Optical Occupancy Detector

RR-CirKits Revision H

Characteristics:

There are a few situations when an optical detector is better than a current detector. This detector uses the same PC board as the Rev H current detector, but with value changes and added jumpers. Sometimes a direct indication of train position is desired. This could be for positioning in a hidden storage yard, detecting when a train has cleared a grade crossing, or any number of similar jobs. If your trains are fully equipped with conductive wheel sets, then this may not be a big problem for you. However I would like these circuits to be useable by a larger number of people, thus the creation of the IR detector. At first I figured that this would require a different PC board, but after looking at the circuit requirements I decided that this could actually be done using the existing BOD-H board. As much as 90% of the requirements were the same. I have two different options shown here. Neither uses an opto isolator, because the IR version of the BOD does not need to be connected to the DCC rails. Obviously an opto device may be used if you desire it. The IR detector is expected to be an IR sensitive photo transistor but if you have a stable level of room lighting you may substitute a common Cadmium-Sulfide cell and use it to detect the shadow of passing cars.This will work best if intermittent detection caused by passing spaces between cars is not any problem. Power can be from any convienient 12VAC or 12VDC source. The power source must have a common ground with the controlled circuits if you chose the option without any opto isolation.

Link to picture of IR Detector. (76KB) (Updated 6-Feb-01)

U1-B is not actually used, but it does no harm to leave it in the circuit. The availability of track power at all times allows you to choose to power the sensor circuitry from the DCC track power itself. You can also use a wall wart, or a 10-12V power bus. The current drain of this circuit is low (about 20 ma. including the power for the IR emitter), so the power drain on a booster is not large.
 

Operating principles:

Link to Schematic-ir-H (19KB) (Updated 28-Jan-01)
The simplest way to get the same voltages on the input of U1-A that are found in the current detector version is to change the value of R2 to serve as a pull up resistor. When light shines on the input sensor it conducts, pulling the voltage from R2 down to ground, and turning off U1-A. C1 acts to cancel out the effects of florecent light flicker, and improves the stability of the circuit.

D3, C2, and the 5 volt regulator VR1 provide DC power for the circuit, and may be omitted and replaced by a jumper at J6 if you have a 5V power source such as the crossing gate controller. R1 is to limit the peak charging current of the power circuit and also acts as a fuse if the circuit fails.

R2, R3, and R15 act as an input voltage divider and biasing circuit. R4 is to limit the current in R15 if it is adjusted to it's minimum position. R5 and R6 generate a positive reference voltage, and power bus 'B' serves as the zero reference point. R15 controls the amount of current required to reach the reference voltage points. The circuit is designed to respond in the range of 20-30K ohm equivilant resistance.

C3, R7, R8, and R9 are the timing circuit. The timing may be varied by changing the value of C3. A value of 1.5Mfd allows for a rapid response.

U1-C drives the output stage. U1-D provides an inverted output option. R10 and R11 provide a bias point for the driver, while R12 and R13 provide the hysteresis necessary for stable switching action. R14 is the current limiter for LED 1 and the opto isolator. If you need to drive more current in the output of the isolator you may vary the value of R14. I use 4N28 isolators because they are the least expensive, but many different opto isolators will serve as well depending on your needs. If you are using simple open collector switching into a logic board like I am, be sure to check that your isolator has enough gain to drive the pull-up resisters used on your board. R-16 is an optional current limiter for driving one or two external LED's.

Link to Parts Placement for optical detector. (14KB) (Updated 17-Jan-01)

If you just want to have one or two panel indicators, or to direct drive two color signals, then you may omit the opto isolator entirely and wire directly to the indicator/s or signals from pins 1 and 2 of the op amps. This allows us to use R16 to supply the current for our signals. These connections may be brought out to the Terminal board by adding jumpers J1, J3 and J4. To see how to place the parts for this option see this image. This is the wiring we use for the simple occupancy indication used on the P&W connectors. The signal common lead is "B". The occupied output is "C" and the clear output is "E". You may wire two signal LEDs in series in order to place signals at both ends of a block.

Link to Parts Placement for 2 color LED output. (102KB) (Updated 9-Jan-2001)

Parts Placement for IR detector with no internal power supply. (13KB) (Updated 17-Jan-2001)
Parts Placement for IR detector with no internal power supply, direct LED output.(13KB) (Updated 17-Jan-2001)
 

Installation:

Optical detection can be somewhat of a black art as any of you that have tried it already know. There are a few things to remember that will help you make a reliable system. First you need a stable source of radiation. Room lights can be used only if you never do any night running. Also daylight shining on the detector will cause severe problems. I find that the best way to deal with this is to shield the detectors from both room lighting and daylight. Then provide your own source of radiation. This can be an IR emitter diode if you are using a IR sensitive detector, or a lamp if you are using a cadmium-sulfide detector. Either build a hood for the detector, or paint all sides except the lense itself with silver or black to block radiation coming from any direction except your emitter. Position the emitter and detector at the same height as the couplers, and slightly offset. This will reduce the chances of light sneaking between cars and providing a false clear. A nice hood can be built from a short piece of .078 OD (5/64") brass tubing press fit into the lense recess on the front of the detector. A touch of flat black on the inside will improve the shielding effect.This keeps stray light from hitting the lense. If you are using the detectors for train position sensing in a hidden yard, then you may find it easy to have the light emitter mounted above the trains and the detector in the middle of the tracks, as they will be less subject to knocking about when mounted that way..
 

Parts List for Optical Detector:

Parts List:
Ref.      Qty Part
------------------------
C1         1  .1/25
C2         1  220/25
C3         1  1.5/25
D3         1  1N4001
LED1       1  LED
R1         1  1/4W 47
R2         1  1/4W 82K
R3         1  1/4W 1K
R4,6,10,11 4  1/4W 15K
R5,8,9     3  1/4W 100K
R7,13      2  1/4W 10K
R12        1  1/4W 470K
R14,16     1  1/4W 330
R15        1  10K Pot
R17        1  1/4W 100
U1         1  LM339
U2         1  4N28
VR1        1  78L05
detector   1  MTS-461 (black back)
emitter    1  MES-760 (white back)
           1  2/3-Term
           1  3/4-Term
BOD-H      1 PC Board
 
Last updated  6-Feb-2001
Copyright © 1998-2001 Dick Bronson