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tap-to-on switch :) — Parallax Forums

tap-to-on switch :)

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2003-05-12 20:11 in General Discussion
Hi guys,

Toying around with some house appliance.

Am looking to convert a lamp I got to be LED driven (most prob a
stamp to prototype and if costs permit, for final "run") I don't like the
idea of having an external switch and the lamp's pretty heavy to mounth a
switch below (i.e. like how apple's optical mice are pressed)

The lamp I'm converting is made of glass (frosted), I was thinking
of putting a vibration sensor or something to that extend so I can just
tap on the light to switch it on (or change colors, since with leds i can
have a nice variety of colors to play with)

Any one got any recommendation for such a sensor/switch ?

I dont want it to be too sensitive (so when i drop some stuff on
the table, it will not trigger), but not too hard to use (I hate the idea
of having to use a mallet to switch it on)

I was thinking of a capacitative switch (I've seen such around,
but the contacts seem to be of metal not glass), or even a light sensor
(i.e. those door chimes, but the glass is pretty heavily frosted)

Thanks in advance [noparse]:)[/noparse]

Elvin
-

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-05-10 10:31
    At 05:24 PM 5/10/03 +0800, Alf wrote:
    >Hi guys,
    >
    > Toying around with some house appliance.
    >
    > Am looking to convert a lamp I got to be LED driven (most prob a
    >stamp to prototype and if costs permit, for final "run") I don't like the
    >idea of having an external switch and the lamp's pretty heavy to mounth a
    >switch below (i.e. like how apple's optical mice are pressed)
    >
    > The lamp I'm converting is made of glass (frosted), I was thinking
    >of putting a vibration sensor or something to that extend so I can just
    >tap on the light to switch it on (or change colors, since with leds i can
    >have a nice variety of colors to play with)
    >
    > Any one got any recommendation for such a sensor/switch ?
    >
    > I dont want it to be too sensitive (so when i drop some stuff on
    >the table, it will not trigger), but not too hard to use (I hate the idea
    >of having to use a mallet to switch it on)
    >
    > I was thinking of a capacitative switch (I've seen such around,
    >but the contacts seem to be of metal not glass), or even a light sensor
    >(i.e. those door chimes, but the glass is pretty heavily frosted)
    >
    > Thanks in advance [noparse]:)[/noparse]
    >
    >Elvin
    >-

    Elvin -

    You might want to look into the use of one of the QPROX Sensors as found here:
    http://www.qprox.com/products/touch.php

    These sensors are designed to work behind glass as well as for other
    applications.

    Regards,

    Bruce Bates




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    >Body of the message will be ignored.
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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-05-10 10:46
    Hi,

    Got a comment from a friend to do it wireless, gonna skip the expensive
    options of AM data kits, since its basically "on/off", any one knows of
    kits to do it cheap and easily ? (RF based ideas are way above me for this
    one)

    Elvin
    -

    On Sat, 10 May 2003, Alf wrote:
    > Hi guys,
    >
    > Toying around with some house appliance.
    >
    > Am looking to convert a lamp I got to be LED driven (most prob a
    > stamp to prototype and if costs permit, for final "run") I don't like the
    > idea of having an external switch and the lamp's pretty heavy to mounth a
    > switch below (i.e. like how apple's optical mice are pressed)
    >
    > The lamp I'm converting is made of glass (frosted), I was thinking
    > of putting a vibration sensor or something to that extend so I can just
    > tap on the light to switch it on (or change colors, since with leds i can
    > have a nice variety of colors to play with)
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-05-11 15:35
    tws-434 RF transmitter and rws-434 RF receiver are 8 bucks each and
    would be easy to use if you just want on-off switching (you won't
    have to worry about accurate data transfer, any junk received at the
    rws would mean the tws tried to send something). Although the wire
    antennas need to be about a foot long (maybe you can hide it
    soemwhere).
    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, Alf <elvin@e...> wrote:
    > Hi,
    >
    > Got a comment from a friend to do it wireless, gonna skip the
    expensive
    > options of AM data kits, since its basically "on/off", any one
    knows of
    > kits to do it cheap and easily ? (RF based ideas are way above me
    for this
    > one)
    >
    > Elvin
    > -
    >
    > On Sat, 10 May 2003, Alf wrote:
    > > Hi guys,
    > >
    > > Toying around with some house appliance.
    > >
    > > Am looking to convert a lamp I got to be LED driven (most
    prob a
    > > stamp to prototype and if costs permit, for final "run") I don't
    like the
    > > idea of having an external switch and the lamp's pretty heavy to
    mounth a
    > > switch below (i.e. like how apple's optical mice are pressed)
    > >
    > > The lamp I'm converting is made of glass (frosted), I was
    thinking
    > > of putting a vibration sensor or something to that extend so I
    can just
    > > tap on the light to switch it on (or change colors, since with
    leds i can
    > > have a nice variety of colors to play with)
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-05-11 16:15
    What's the typical range on those things? I need to be able to remotely
    activate an outdoor system (just on/off) from 30-40 feet away. also, is it
    okay to just listen for "junk" on the channel? it seems like it would be
    safer to listen for some sort of simple, repeating pattern from the
    transmitter (like SOS or something) to keep noise from causing a false
    triggering.

