This circuit
is
for a
simple buzzer that is activated by darkness, i.e., the buzzer is off
when there's light and on when it is dark. A general-purpose
operational amplifier, the 741, is used as a comparator that determines
whether it is dark enough to turn on a self-oscillating piezoelectric buzzer.
Its
inverting input is connected to a photoresistor, a component whose
resistance decreases as more light shines on it. Its non-inverting
input, on the other hand, is connected to an almost fixed voltage, i.e.,
a proportion of the supply voltage as set by trimmer resistor R2.
If there is ample light shining on the photoresistor, the buzzer is
quiet.
As less light shines on the photoresistor, its
resistance increases and causes the voltage across R1 to decrease.
At a certain level of lighting, the voltage across R1, which is also the
voltage at the inverting input of the 741, becomes smaller than the
voltage at the non-inverting input. At this point, the 741 is triggered
to output a 'high' level, turning on Q1. Q1 then activates the
self-oscillating piezoelectric buzzer.
See
also: Operational Amplifier
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