Electronics Workbench

Discrete LM3909: Blue LED Radome

Dropping a simplified ping-pong ball radome for a Piranha RGB LED atop a discrete LM3909 on the AA alkaline cell holder:

Discrete LM3909 Radome - AA alkaline
Discrete LM3909 Radome – AA alkaline

The solid model has screw holes for the lid and the revised LED spider:

Astable Multivibrator - Alkaline AA Base - radome - solid model
Astable Multivibrator – Alkaline AA Base – radome – solid model

The RGB LED needs only two wires, as the LM3909 circuit can blink only one LED. I tried all three colors, but only blue and green justify the LM3909 hairball; red can get along with the astable circuit.

The LED wires connect across a 1 MΩ resistor serving as a mechanical strut between the 9.1 kΩ resistor on the left and the 10 Ω ballast resistor on the right.

Fresh alkaline cells at 3.0 V put 3.3 V across the blue LED with a 37 mA peak current. Older cells at 2.3 V produce 2.9 V at 15 mA. Dead cells at 1.9 V still fire the LED with 2.7 V at 4.2 mA, although the flash is barely visible in ordinary room light.

The lovely blue ball looks better in person!

The OpenSCAD source code as a GitHub Gist:

// Astable Multivibrator
// Holder for Alkaline cells
// Ed Nisley KE4ZNU August 2020
// 2020-09 add LED radome
/* [Layout options] */
Layout = "Build"; // [Build,Show,Lid,Spider]
/* [Hidden] */
CellName = "AA"; // [AA] -- does not work with anything else
NumCells = 2; // [2] -- likewise
Struts = -1; // [0:None, -1:Dual, 1:Quad] -- Quad is dead
// Extrusion parameters
/* [Hidden] */
ThreadThick = 0.25;
ThreadWidth = 0.40;
HoleWindage = 0.2;
function IntegerMultiple(Size,Unit) = Unit * ceil(Size / Unit);
function IntegerLessMultiple(Size,Unit) = Unit * floor(Size / Unit);
Protrusion = 0.1; // make holes end cleanly
inch = 25.4;
//- Basic dimensions
WallThick = IntegerMultiple(3.0,ThreadWidth);
CornerRadius = WallThick/2;
FloorThick = IntegerMultiple(3.0,ThreadThick);
TopThick = IntegerMultiple(2.0,ThreadThick);
WireOD = 1.5; // battery & LED wiring
WireOC = 4;
Gap = 5.0;
// Cylindrical cell sizes
// https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_battery_sizes#Cylindrical_batteries
CELL_NAME = 0;
CELL_OD = 1;
CELL_OAL = 2;
// FIXME search() needs special-casing to properly find AAA and AAAA
// Which is why CellName is limited to AA
CellData = [
["AAAA",8.3,42.5],
["AAA",10.5,44.5],
["AA",14.5,50.5],
["C",26.2,50],
["D",34.2,61.5],
["A23",10.3,28.5],
["CR123A",17.0,34.5],
["18650",18.8,65.2], // bare 18650 with button end
["18650Prot",19.0,70.0], // protected 18650 = 19670 plus a bit
];
CellIndex = search([CellName],CellData,1,0)[0];
echo(str("Cell index: ",CellIndex," = ",CellData[CellIndex][CELL_NAME]));
//- Contact dimensions
CONTACT_NAME = 0;
CONTACT_WIDE = 1;
CONTACT_HIGH = 2;
CONTACT_THICK = 3; // plate thickness