    thanks,


    d...

    >
    Original Message
    > From: Sam [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=exlV3aP3fNOhu8RYzxvJ_qMqVoW2obMDYmZW0THKAnM5-yabVzJ4-Rrr9-OVJwS-CmB69_sq6CowKwc3]hard-on@t...[/url
    > Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2003 7:36 AM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: tap-to-on switch [noparse]:)[/noparse]
    >
    >
    > tws-434 RF transmitter and rws-434 RF receiver are 8 bucks each and
    > would be easy to use if you just want on-off switching (you won't
    > have to worry about accurate data transfer, any junk received at the
    > rws would mean the tws tried to send something). Although the wire
    > antennas need to be about a foot long (maybe you can hide it
    > soemwhere).
    > --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, Alf <elvin@e...> wrote:
    > > Hi,
    > >
    > > Got a comment from a friend to do it wireless, gonna skip the
    > expensive
    > > options of AM data kits, since its basically "on/off", any one
    > knows of
    > > kits to do it cheap and easily ? (RF based ideas are way above me
    > for this
    > > one)
    > >
    > > Elvin
    > > -
    > >
    > > On Sat, 10 May 2003, Alf wrote:
    > > > Hi guys,
    > > >
    > > > Toying around with some house appliance.
    > > >
    > > > Am looking to convert a lamp I got to be LED driven (most
    > prob a
    > > > stamp to prototype and if costs permit, for final "run") I don't
    > like the
    > > > idea of having an external switch and the lamp's pretty heavy to
    > mounth a
    > > > switch below (i.e. like how apple's optical mice are pressed)
    > > >
    > > > The lamp I'm converting is made of glass (frosted), I was
    > thinking
    > > > of putting a vibration sensor or something to that extend so I
    > can just
    > > > tap on the light to switch it on (or change colors, since with
    > leds i can
    > > > have a nice variety of colors to play with)
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    > Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-05-11 16:20
    30-40 feet is probably do-able with a good antenna on both ends. And they
    are sensitive to triggering from other sources, since they share frequencies
    with other devices. I had a clock with a remote wireless thermometer that
    would periodically blast my receiver. Drove me nuts until I found out what
    it was.


    Original Message

    > What's the typical range on those things? I need to be able to remotely
    > activate an outdoor system (just on/off) from 30-40 feet away. also, is
    it
    > okay to just listen for "junk" on the channel? it seems like it would be
    > safer to listen for some sort of simple, repeating pattern from the
    > transmitter (like SOS or something) to keep noise from causing a false
    > triggering.

    > > tws-434 RF transmitter and rws-434 RF receiver are 8 bucks each and
    > > would be easy to use if you just want on-off switching (you won't
    > > have to worry about accurate data transfer, any junk received at the
    > > rws would mean the tws tried to send something). Although the wire
    > > antennas need to be about a foot long (maybe you can hide it
    > > soemwhere).

    > > > Got a comment from a friend to do it wireless, gonna skip the
    > > expensive
    > > > options of AM data kits, since its basically "on/off", any one
    > > knows of
    > > > kits to do it cheap and easily ? (RF based ideas are way above me
    > > for this
    > > > one)
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-05-11 16:23
    At 08:15 AM 5/11/03 -0700, Dave wrote:
    >What's the typical range on those things? I need to be able to remotely
    >activate an outdoor system (just on/off) from 30-40 feet away. also, is it
    >okay to just listen for "junk" on the channel? it seems like it would be
    >safer to listen for some sort of simple, repeating pattern from the
    >transmitter (like SOS or something) to keep noise from causing a false
    >triggering.
    >
    >thanks,
    >
    >
    >d...

