1. CIRCUIT IDEAS
ANTI-BAG-SNATCHING ALARM SAN
I THE
O
D. MOHAN KUMAR the voltage at the non-inverting input is (IC3) gets the supply voltage at its pin 5.
higher than at the inverting input and the IC UM3561 is a complex ROM with
H
ere is a simple alarm circuit to output of IC1 is high. an inbuilt oscillator. Resistor R8 forms
thwart snatching of your valuables The output from pin 6 of IC1 is fed to the oscillator component. Its output is fed
while travelling. The circuit kept trigger pin 2 of IC NE555 (IC2) via coupling to the base of single-stage transistor am-
in your bag or suitcase sounds a loud capacitor C1 (0.0047 µF). IC2 is configured plifier BD139 (T1) through resistor R9 (1
alarm, simulating a police horn, if some- as a monostable. Its trigger pin 2 is held kilo-ohm).
one attempts to snatch your bag or suit- high by resistor R4 (10 kilo-ohms). Nor- The alarm tone generated from IC3 is
case. This will draw the attention of other mally, the output of IC2 remains low and amplified by transistor T1. A loudspeaker
passengers and the burglar can be caught the alarm is off. Resistor R6, along with is connected to the collector of T1 to pro-
red handed. capacitor C3 connected to reset pin 4 of duce the alarm. The alarm can be put off
In the standby mode, the circuit is IC2, prevents any false triggering. Resistor if the plug is inserted into the socket
locked by a plug and socket arrangement R5 (10 mega-ohms), preset VR (10 mega- again. Transistor T1 requires a heat-sink.
(a mono plug with shorted leads plugged ohms) and capacitor C2 (4.7 µF, 16V) are Resistor R7 (330 ohms) limits the cur-
into the mono-jack socket of the unit). timing components. With these values, the rent to IC3 and zener diode ZD1 limits
When the burglar tries to snatch the bag, output at pin 3 of IC2 is about one minute, the supply voltage to IC3 to a safe level
the plug detaches from the unit’s socket which can be increased by increasing ei- of 3.3 volts. Resistor R9 limits the cur-
to activate the alarm. ther the value of capacitor C2 or preset VR. rent to the base of T1.
The circuit is designed around op-amp When there is an attempt at snatch- The circuit can be easily constructed
IC CA3140 (IC1), which is configured as ing, the plug connected to the circuit de- on a vero board or general-purpose PCB.
a comparator. The non-inverting input taches. At that moment, the voltage at Use a small case for housing the circuit
(pin 3) of IC1 is kept at half the supply the inverting input of IC1 exceeds the and 9V battery. The speaker should be
voltage (around 4.5V) by the potential voltage at the non-inverting input and sub- small so as to make the gadget handy.
divider comprising resistors R2 and R3 of sequently its output goes low. This sends Connect a thin plastic wire to the plug
100 kilo-ohms each. The inverting input a low pulse to trigger pin 2 of IC2 to and secure it in your hand or tie up some-
(pin 2) of IC1 is kept low through the make its output pin 3 high. Consequently, where else so that when the bag is pulled,
shorted plug at the socket. As a result, the alarm circuit built around IC UM3561 the plug detaches from the socket easily.
FEBRUARY 2004 ELECTRONICS FOR YOU