Radio Band Position Display

This circuit is an add-on unit for radio receivers that lack band-position display. The circuit presented here can show up to nine bands. It also incorporates a novel feature to make the display dance (blink) with the audio level from the receiver. The power-supply for the circuit can also be derived from the radio-set. The conversion of selected channel to BCD format is achieved using diodes D1 through D15 in con-junction with resistors R4 to R7. The voltages developed across these resistors (R4 through R7) serve as logic in-puts to BCD inputs of BCD to 7-segment de-coder IC1 (CD4511).

Circuit diagram :

Radio Band Position Display Circuit Diagram

Radio Band Position Display Circuit Diagram

When all switches are in  ‘off’ state, the volt-age across resistors R4 through R7 is logic zero, but when any of the switches S1 through S9 is slided to  ‘on’ position, the output across these resistors changes to output proper BCD code to represent the selected channel. This BCD code is converted to 7-segment display by IC1. By this arrangement of diodes, the need for another decimal-to-BCD converter IC and associated parts is obviated. Switches S1 through S9 are actually parts of existing band-switch of the radio.

Usually, one or two changeover contacts would be found extra in the modular pushbutton-type band-switches of the radios. IC1’s display blanking pin 4 is connected to a display-blinker-control circuit wired around transistors T1 and T2. A small part of the audio signal from the speaker terminals is applied to rectifier diode D16 and filter capacitor C1 to pro-duce a pulsating DC across preset VR1. The sliding contact of preset VR1 is connected to the base of emitter-follower stage comprising transistor T2. The out-put of transistor T2, as amplified by transistor T1, is connected to pin 4 of IC1.Thus turning  ‘on’/‘off’ of display is con-trolled by the pulsating voltage developed from audio output of radio.

The power-supply regulator stage is needed only when radio power-supply is greater than 6V DC.

Author : M.K. Chandra Mouleeswaran Copyright : Electronic for you 2000

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