    Dave -

    Do us all a favor, and yourself as well. Keep SOS as a repeating pattern
    out of your mind COMPLETELY. You're asking for nothing but trouble in the
    possible confusion something like that might case. We're speaking FEDERAL
    GOVERNEMNT REGULATIONS here !

    Regards,

    Bruce Bates
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-05-11 16:38
    Sorry, folks, I was just kidding about the SOS part (had a little
    alzheimer's moment, probably should have put it in quote's or something). I
    was just thinking about some unique, repeating string of bits. Again, sorry
    about the confusion. Is there a "smiley" for a dope-slap?

    d...

    >
    Original Message
    > From: Bruce Bates [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=7mki6qWTgqvQwE_PSk7ZH73sN9CgTXR4XWiCpftTvQzVwp1tF2WBdEFB4Bf3sPQ8B7esM4PeuGq6AkK752a1CfI]bvbates@u...[/url
    > Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2003 8:23 AM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: tap-to-on switch [noparse]:)[/noparse]
    >
    >
    > At 08:15 AM 5/11/03 -0700, Dave wrote:
    > >What's the typical range on those things? I need to be able to remotely
    > >activate an outdoor system (just on/off) from 30-40 feet away.
    > also, is it
    > >okay to just listen for "junk" on the channel? it seems like it would be
    > >safer to listen for some sort of simple, repeating pattern from the
    > >transmitter (like SOS or something) to keep noise from causing a false
    > >triggering.
    > >
    > >thanks,
    > >
    > >
    > >d...
    >
    > Dave -
    >
    > Do us all a favor, and yourself as well. Keep SOS as a repeating pattern
    > out of your mind COMPLETELY. You're asking for nothing but trouble in the
    > possible confusion something like that might case. We're speaking FEDERAL
    > GOVERNEMNT REGULATIONS here !
    >
    > Regards,
    >
    > Bruce Bates
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    > Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-05-12 20:11
    You might look at http://www.qprox.com for stuff relating to capacitive
    switching.

    On Sat, 10 May 2003, Bruce Bates wrote:

    > At 05:24 PM 5/10/03 +0800, Alf wrote:
    > >Hi guys,
    > >
    > > Toying around with some house appliance.
    > >
    > > Am looking to convert a lamp I got to be LED driven (most prob a
    > >stamp to prototype and if costs permit, for final "run") I don't like the
    > >idea of having an external switch and the lamp's pretty heavy to mounth a
    > >switch below (i.e. like how apple's optical mice are pressed)
    > >
    > > The lamp I'm converting is made of glass (frosted), I was thinking
    > >of putting a vibration sensor or something to that extend so I can just
    > >tap on the light to switch it on (or change colors, since with leds i can
    > >have a nice variety of colors to play with)
    > >
    > > Any one got any recommendation for such a sensor/switch ?
    > >
    > > I dont want it to be too sensitive (so when i drop some stuff on
    > >the table, it will not trigger), but not too hard to use (I hate the idea
    > >of having to use a mallet to switch it on)
    > >
    > > I was thinking of a capacitative switch (I've seen such around,
    > >but the contacts seem to be of metal not glass), or even a light sensor
    > >(i.e. those door chimes, but the glass is pretty heavily frosted)
    > >
    > > Thanks in advance [noparse]:)[/noparse]
    > >
    > >Elvin
    > >-
    >
    > Elvin -
    >
    > You might want to look into the use of one of the QPROX Sensors as found here:
    > http://www.qprox.com/products/touch.php
    >
    > These sensors are designed to work behind glass as well as for other
    > applications.
    >
    > Regards,
    >
    > Bruce Bates
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > >To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > >from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    > >Body of the message will be ignored.
    > >
    > >
    > >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body
    of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >

    Sean T. Lamont, CTO / Chief NetNerd, Abstract Software, Inc. (ServNet)
    Seattle - Bellingham - Vancouver - Portland - Everett - Tacoma - Bremerton
    email: lamont@a... WWW: http://www.serv.net
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