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Sensor products

bentech23
bentech23 over 6 years ago

Could I convert some cat toys with on and off switches that run on batteries to a sensor that would pick up movement of a cat ?? Obviously need it to still run in batteries .Would this work ??what would I need to do this ??-help ??

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  • jw0752
    jw0752 over 6 years ago in reply to bentech23 +4 suggested
    Hi Samantha, I had some time this evening so I decided to make a simple prototype of the trigger circuit. The first step was to make a simple trembler switch. I did this by soldering a light spring to…
  • jw0752
    jw0752 over 6 years ago +3 suggested
    Hi Samantha, How about an impact sensor with a timer. The cat would have to make the first move and bump the toy but once started the toy would continue until the cat lost interest and the timer timed…
  • jw0752
    jw0752 over 6 years ago in reply to bentech23 +3 suggested
    Hi Samantha, Do you have a maker space anywhere near your location? Sometimes there are people with the proper skills looking for a project. The trouble with making a project work is that there are many…
  • Gough Lui
    0 Gough Lui over 6 years ago

    One way is to use a PIR motion sensor module or one from an alarm system that requires about 12V to operate. Some of these have an output that can be used to drive a relay, that would take the place of the original switch. This will, however, consume power all the time and may require more voltage than the toys originally operated from (necessitating a separate power supply).

     

    - Gough

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  • fmilburn
    0 fmilburn over 6 years ago

    Hi Samantha,

     

    Depending on the size of the toy it might be possible to put a RFID receiver in the toy with a tag on the collar of the cat which the toy would sense it when the cat was close.

     

    Frank

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  • jw0752
    0 jw0752 over 6 years ago

    Hi Samantha,

     

    How about an impact sensor with a timer. The cat would have to make the first move and bump the toy but once started the toy would continue until the cat lost interest and the timer timed out putting the toy back into sleep mode.

     

    John

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  • jw0752
    0 jw0752 over 6 years ago in reply to jw0752

    Hi Samantha,

     

    I even have an example of what I am talking about:

     

    You don't have permission to edit metadata of this video.
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    John

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  • bentech23
    0 bentech23 over 6 years ago in reply to jw0752

    This would be a better option good thinking ?what components would I need to do this and where do I get them from and how do I know how to do it wiring etc ?.Will the toys still work from AA or AAA .I was think of a Lazer pointer and a bird on wire and featgefe all these are toys ??could you help me in this matter ?advise me as your suggestion is fantastic better than the PIR sensor !!thank you so much have you got a form of contact apart from this ??

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  • bentech23
    0 bentech23 over 6 years ago in reply to fmilburn

    I don't want to use a collar not a lover off these but good suggestion !!Thank you.

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  • bentech23
    0 bentech23 over 6 years ago in reply to Gough Lui

    So it would work but with a bigger battery ??the 9v ones are the small square ones so take it the 12v ones are the bigger square battery ?.So every individual toy would need one 12v battery to operate it then ?thinking of space to have three batteries not really practical but thank you for suggestion !!need to think of a alternative now !!.

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  • jw0752
    0 jw0752 over 6 years ago in reply to bentech23

    Hi Samantha,

    I am glad to answer questions but you will have to be the one to do the work. If you have some electronics experience you should be able to figure things out. Each toy will present its own unique challenges. For the sensor I would solder a spring on the board with a contact pin in the center. When the board is bumped the spring will flop over and touch the pin. This sensor should trigger a circuit called a "one shot" which will turn on the toy for a fixed period of time and then shut off. You can look up "one shot" using a 555 timer. The 555 will require a 5 volt minimum power supply. A little research should show some circuits that operate at 3 volts. The toy I showed you above operates on 3 volts but I do not know anything about the specific circuit. This can also be done with a small microcomputer. Perhaps one of the engineers on the site have a suggestion.

    John

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  • genebren
    0 genebren over 6 years ago in reply to jw0752

    The functionality in the above sample is very simple and could be performed my almost any microcontroller (including handling the bump sensor as described by jw0752). There are some parts from MicroChip (PIC or atTiny) that could easily fit the bill.  Here is a tiny little board that might do the job:https://www.newark.com/adafruit/1501/silicon-manufacturer-atmel/dp/42X0890?st=trinket

     

    As John mentioned, we are here to help, but that implies that your are doing the work, and we are assisting when you have questions.

     

    Best of luck,

    Gene

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  • bentech23
    0 bentech23 over 6 years ago in reply to genebren

    Can you find a microcontroller to do this job for you ?? Or are these  persons only available if you got a big business and products that use this kind of field ?! To pay to do this ??.

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