CONTACT_TIP = 4; // tip to rear face
CONTACT_TAB = 5; // solder tab width
ContactData = [
["AA+",12.2,12.2,0.3,1.7,3.5], // pos bump
["AA-",12.2,12.2,0.3,5.0,3.5], // half-compressed neg spring
["AA+-",28.2,12.2,0.3,5.0,0], // pos-neg bridge
["Li+",18.5,16.0,0.3,2.8,5.5],
["Li-",18.5,16.0,0.3,6.0,5.5],
];
function ConDat(name,dim) = ContactData[search([name],ContactData,1,0)[0]][dim];
ContactRecess = 2*ConDat(str(CellName,"+"),CONTACT_THICK);
ContactOC = CellData[CellIndex][CELL_OD];
WireBay = 6.0; // room for wiring to contacts
//- Wire struts
StrutDia = 1.6; // AWG 14 = 1.6 mm
StrutSides = 3*4;
ID = 0;
OD = 1;
LENGTH = 2;
StrutBase = [StrutDia,StrutDia + 2*5*ThreadWidth, // ID = wire, OD = buildable
FloorThick + CellData[CellIndex][CELL_OD]]; // LENGTH = base is flush with cell top
//- Holder dimensions
BatterySize = [CellData[CellIndex][CELL_OAL] + // cell
ConDat(str(CellName,"+"),CONTACT_TIP) + // pos contact
ConDat(str(CellName,"-"),CONTACT_TIP) - // neg contact
2*ContactRecess, // sink into wall
NumCells*CellData[CellIndex][CELL_OD],
CellData[CellIndex][CELL_OD]
];
echo(str("Battery space: ",BatterySize));
CaseSize = [3*WallThick + // end walls + wiring partition
BatterySize.x + // cell
WireBay, // wiring bay
2*WallThick + BatterySize.y,
FloorThick + BatterySize.z
];
BatteryOffset = (CaseSize.x - (2*WallThick +
CellData[CellIndex][CELL_OAL] +
ConDat(str(CellName,"-"),CONTACT_TIP))
) /2 ;
ThumbRadius = 0.75 * CaseSize.z;
StrutOC = [IntegerLessMultiple(CaseSize.x - 2*CornerRadius -2*StrutBase[OD],5.0),
IntegerMultiple(CaseSize.y + StrutBase[OD],5.0)];
StrutAngle = atan(StrutOC.y/StrutOC.x);
echo(str("Strut OC: ",StrutOC));
LidSize = [2*WallThick + WireBay + ConDat(str(CellName,"+"),CONTACT_THICK), CaseSize.y, FloorThick/2];
LidScrew = [2.0,3.8,7.0]; // M2 pan head screw (LENGTH = threaded)
LidScrewOC = CaseSize.y/2 - CornerRadius - LidScrew[OD]; // allow space around screw head
//- Piranha LEDs
PiranhaBody = [8.0,8.0,8.0]; // Z = heatsink fins + body + lens height
PiranhaPin = 0.0; // trimmed pin length beyond heatsink
PiranhaPinsOC = [5.0,5.0]; // pin XY distance
PiranhaRecess = PiranhaBody.z + PiranhaPin/2; // minimum LED recess depth
BallOD = 40.0; // radome sphere
BallSides = 4*StrutSides; // nice smoothness
BallPillar = [norm([PiranhaBody.x,PiranhaBody.y]), // ID
norm([PiranhaBody.x,PiranhaBody.y]) + 3*WallThick, // OD
StrutBase[OD] + PiranhaBody.z]; // height to base of chord
echo(str("Pillar OD: ",BallPillar[OD]));
BallChordM = BallOD/2 - sqrt(pow(BallOD/2,2) - (pow(BallPillar[OD],2))/4);
echo(str("Ball chord depth: ",BallChordM));
//----------------------
// Useful routines
module PolyCyl(Dia,Height,ForceSides=0) { // based on nophead's polyholes
Sides = (ForceSides != 0) ? ForceSides : (ceil(Dia) + 2);
FixDia = Dia / cos(180/Sides);
