Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Rudder angle indicator

["Alan James" <alanjames@xtra.co.nz>]

Thanks Jens,
Told you I was electronically challenged. However I had been looking at a 
circuit with a 555 timer
that changed its output in accordance with the size of resistor connected to 
the input, & thought this might be OK
& save an extra wire going through the hull.
Will get some reed switches & make it up as a voltage divider.
Alan

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jens Laland" <laland@artematrix.org>
To: <personal_submersibles@psubs.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 2:40 PM
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Rudder angle indicator


> Alan
>
> Nice prototype... but the "arch" of resistors has to be connected across
> the voltage you are using, i.e. one end to be connected to positive [+]
> pole, the other to the negative [-] pole (i.e. GROUND), ref
>
> ftp://ftp.artematrix.org/instrumentation/rudder_angle_indicator/SP11T-switch.jpg
>
> When the magnet makes contact somewhere along this "arch", it is the
> voltage between this magnet-contact-point and GROUND that my circuit is
> "measuring". The measured voltage is supposed to be almost linear with the
> rudder angle, and should be available on the SIGNAL WIRE at all times.
>
> On your photo, the third wire seems to be missing.
>
> ============= Now to the "memory" ===============
>
> Whenever the angle on the rudder falls between two contact points on the
> arch of resistors we will have "blackouts" with no voltage on the SIGNAL
> WIRE.
>
> To remedy this I would monitor the SIGNAL WIRE as it enters the Rudder
> Angle Indicator Circuit. That is, every time the SIGNAL WIRE regain its
> voltage after a "blackout" then one of the LEDs are lit up immediately.
>
> My plan is to use this transition (from zero volt to whatever value) on
> the SIGNAL WIRE, to give me a delayed pulse (RC-circuit) that comes
> available AFTER the LED array has been updated.
>
> This pulse will then "clock" all the flip-flops (one flip-flop for each
> LED) to remember their present status (i.e. ON or OFF). The flip-flop will
> be placed between the LM3914's and the LED array.
>
> Technically speaking, here the "status" will have to be understood as the
> voltage level (HI or LO) into the "data" port of the flip-flop and not
> should a LED itself be ON or OFF.
>
> As you see, this will require a major redesign of the current prototype,
> and require a lot more IC's to implement it all in hardware. But I think I
> will wait and see what you end up with first - as it is easier to improve
> your part, than my circuit.
>
> In the meantime I'll make those two coils and see how things will work
> using an inductive sensor in place of a potentiometer.
>
> Best regards,
> Jens Laland
>
>
>
>
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