual D FlipFlop`
9013 NPN 0.8A
Audio Output
transistor
9014 NPN 0.8A
Driver transistor
3-mm LED any color
100 kilo ohms watt
6.8 kilo ohms watt
82 ohms watt
1 kilo ohm watt
1 mega ohm watt
150 kilo ohms watt
2.2 mega ohms
watt
100-kilo ohms
trimmer
5.1 kilo ohms watt
3.3 kilo ohms watt
330 ohms watt
0.1 F ceramic
470 F / 16V
electrolytic

Price

3 pcs.

P3.00

1 pc.

P5.00

1 pc.

P15.00

1 pc.

P60.00

1 pc.

P15.00

2 pcs.

P40.00

2 pcs
1 pc.
2 pcs.
1 pc.
2 pcs.
2 pcs.
1 pc.
1 pc.

P10.00
P0.50
P1.00
P0.50
P1.00
P1.00
P0.50
P0.50

1 pc.

P15.00

2 pcs.
1 pc.
1 pc.
2 pcs.

P1.00
P0.50
P0.50
P4.00

1 pc.

P5.00

C4
C5
C6
C7
C8,C9
C10
MIC.
K1
AC plug
AC socket
T1

F /16V
0.001 F

1000

ceramic
0.02 F ceramic
15 pf ceramic
0.01 F ceramic
2.2 F / 16V
electrolytic
EM-80
RELAY 1 (12V/5A)
AC cord with plug
AC socket with
mounting screws
220V/ 9VCT 750 mA
Transformer

1 pc.

P15.00

1 pc.

P4.00

1 pc.

P4.00

1 pc.
2 pcs.

P4.00
P4.00

1 pc.

P5.00

1 pc.
1 pc.
1 pc.
1 pc.

P15.00
P65.00
P25
P20

1 pc.

P125

1 pc.
1 pc.
1 pc.
1 pc.
1 pc.

P0.50
P0.50
P15.00
P15.00
P5.00

1 pc.

P5.00

1 pc.

P5.00

1 pc.

P4.00

1 pc.
1 pc.
Total:

P15.00
P10.00
P539.00

Intercom
R1
R2
P1
P2
C1
C2
C3
C4
IC1
T1

270 kilo ohms watt

27 kilo ohms watt
10-kilo ohms trimmer
5-kilo ohms trimmer
100 F / 16V
electrolytic
220 F / 16V
electrolytic
10 F / 16V
electrolytic
0.47 F ceramic
LM386
BC548

DESIGN CALCULATIONS

The sound activated switch can basically be described as a low frequency sound pulse activated
switch that is free from false triggering. The output state of the switching device circuit can only change,
when the circuit receives two claps within a time period that will be determined by the RC component value
in the circuit. The transducer (microphone) is connected to an amplifier sub-circuit which is connected to
timer ICs . These timer ICs are wired as monostable multi vibrators and their output is used to drive a
decade counter IC that is wired as bi-stable to drive the relay.
Before it is usable, the signal must be amplified, usually to line level, with a typical value of voltage
within 0.5 2 volts, which is stronger and more robust signal. The line level is the standard signal strength
used by audio processing equipment and was also used in this circuit.
The bipolar NPN transistors used in this design are basically used as switch, to trigger the relay
and as amplifier to boost the mic level to line level. When a transistor is used as switch, it must be either
OFF or fully ON. In the fully ON state, the voltage VCE across the transistor is almost zero and the
transistor is said to be saturated because it cannot pass any more collector current IC. The transistor is off
when VIN is less than 0.7 V, because the base current will be zero. The power developed in a switching
transistor is very small
In the OFF state:
Power = VD *IC but IC = 0
P=0
In the ON state:
Power = VC * IC but VCE O (almost)
P0

10

So, the power is very small.

The device is expected to control switching process by sensing hand claps but ideally, must avoid
being triggered by false signals, such as voice and mechanical noise impulse. The circuit is expected to
respond to two claps only when it is received within three seconds to energize a relay which will make
connection with an external circuit.

