Touch Counter


The counter is advanced by one touching a wire of the LED

Suitable for many applications


Circuit diagram:

Touch Communicator - Counter

Parts:

R1_______________1K   1/2W Resistor
R2,R4____________1K8  1/4W Resistors
R3______________68K   1/4W Resistor
R5_______________4K7  1/4W Resistor
R6______________10K   1/4W Resistor
R7_____________680R   1/4W Resistor

C1______________47µF   25V Electrolytic Capacitor
C2,C3__________100nF   63V Polyester Capacitors


D1__________Red LED   2mm. Axial SMD types preferable (See text)
D2___________1N4148    75V 150mA Diode
D3 to D7________LED   Any color, shape and size (See text)

Q1____________BC550C   45V 100mA Low noise High gain NPN Transistor
Q2____________BC560C   45V 100mA Low noise High gain PNP Transistor

IC1____________4017   Decade counter with 10 decoded outputs IC

SW1____________SPST   Toggle or slide switch

B1_______________9V   PP3 Battery

Clip for PP3 Battery

Comments:

This project can be used in a wide range of applications, limited only by the imagination of the home constructor.
LED TouchIn practice, the circuit consists of a small LED mounted in some accessible place, having part of the cathode terminal exposed (see Figure at right) so that tapping the small LED with one finger, you come into contact with the cathode terminal: this action will turn the LED on.
The LED will stay lit for about two seconds and then shut off. Meanwhile, the IC counter will advance one position and this is repeated every time you touched LED1 with a finger.

Circuit operation:

Q1 and Q2 form a complementary monostable having a time delay of about 2 seconds. Its sensitivity is so high that it can be triggered simply by touching the Cathode wire of the LED D1 by a finger. The monostable output, present at Q2 Collector, clocks the Decade counter IC1 which, in turn, drives one at a time the LEDs D3 through D7.
In the circuit diagram 5 LEDs are shown, but since the IC has ten outputs, any number of LEDs up to 9 can be used. The 0 output (pin #3 of IC1) should have no LED connected, to signal that no counting occurred.
The counter is reset at pin #15 by C2 and R6. This will occur every time you restart the circuit through SW1.

Notes: