Light controller for speed timer.

The previously build speed timer was designed so it was possible to connect different kinds of external equipment to it e.g. voice modules, red/green lights, moving targets etc.
We have now designed and build a red/green light controller that can be connected to the speed timer. Beside the light controller we have also designed and build to different kinds of red/green light signals. The first one consists of a red and a green led cluster from Kingbright each containing 50 LEDs. The second one consists of a 50 cm red and 50 cm green led array each containing 30 powerful SMD LEDs.
The light controller and light signals can be used at the shooting range to practice different kinds of shooting disciplines where time plays a role.
The light controller is connected to the speed timer through a cable with RJ9 (4P4C) connectors. It is possible to daisy chain more the light controller or to use it together with the voice module. It uses a 15V DC power supply and converts the signals from the speed timer into a two-wire 15V DC max 1A signal. This makes it possible to use a cheap main cord between the light controller and the light signal. When the red light is on the polarity is plus at one wire and minus at the other one. When the light goes green the polarity swaps.
How does it work?
When the speed timer shows “Ready” on the display the red light will turn on. When the speed timer shows “Fire” the light will go from red to green. When the speed timer shows “Stop” the light will go from green to red. When the shooting has finished and the speed timer shows “Finished” the red light will turn off. If you interrupt the shooting by pressing the button on the speed timer, the red or green light will turn off. If the battery voltage in the speed timer gets to low, the light will start flashing red/green rapidly.
Below you can see some pictures of the design (click on the picture to enlarge it):

Empty main controller pcb.
Populated main controller pcb. Schematic is in the project zip file.		Project file 2010.09.08
Empty cluster pcb.
Populated cluster pcb. Schematic is in the project zip file.		Project file 2010.09.08
Empty ribbon pcb.
Populated ribbon pcb. Schematic is in the project zip file.		Project file 2010.09.08
Empty one output connector pcb.
Populated one output connector pcb.		Project file 2010.09.08
Empty two output connector pcb.
Populated two output connector pcb.		Project file 2010.09.08
Empty front pcb. Schematic is in the project zip file.		Project file 2010.09.08
A look inside the finished light controller. The cad files are in the project zip file.		Project file 2010.09.09.
The front of the light controller taken during testing.
One more picture of the light controller front taken during testing.
The backside of the finished light controller.
Close up on one of the LED clusters.
Close up on one of the LED ribbons.
A look inside the finished cluster case.
Close up of the connector the connector, daisy chaining possible through the double connector.
Testing of the green cluster LED.
Testing of the red cluster LED.
Testing of the red LED ribbon.
Testing of the green LED ribbon.

This page was last updated 2010-09-09.