HOME  |  NEWS  |  BLOGS  |  MESSAGES  |  FEATURES  |  VIDEOS  |  WEBINARS  |  RESOURCE CENTER  |  INDUSTRIES
REGISTER   |   LOGIN   |   HELP
Blogs
Blog

Case #96: Nick Has an Illuminating Flashback

NO RATINGS

Photography enthusiast Nick Pagazani was hindered by the range and fixed location of his camera's flash. Since his camera has no connector for an external flash, he needed a light-activated slave trigger to fire a remote strobe. It had to ignore the pre-flashes used for red-eye correction and fire only on the main flash. His solution: Use a microcontroller to count pulses from a phototransistor and trigger the strobe at a switch-selectable count. Brighten up your shadowy background with this flashy accessory.

Download the build instructions | View Parts List | Post a Comment

"Slave Strobe"
Amt Part Description Allied Part #
1 PIC12F629 I/P microcontroller 383-0287
2 0.1uF capacitor 613-0513
2 1/4W 1 k Ohm resistor 832-0537
1 1/4W 4.7 k Ohm resistor 296-4769
3 1/4W 10 k Ohm resistor 832-0530
1 1/4W 1 M Ohm resistor 648-0204
1 2N2222 (or other) general-purpose transistor 248-1004
2 SPST toggle switch 683-0085
1 NTE5457 SCR (see schematic for alternate version) 935-6236
Additional parts required
1 NTE3120 (or similar) Photo Transistor
1 3V Lithium Battery and holder
Nuts and washers for the toggle switches
Kaiser Flash Shoe Adapter, available at www.bhphotovideo.com
Photoflash Strobe
PIC development kit & software to program the PIC: K8048 (kit), Vm111 (assembled), available at www.apogeekits.com — requires RS232 port and cable. USB versions are also available.
View Comments: Threaded|Newest First|Oldest First
Partner Zone
More Blogs
By refining topologies and using new fluid technology, Moog's new peak sine drive controller increases available power without increasing controller volume.
Researchers from MIT and Harvard have designed a 3D printed robot that crawls like an inchworm and can self-assemble with an electric jolt.
IoT technology has become so prevalent that there’s now a consortium based on the topic.
Huggies TweetPee sends a tweet to your mobile device when your baby's diaper gets wet. Is this necessary?
Two new introductions in the world of motion drives for automation are moving toward use of standard Ethernet communications, eliminating the use of custom hardware.
Design News Webinar Series
5/15/2013 11:00 a.m. California / 2:00 p.m. New York / 7:00 p.m. London
5/1/2013 11:00 a.m. California / 2:00 p.m. New York / 7:00 p.m. London
5/22/2013 9:00 a.m. California / 12:00 p.m. New York / 5:00 p.m. London
5/29/2013 11:00 a.m. California / 2:00 p.m. New York / 7:00 p.m. London
Resource Center
Sponsored content
More Resource Center
Blogs from Our Sponsors
From Dell / Intel®
New Paradigms in Design Work
 Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013    3
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
From Dell / Intel®
Increased Workstation Performance Is as Easy as 'DPPO'
 Trey Morton, Dell, 4/25/2013    2
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
From Dell / Intel®
Taking Some of the Grit out of Manufacturing
 Kirsten Billhardt, Manufacturing Industry Marketing Strategist, Dell, 3/26/2013    5
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
Quick Poll
The Continuing Education Center offers engineers an entirely new way to get the education they need to formulate next-generation solutions.
May 20 - 24, Automation Technologies & Trends for Smarter Homes & Buildings
SEMESTERS: 1  |  2  |  3


DN Radio
Sponsored by
NEXT UPCOMING BROADCAST
A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
Twitter Feed
Design News Twitter Feed
Like Us on Facebook

Sponsored Content

Technology Marketplace

Datasheets.com Parts Search

185 million searchable parts
(please enter a part number or hit search to begin)
Copyright © 2013 UBM Canon, A UBM company, All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service