Johnson777717
New Member
I need some advice if I may:
I'm trying to design a circuit but I'm not sure if a microcontroller, or simpler logic IC's would be best in the situation. I don't have the specifics of the design yet, as I am still in the "concept" stage of the design process.
Here is the concept.
1. Powered by 110VAC to DC. The DC values depend on what the circuit would demand.
2. An IR LED send / receive beam is established, normally ON.
3. When the IR beam is broken by a physical object, the circuit will wait 5 minutes or so, then the circuit drives a motor in a specific direction until it reaches a stop point.
4. The stop point signals the circuit VIA a mechanical switch. When the first stop point is reached, the motor reverses until the second stop point is reached.
5. When the second stop point is reached a switch signals the circuit to stop the motor, then the circuit resets the IR led beam and waits until the beam is broken again.
6. If the beam is broken again, the cycle repeats steps 3 through 6.
The application. I have an old cat litter box, which automatically scoops the waste into a holding tank, and thus cleans the litter box each time the cat has used the littler box. I can't find any datasheets on the IC's involved in the original circuit, so I'm clueless as to the current operation of the IC's etc. I'm assuming that the IC's are custom made for the manufacturer, and thus, information about the IC's aren't available.
I'd like to re-design the circuit, using known components, for the same concept. The original circuit overheated, which burnt up pretty much everything. The power supply LM317 wasn't heat sinked, and due to continuous use, the LM317 eventually failed, and burnt up some capacitors, a few transisors etc. The circuit is in pretty bad shape, so I'm deciding to start with a new circuit.
Does anyone know of a circuit or two that uses similar concepts, or part of the concepts that I can piece together?
I appreciate your assistance. Have a great week!
I'm trying to design a circuit but I'm not sure if a microcontroller, or simpler logic IC's would be best in the situation. I don't have the specifics of the design yet, as I am still in the "concept" stage of the design process.
Here is the concept.
1. Powered by 110VAC to DC. The DC values depend on what the circuit would demand.
2. An IR LED send / receive beam is established, normally ON.
3. When the IR beam is broken by a physical object, the circuit will wait 5 minutes or so, then the circuit drives a motor in a specific direction until it reaches a stop point.
4. The stop point signals the circuit VIA a mechanical switch. When the first stop point is reached, the motor reverses until the second stop point is reached.
5. When the second stop point is reached a switch signals the circuit to stop the motor, then the circuit resets the IR led beam and waits until the beam is broken again.
6. If the beam is broken again, the cycle repeats steps 3 through 6.
The application. I have an old cat litter box, which automatically scoops the waste into a holding tank, and thus cleans the litter box each time the cat has used the littler box. I can't find any datasheets on the IC's involved in the original circuit, so I'm clueless as to the current operation of the IC's etc. I'm assuming that the IC's are custom made for the manufacturer, and thus, information about the IC's aren't available.
I'd like to re-design the circuit, using known components, for the same concept. The original circuit overheated, which burnt up pretty much everything. The power supply LM317 wasn't heat sinked, and due to continuous use, the LM317 eventually failed, and burnt up some capacitors, a few transisors etc. The circuit is in pretty bad shape, so I'm deciding to start with a new circuit.
Does anyone know of a circuit or two that uses similar concepts, or part of the concepts that I can piece together?
I appreciate your assistance. Have a great week!