This circuit was designed to detect when a call is incoming in a cellular phone (even when the calling tone of the device is switched-off) by means of a flashing LED. The device must be placed a few centimeters from the cellular phone, so its sensor coil L1 can detect the field emitted by the phone receiver during an incoming call.
- R1 = 100K
- R2 = 3K9
- R3 = 1M
- C1 = 100nF-63V
- C2 = 100nF-63V
- C3 = 220µF-25V
- D1 = LED Red 10mm.Ultra-bright (see Notes)
- D2 = 1N5819-40V 1A Schottky-barrier Diode (see Notes)
- Q1 = BC547-45V 100mA NPN Transistor
- L1 = Sensor coil (see Notes)
- B1 = 1.5V Battery (AA or AAA cell etc.)
- IC1 = 7555 or TS555CN CMos Timer IC
The signal detected by the sensor coil is amplified by transistor Q1 and drives the constable input pin of IC1. The IC's output voltage is doubled by C2 & D2 in order to drive the high-efficiency ultra-bright LED at a suitable peak-voltage.
- Stand-by current drawing is less than 200µA, therefore a power on/off switch is unnecessary.
- Sensitivity of this circuit depends on the sensor coil type.
- L1 can be made by winding 130 to 150 turns of 0.2 mm. enameled wire on a 5 cm. diameter former (e.g. a can). Remove the coil from the former and wind it with insulating tape, thus obtaining a stand-alone coil.
- A commercial 10mH miniature inductor, usually sold in the form of a tiny rectangular plastic box, can be used satisfactorily but with lower sensitivity.
- IC1 must be a CMos type: only these devices can safely operate at 1.5V supply or less.
- Any Schottky-barrier type diode can be used in place of the 1N5819: the BAT46 type is a very good choice