cylinder(r=(FixDia + HoleWindage)/2,h=Height,$fn=Sides);
}
// Spider for single LED atop struts, with the ball
module DualSpider() {
difference() {
union() {
for (j=[-1,1]) {
translate([0,j*StrutOC.y/2,StrutBase[OD]/2])
rotate(180/StrutSides)
sphere(d=StrutBase[OD]/cos(180/StrutSides),$fn=StrutSides);
translate([0,j*StrutOC.y/2,0])
rotate(180/StrutSides)
cylinder(d=StrutBase[OD],h=StrutBase[OD]/2,$fn=StrutSides);
}
translate([0,0,StrutBase[OD]/4]) // connecting bars
cube([StrutBase[OD]*cos(180/StrutSides),StrutOC.y,StrutBase[OD]/2],center=true);
cylinder(d=BallPillar[OD],h=BallPillar[LENGTH],$fn=BallSides);
}
for (j=[-1,1]) // strut wires
translate([0,j*StrutOC.y/2,-Protrusion])
PolyCyl(StrutBase[ID],StrutBase[OD]/2,6);
for (n=[-1,1]) // LED wiring
rotate(n*90)
translate([StrutOC.x/3,0,-Protrusion])
PolyCyl(StrutBase[ID],StrutBase[OD],6);
translate([0,0,BallOD/2 + BallPillar[LENGTH] - BallChordM]) // ball inset
sphere(d=BallOD);
translate([0,0,BallPillar.z - PiranhaRecess + BallPillar.z/2]) // LED inset
cube(PiranhaBody + [HoleWindage,HoleWindage,BallPillar.z],center=true); // XY clearance
translate([0,0,StrutBase[OD]/2 + WireOD/2 + 0*Protrusion]) // wire channels
cube([WireOD,BallPillar[OD] + 2*WallThick,WireOD],center=true);
}
}
//-- Overall case with origin at battery center
module Case() {
union() {
difference() {
union() {
hull()
for (i=[-1,1], j=[-1,1])
translate([i*(CaseSize.x/2 - CornerRadius),
j*(CaseSize.y/2 - CornerRadius),
0])
cylinder(r=CornerRadius/cos(180/8),h=CaseSize.z,$fn=8); // cos() fixes undersize spheres!
if (Struts)
for (i = (Struts == 1) ? [-1,1] : -1) { // strut bases
hull()
for (j=[-1,1])
translate([i*StrutOC.x/2,j*StrutOC.y/2,0])
rotate(180/StrutSides)
cylinder(d=StrutBase[OD],h=StrutBase[LENGTH],$fn=StrutSides);
translate([i*StrutOC.x/2,0,StrutBase[LENGTH]/2])
cube([2*StrutBase[OD],StrutOC.y,StrutBase[LENGTH]],center=true); // blocks for fairing
for (j=[-1,1]) // hemisphere caps
translate([i*StrutOC.x/2,
j*StrutOC.y/2,
StrutBase[LENGTH]])
rotate(180/StrutSides)
sphere(d=StrutBase[OD]/cos(180/StrutSides),$fn=StrutSides);
}
}
translate([BatteryOffset,0,BatterySize.z/2 + FloorThick]) // cells
cube(BatterySize + [0,0,Protrusion],center=true);
translate([BatterySize.x/2 + BatteryOffset + ContactRecess/2 - Protrusion/2, // contacts
0,
BatterySize.z/2 + FloorThick])
cube([ContactRecess + Protrusion,
ConDat(str(CellName,"+-"),CONTACT_WIDE),
ConDat(str(CellName,"+-"),CONTACT_HIGH)
],center=true);
translate([-(BatterySize.x/2 - BatteryOffset + ContactRecess/2 - Protrusion/2),
ContactOC/2,
BatterySize.z/2 + FloorThick])
cube([ContactRecess + Protrusion,
ConDat(str(CellName,"+"),CONTACT_WIDE),
ConDat(str(CellName,"+"),CONTACT_HIGH)
],center=true);
translate([-(BatterySize.x/2 - BatteryOffset + ContactRecess/2 - Protrusion/2),
-ContactOC/2,
BatterySize.z/2 + FloorThick])
