Sequential flasher Circuit

...Jim Thompson

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|  James E.Thompson, P.E.                           |    mens     |
|  Analog Innovations, Inc.                         |     et      |
|  Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC\'s and Discrete Systems  |    manus    |
|  Phoenix, Arizona            Voice:(480)460-2350  |             |
|  E-mail Address at Website     Fax:(480)460-2142  |  Brass Rat  |
|       http://www.analog-innovations.com           |    1962     |
             
     It\'s what you learn, after you know it all, that counts.

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Just another example of the USPTO\'s inability to deal with banality.

Thompson\'s circuitry wasn\'t novel when he applied for the patent,
but by confusing the examiner(s) they decided that the safe way to
go was to issue the patent and, more importantly, collect the fees.

How many bulbs? Eight? Chances are it will be cheaper to buy a programmable power supply new or used. The electronics and packaging thereof are non-trivial mainly due to the required protection against vehicle electrical system transients, bulb inrush currents, and automotive environment extremes of temperature, shock, and vibration. The product needs to be rugged IOW.

I would think the Gahanna (Ohio) Police Dept could just go out and buy the unit.

That state has more speed radar units than dogs have fleas. I think that must be Ohio's primary source of (tax) income.

When I have to make the run from Columbus to Huntington to visit my father I DON'T drive 50... I generally double it.

So it keeps me on my toes watching for those clowns ;-)

...Jim Thompson

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|  James E.Thompson, P.E.                           |    mens     |
|  Analog Innovations, Inc.                         |     et      |
|  Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC\'s and Discrete Systems  |    manus    |
|  Phoenix, Arizona            Voice:(480)460-2350  |             |
|  E-mail Address at Website     Fax:(480)460-2142  |  Brass Rat  |
|       http://www.analog-innovations.com           |    1962     |
             
     It\'s what you learn, after you know it all, that counts.

Jim doesn't care. By his own admission, he's "filthy rich", and according to his previous post, he's somewhat of a scofflaw, which is ironic, given his admitted nazi tendencies.

Thanks! Rich

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"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo Possum

Good point! Many here could devise a circuit using MOSFET lamp drivers and a PIC microcontroller -- but who would build it and package it? It's hard to save any money building a few of something that is commercially available.

Your call - but if it's for your job, I would think a commercial unit would be what you want. But if you enjoy experimenting, you might like the circuit described and diagramed below.

There are diagrams below the text.

4 decade counters, 9 bulbs: (can be more than 9 bulbs with additional decade counters) The "master_counter" 1 one counts 0 to 2 and resets at 3, so it has 3 active outputs: 0, then 1, then 2. All decade counters will have only 1 output active at any given time. Bulbs will be wired to drivers, and the drivers will be connected to decade outputs 1 through 9 through diodes.

The master_counter will sequentialy enable counter0, counter1 and counter2 when master_counter_0, 1 and 2 go active. The master_counter will be incremented when counter0 or 1 reaches 9, or when counter2 reaches 5

Counter0 will sequentially light bulbs

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 yielding this ==> direction

Counter1 will sequentially light bulbs

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 yielding this |---------------------Dr1---Bulb1--+--- +V | o |1-------->|---------------------+ | | u |2-------->|-------------------+ | | | n |3-------->|-----------------+ | Dr2---Bulb2--+ | t |4-------->|---------------+ | +-+ | | e |5-------->|-------------+ | | | | | r |6-------->|-----------+ | | | Dr3---Bulb3--+ | |7-------->|---------+ | | | +---+ | | 1 |8-------->|-------+ | | | | | | --- | | | | | | | Dr4---Bulb4--+ | | | | | | | +-----+ | +---+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Dr5---Bulb5--+ | | | | | | +-------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Dr6---Bulb6--+ | | | | | +---------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | Dr7---Bulb7--+ | | | | +-+---------+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | Dr8---Bulb8--+ | | | +-+-----------+ | | | | | | | | | --- | | | Dr9---Bulb9--+ | | C |0-------->|---+ | | | o |1-------->|-----+ | | u |2-------->|--- To Dr7 | | n |3-------->|--- To Dr6 | | t |4-------->|--- To Dr5 | | e |5-------->|--- To Dr4 | | r |6-------->|--- To Dr3 | | |7-------->|--- To Dr2 | | 2 |8-------->|--- To Dr1 | --- | | 9 | | | | +---------+ --- | | C |0-+->|--- To Dr5 | | | | | o |1-+->|--- To Dr6 | | | +->|--- To Dr4 | | | | | u |2-+->|--- To Dr7 | | | +->|--- To Dr3 | | | | | n |3-+->|--- To Dr8 | | | +->|--- To Dr2 | | | | | t |4-+->|--- To Dr9 | | | +->|--- To Dr1 | | | | | e |5---+ | | r |6 | | | 0 |7 | | | |8 | | --- | | | +---------------------+

Driver detail: V+ | Bulb | ||---+ D | || G ----- ||---+ S | Gnd

Counter enabling via the master counter & power on reset:

Counter0 Counter1 Counter2 Enable Enable Enable Pin13 Pin13 Pin13 | | | +-+ +-+ +-+ -------- | | | | | | |Master |0-+->|---------------------+ | | | |Counter | +->|-----------------------------+ | | | | | | | | | |1-+->|-----------+ | | | | | +->|-------------------------------+ | | | | | | |2-+->|-------------+ | | | +->|-----------------------+ | | | |3---+ +--->|--- To pin 15 Counter0 -------- | +--->|--- To pin 15 Counter1 Reset | +--->|--- To pin 15 Counter2 Pin15 | | | | | 10 uF +---------+---|

Grumble. Forgot 2 resistors - added below:

Driver detail: V+ | Bulb | ||---+ D G | ||

---[1.5K]---+--- ||---+ S | | [100K] | | | +----------+ Gnd