UNIVERSITY OF CEBU LAPU-LAPU AND

MANDAUE
A.C. Cortes Ave., Looc, Mandaue City, Philippines

Light-Based Security
Alarm

Cesar Ranolo
Jojimar Rosales
Lovely Raquel Caraquel
DESCRIPTION
Get your hands off those things! Stay out of my desk drawer! This little alarm circuit will help
to keep your goodies safe. A security alarm is not only limited to buildings and establishments but
can also be used as a personal alarm to keep their hands off your things. An alarm is triggered
when the light source directly hits the Light Dependent Resistor. An object can be placed between
the laser light and the LDR to obstruct the light from directly hitting the LDR. When the object is
moved out of its place, an alarm is triggered unless the object is returned to once again obstruct the
light.

THEORY OF OPERATION
Before going into the explanation, we should note that Transistor Q1 BC547 is an NPN
transistor, which conducts or Turns On, when a small positive voltage is applied to its base. And
Transistor BC557 is PNP transistor which Conducts or Turns On, when a negative voltage (or
ground) is applied to its base. Recall that an LDR is a component that has a (variable) resistance
that changes with the light intensity that falls upon it. This allows them to be used in light sensing
circuits.

When the Circuit is switched ON, light starts emitting, which falls upon the LDR and a
potential difference is generated across the LDR which Turns On the transistor BC547, which
further Turns On the Transistor BC557 by pulling down its base to Ground. Now Transistor
BC557 starts conducting and power supply is applied to the 555 Timer IC (at PIN 8), which turns
ON the 555 IC. 555 Timer IC is configured in Astable Mode, so the LED and buzzer, which are
connected to its Output (PIN 3), start blinking and beeping, with a particular frequency. This
frequency of LED blinking can be determined by the given formulae of Astable Multvibrator:

F = 1.44 / (R1+2*R2) * C1

Where R1 represents the resistor between Pin 7 & Pin 8 and R2 represents the resistor
between Pin 6 & Pin 7. C1 is capacitor between Pin 6 and Ground of 555 Timer IC. R (resistance)
is in ohm and C (capacitance) is in farads.
BLOCK DIAGRAM

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM

MATERIALS 22K resistor

Buzzer
555 Timer IC
LED
BC547 transistor
Power Supply 9 Volt
BC557 transistor
19F capacitor
Laser/LED
220 resistor
LDR (Light Dependent Resistor)
Bread board
PHOTO OF FINISHED PROJECT
INNOVATIONS

Additional Security System

The alarm would go wailing 2 more minutes longer even the drawer or the
object is returned to ensure that you will be awaken from your deep sleep.

Smart Object Recognition

A unique code is embedded in the particular object so the alarm would still be
going unless the very object with the embedded code, and not some other ones, is
returned back to its safekeeping place.

Camera Mugshot
A camera can be installed to capture the face of the culprit. Might it be your
annoying brother/sister or a complete stranger, the snooper should be recognized
even after getting away.