TEST RESULTS
The sound activated switch of the intercom can turn on/off the intercom that is plugged-in because
the circuit changes its output state when you clap twice within the set time period. With the testing we
conducted, you have to clap with a half second to one second interval.
The control circuit is the part of the relay that determines when the output component is energized
or de energized. The LED1 on the clap switch circuit indicates that the Circuit function well when it light
turns ON. In the same manner, the LED2 indicates that the socket has already power when it lights ON.
The monostable circuit of IC2 of the complete circuit diagram was by-passed. It was observed that
at a single clap, the relay made several clicking noise. It was inferred that the vibrating effect of the relay is
as a result of the bounce of the switch fired by several pulses generated from the decade counter.

11

Therefore it is of significant importance to de-bounce the switch using the combination of Power-ON
Trigger and Power-ON Reset circuits.
Using a single 555 timer and by-passing IC2 in the sound activated switch circuit, it was observed
that the red LED, indicating the time period only flashed once at a single clap and the relay was energized,
but there was no bounce noticed. For initial testing, the resistor R is removed, and it was observed that the
indicator LED1 became permanently ON and the circuit did not respond to further inputs (claps), and could
not energize the relay.
Standoffs may be needed to provide support in areas of high potential mechanical stress on the
circuit board, like the area where doors are slammed especially if this device is installed on susceptible wall
close to the door. The rating of this device is as important as the device itself, since the loading capacity
can influence performance and functionality of switches.

12

We also measured voltage at critical points of the PCB of the sound activated switch for the
intercom. The main DC line after the regulator diodes is approximately 12.8 volts. The voltage across the
Zener diode and the IC power supply pins is about 10.2 volts. Thus, making the voltage rating of capacitors
and other components suitable for this circuit.

PHOTOS OF ACTUAL PROTOTYPE

LESSONS

LEARNED

While doing the project, the researchers of this study have learned the following:

Operational amplifier is a good device that has all the properties required for nearly ideal DC

amplification and are therefore used extensively in signal conditioning and filtering.
Operational amplifiers could also be used as a voltage amplifying device designed to be used with
external feedback components which determines the function or operation of the amplifier. On this

project, Op amps used in the intercom to filter the signal that is being produced.
The quality of materials that will be used in a certain project is very important. Even if the desired
output is achieved on the simulation part with proper PCB designs, creating it on a real PCB could
cause you to have revisions on your work since not all of the materials are readily available in the
market.

13

The group also learned how to troubleshoot if the project is not working properly. Thru this project,
the team was able to practice their knowledge on the different components and the lessons they
learned on the course.

CONCLUSION
After doing the project, the group were able to conclude that operational amplifiers is a good device
were small voltages can be amplified to produce higher voltages. On this project, the operational amplifier
was used to increase the voltage output in both clap switch and intercommunication. Thus increasing the
range where it can be activated and the distance of separation between the master and the slaves with an
acceptable hearing voice.

RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation for similar researches
The following recommendations are offered for related research in the field of electronics
engineering
1. Given the long distance the voice should travel on the intercom, having a research on how to
lessen and filter the noise would be very much applicable to this project. Lesser noise means
better quality on the sound that is being produced.
2. Given that there is a rapid change and advancement in the technology, high quality components
and materials that are used is another way of improving this kind of project.
Recommendation for improving

14

The following recommendations are offered as possible ways to improve this study
1. In order to improve this project, the is recommending to better switching and wiring design is highly
recommended due to noise that is being heard while operating.
2. A smaller PCB design for both the intercom and amplifier would also be better. It will lessen the
length of wires to be used so that there would be a lower current loss thus improving the quality of
sound that is being produced.
3. The researchers of this study are also recommending having a built in sound activators with
different ways of activating in each slave that could replace the switches that are used in this
project.

15