CD Rom Drive as Digital Audio CD Player

A CD-ROM drive can be used as a stand-alone unit for playing digital audio CDs without interfacing with a computer. The stereo output of CD player available at the audio jack can be amplified using audio input facility which is normally available on a tape-deck/tape-recorder or a stereo amplifier. Audio socket on front/rear of the CD-ROM drive is capable of driving headphones or speakers of less than 500mW. Proper stereo jacks for interconnection between CD-ROM drive and tape deck are available from computer/tape recorder spares vendors. The principle of operation is illustrated here with the help of block diagram. The 4-pin power supply socket available at the rear of a CD-ROM player is meant for +5V, ground (two middle pins) and +12V inputs. The power supply can be easily derived using a conventional power supply circuit as shown in the figure. If you have an external CD-ROM drive, it can be simply plugged into the mains since it has self-contained power supply circuit inside.

While there may be minor differences amongst the available CD-ROM drives’ external controls, a typical drive’s controls are shown in the figure here. Please ensure that a proper power supply connector available from computer spare parts vendor is used for connection to CD-ROM drive. To identify +5V and +12V pins on the drive connector, please note that in the computer +12V is routed using a yellow wire and for +5V a red wire is used, while for ground black wires are used with the supply connector. Once the power supply has been connected correctly, you will notice that LED indicator on the drive starts flashing. Now the digital audio CD can be loaded after pushing the eject button. A second push of the same button causes retraction of CD carriage into the drive. One can change the track (song) on the CD using play switch on the CD-ROM drive.

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Transistor As a timer circuit

Basically on all timer or timer circuit utilizing most of the basic characteristics of the capacitor.

 The basic characteristic is the process of filling and discharge that occurs in the capacitor. The length of time charging and release depends on the value of the capacitor.

If we observe the above circuit, the light will immediately switch SW1 turns on when we plug it into potensio VR1, this is because the current flowing from VR1 to trigger the transistor base should fill the first capacitor C1. Semakian large capacitance value of C1 then the longer the time required by the transistor to turn on the lights. Then if we connect it to the Ground SW1 then light would soon die and the capacitor will immediately clear the cargo. So can we draw the conclusion that the transistor can be used as a timer circuit using capacitor charging and discharging properties.

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Loudspeaker as a Microphone

This circuits allows you to use a cheap loudspeaker as a microphone. Sound waves reaching the speaker cone cause fluctuations in the voice coil. The voice coil moving in the speakers magnetic field will produce a small electrical signal.

The circuit is designed to be used with an operating voltage between 6 and 12 volts dc. The first transistor operates in common base mode. This has the advantage of matching the low input impedance of the speaker to the common base stage, and secondly has a high voltage gain. The second stage is direct coupled and operates in emitter follower. Voltage gain is slightly less than unity, but output impedance is low, and will drive long cables.

Speech quality is not as good compared to an ordinary or ECM microphone, but quite acceptable results can be obtained. Speaker cones with diameters of 1 inch to 3 inches may be used. Speaker impedance may be 4 ohm to 64 ohm. The 8.2 ohm resistor value may be changed to match the actual speakers own impedance.

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