An optical theremin was designed using Texas instrument's TL074 low-noise op amp's in transimpedance amplifier configuration. The theremin will generate an audio tone of which the amplitude and frequency can be controlled by the user. It will also allow the user to set the range of audio tones the theremin generates and configure the intensity range that each sensor sees.
An optical theremin was designed using Texas instrument's TL074 low-noise op amp's in transimpedance amplifier configuration. The theremin will generate an audio tone of which the amplitude and frequency can be controlled by the user. It will also allow the user to set the range of audio tones the theremin generates and configure the intensity range that each sensor sees.
An optical theremin was designed using Texas instrument's TL074 low-noise op amp's in transimpedance amplifier configuration. The theremin will generate an audio tone of which the amplitude and frequency can be controlled by the user. It will also allow the user to set the range of audio tones the theremin generates and configure the intensity range that each sensor sees.
Electrical Engineering Department Penn State University
Submitted to Professor Timothy F. Wheeler Electrical Engineering Department Penn State University
- 2 - Abstract
An optical theremin was designed using Texas Instruments TL074 Low-Noise JFET-Input Op-Amps in transimpedance amplifier configuration, LabVIEW programming, two photodiodes (Digikey, P/N: 365-1084-ND), two 1 M resistors, and a National Instruments myDAQ to generate an audio tone of which the amplitude and frequency can be controlled by the user. It will also allow the user to set the range of audio tones the theremin generates and configure the intensity range that each sensor sees.
Introduction
In 1928, a theremin, the first electronic musical instrument playable without any physical contact was invented by Professor Leon Theremin. Users would move their hands over two antennas, acting as plate capacitors, to control the frequency and amplitude of the audio tone. Moving a hand near one of the antennae changes the electromagnetic field near it causing a change in the frequency and/or amplitude. Our design implements an optical theremin where the antennae are replaced by photodiodes. However, photodiodes utilize light to produce current. The myDAQ can only read voltages. Therefore, using an op amp in transimpedance configuration converts the current source into a voltage sufficient enough for the myDAQ to read.
Rationale
The inputs provided to the optical theremin are two varying light levels and the output is a sound wave produced by the myDAQ. Since photodiodes utilize light to produce current and the myDAQ can only read voltages; an op amp in transimpedance configuration with a 1 M resistor in the feedback loop converts the current source into a voltage ranging from 0V to 5V which is sufficient for the myDAQ to read. The myDAQ samples the two signals, manipulates them and sends them into a sine wave generator. The sine wave is sent to the audioout port on the myDAQ, where speakers can play the audio tone.
Implementation
In order to produce an audio tone through the myDAQ, our LabVIEW code required analysis of the voltages coming from the two photodiodes. This was done by averaging the incoming voltages, and coercing the value to either a high (1) or low (0) number. Using the coerced values, the VI generates a sine wave playable through the audioout port of the myDAQ. A DAQ Assistant was placed at the beginning and end of the VI to acquire the signals coming from the photodiodes or ports a0 and a1 of the myDAQ. The DAQ Assistant sampling the currents from the photodiodes was set to receive the voltages in a range of 0 to 10 volts while having 2 samples to read at a rate of 150 kHz. The low number of samples avoids a buffer error. When the DAQ Assistant samples the two
- 3 - signals, they are split and converted from dynamic data in order to control the frequency and amplitude separately. For the amplitude component, the average is coerced within a range inputted by the user and sent to the simulate signal VI in the amplitude node. The frequency components average is coerced within a range determined by the user in the front panel and then that value is divided by the high and low inputs in order to produce the middle tone for the new range. This value and the range was provided to the frequency modulator consisting of multiple case structures, refer to Figure 1. The first case structure is for the option auto-tune. If it is false, then the base scale is arranged into an array that is compared to another array in which there are twelve sections from 0 to 1. These twelve sections represent the twelve different tones in the chromatic scale. Whenever a voltage value is within a certain range, the corresponding frequency is matched and outputted to a case structure which multiplies the frequency by a scalar to match a different octave. This range is controlled by the user in the front panel, see Figure 2. The true case requires other options selected by the user, refer to Figure 3. The next case is the key selector. If false, the key selector goes to the base frequency of 32.7 Hz or note C 1 . This goes through the octave multiplier based on the input. The true case allows the user to select the starting frequency as the first tone of the octave. The last case structure allows the user to select the major or minor key. If true, the key is a natural minor scale and the false statement goes to a major scale. The simulation signal express VI produces a sine wave that outputs 40,000 samples per second while 30,000 are written. The VI finally merges the amplitude and frequency signals and outputs them to a DAQ Assistant which generates a voltage signal for the myDAQ to output. The DAQ Assistant outputs the voltage to audioout left and audioout right with a voltage range of -2 to 2 volts, writing 20,000 samples at a rate of 50kHz. This enables the audio signal to be heard through the audioout port on the myDAQ, refer to Figure 4.
Conclusion
By using photodiodes, a myDAQ, LabVIEW programming and an op amp we successfully created an optical theremin. It generated a user-controlled audio tone, allowed the user to adjust the frequency and amplitude of the audio tone, set the range of audio tones generated, and configure the intensity range the sensors measured.
- 4 - Appendices
Figure 1: Frequency and Amplitude Alteration
Figure 2: Front Panel
- 5 -
Figure 3: Autotune
Figure 4: Simulate Signal
Figure 5: Gantt Chart Task Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Initial Block Diagram Bill of Material LabVIEW Altered frequency code LabVIEW Altered Amplitude code LabVIEW Auto-Tune SubVI LabVIEW DAQ Assistant Sampling Rates
Implementation of Detector Circuits
Refine Front Panel and LabVIEW code
Review Design Requirements Design Review Document
- 6 -
Figure 6: High-Level Block Diagram
Item No. Description Quantity Total Price 1 TL074CN Operational Amplifier 1 $2.04 2 1M Resistor 2 $0.04 3 Photodiode 2 $1.10 4 National Instruments myDAQ 1 $175 5 Breadboard 1 $30 6 Jumper Wires 1 $0.30 7 Engineer Time 20 hours $2100 Total Cost: $2308.48 Figure 7: Bill of Materials
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