cube([ContactRecess + Protrusion,
ConDat(str(CellName,"-"),CONTACT_WIDE),
ConDat(str(CellName,"-"),CONTACT_HIGH)
],center=true);
translate([-CaseSize.x/2 + WireBay/2 + WallThick, // wire bay with screw bosses
0,
BatterySize.z/2 + FloorThick + Protrusion/2])
cube([WireBay,
2*LidScrewOC - LidScrew[ID] - 2*4*ThreadWidth,
BatterySize.z + Protrusion
],center=true);
for (j=[-1,1]) // screw holes
translate([-CaseSize.x/2 + WireBay/2 + WallThick,
j*LidScrewOC,
CaseSize.z - LidScrew[LENGTH] + Protrusion])
PolyCyl(LidScrew[ID],LidScrew[LENGTH],6);
for (j=[-1,1])
translate([-(BatterySize.x/2 - BatteryOffset + WallThick/2), // contact tabs
j*ContactOC/2,
BatterySize.z + FloorThick - Protrusion])
cube([2*WallThick,
ConDat(str(CellName,"+"),CONTACT_TAB),
(BatterySize.z - ConDat(str(CellName,"+"),CONTACT_HIGH))
],center=true);
if (false)
translate([0,0,CaseSize.z]) // finger cutout
rotate([90,00,0])
cylinder(r=ThumbRadius,h=2*CaseSize.y,center=true,$fn=22);
translate([0,0,ThreadThick - Protrusion]) // recess around name
cube([0.6*CaseSize.x,8,2*ThreadThick],center=true);
if (Struts)
for (i2 = (Struts == 1) ? [-1,1] : -1) { // strut wire holes and fairing
for (j=[-1,1])
translate([i2*StrutOC.x/2,j*StrutOC.y/2,FloorThick])
rotate(180/StrutSides)
PolyCyl(StrutBase[ID],2*StrutBase[LENGTH],StrutSides);
for (i=[-1,1], j=[-1,1]) // fairing cutaways
translate([i*StrutBase[OD] + (i2*StrutOC.x/2),
j*StrutOC.y/2,
-Protrusion])
rotate(180/StrutSides)
PolyCyl(StrutBase[OD],StrutBase[LENGTH] + 2*Protrusion,StrutSides);
}
}
translate([0,0,0])
linear_extrude(height=2*ThreadThick + Protrusion,convexity=10)
mirror([0,1,0])
text(text="KE4ZNU",size=6,spacing=1.20,font="Arial:style:Bold",halign="center",valign="center");
}
}
module Lid() {
difference() {
hull()
for (i=[-1,1], j=[-1,1], k=[-1,1])
translate([i*(LidSize.x/2 - CornerRadius),
j*(LidSize.y/2 - CornerRadius),
k*(LidSize.z - CornerRadius)]) // double thickness for flat bottom
sphere(r=CornerRadius/cos(180/8),$fn=8);
translate([0,0,-LidSize.z]) // remove bottom
cube([(LidSize.x + 2*Protrusion),(LidSize.y + 2*Protrusion),2*LidSize.z],center=true);
for (j=[-1,1]) // wire holes
translate([0,j*WireOC,-Protrusion])
PolyCyl(WireOD,2*LidSize.z,6);
for (j=[-1,1])
translate([0,j*LidScrewOC,-Protrusion])
PolyCyl(LidScrew[ID],2*LidSize.z,6);
}
}
//-------------------
// Build it!
if (Layout == "Case")
Case();
if (Layout == "Lid")
Lid();
if (Layout == "Spider")
if (Struts == -1)
DualSpider();
else
cube(10,center=true);
if (Layout == "Build") {
rotate(90)
Case();
translate([0,-(CaseSize.x/2 + LidSize.x/2 + Gap),0])
rotate(90)
Lid();
if (Struts == -1)
translate([CaseSize.x/2,0,0])
DualSpider();
}
if (Layout == "Show") {
Case();
translate([-CaseSize.x/2 + LidSize.x/2,0,(CaseSize.z + Gap)])
Lid();
}
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