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Sensors / Detectors: Seismic Monitors, Geophones

Sensors / Detectors -- Main Page


Last Updated: November 22, 2021 02:42 PM

Circuits Designed by Dave Johnson, P.E. :

Detector for Human Footsteps -  This circuit uses a surplus geophone to detect human footsteps from 100 feet away.  it was designed for monitoring the Mexico/USA border.  This preamp part of the system draws about 50 micro amps from a 12 volt supply . . . Hobby Circuit designed by Dave Johnson P.E.-July, 2006

Home Made Geophone Detects Foot Steps -  A home made geophone is made from a strong magnet, a coil of wire and a rubber band.  The circuit is sensitive enough to detect the vibrations of a nearby foot stomp.  it could be used as an earthquake detector. . . . Hobby Circuit designed by Dave Johnson P.E.-June, 2006

Human Footstep Alarm -  This circuit processes the amplified signals from the footstep detector circuit and activates a microprocessor when the circuit detects footsteps.  At has an adjustable sensitivity. . . Circuit by David Johnson P.E.-July, 2006

Human Traffic Footstep Detector Preamp -  This circuit uses a surplus geophone to detect human footsteps from 100 feet away.  it was designed for monitoring the Mexico/USA border.  This preamp part of the system draws about 50 micro amps from a 12 volt supply. . . Circuit by Dave Johnson P.E.-July, 2006

Make a Geophone to Detect Foot Steps -  A home made geophone is made from a strong magnet, a coil of wire and a rubber band.  The circuit is sensitive enough to detect the vibrations of a nearby foot stomp.  it could be used as an earthquake detector.. . . Circuit by David Johnson P.E.-June, 2006

Capacitance Proximity Switch
Draws very low power - Ideal for battery-powered applications
6 Models Available - Call 806-778-8407




Links to electronic circuits, electronic schematics and designs for engineers, hobbyists, students & inventors:

Build a Simple Circuit Seismograph On a Protoboard -  Mount a Seismograph on a Protoboard, PEBBLE it then transfer it to a KPB.  What's a KPB? Read on! __ SiliconChip

Deer Repellent -  Here is a simple sensor which can detect the seismic vibrations caused by a person or large animal walking nearby.  A representative application for the sensor is a deer repellent for the vegetable garden __  Contact:  Charles Wenzel of Wenzel Associates, Inc.

Detector for Human Footsteps -  This circuit uses a surplus geophone to detect human footsteps from 100 feet away.  it was designed for monitoring the Mexico/USA border.  This preamp part of the system draws about 50 micro amps from a 12 volt supply . . . Hobby Circuit designed by Dave Johnson P.E.-July, 2006

Filter for the Earthworm Seismic Data Acquisition System -  The following design criteria were used to design the Earthworm Filter board.  it had to provide low output impedance, a low-pass filter of at least one pole, preferrably it should use
low power so that no external power would be necessary__ 

Footstep Alarm for Human Traffic -  This circuit processes the amplified signals from the footstep detector circuit and activates a microprocessor when the circuit detects footsteps.  At has an adjustable sensitivity . . . Hobby Circuit designed by David Johnson P.E.-July, 2006

Geomagnetic field Detector -  Where there is heat, let us bring cooling: a fan will do the job, but unfortunately fans are usually noisy.  in many cases there is no need for the fan to run continuously at full speed, and so it makes sense to control the fan speed in response to the temperature of the heatsink or device being cooled, switching the fan off entirely if it should fall to room temperature __ Contact IQ Technologies

Home Made Geophone Detects Foot Steps -  A home made geophone is made from a strong magnet, a coil of wire and a rubber band.  The circuit is sensitive enough to detect the vibrations of a nearby foot stomp.  it could be used as an earthquake detector. . . . Hobby Circuit designed by Dave Johnson P.E.-June, 2006

Human Footstep Alarm -  This circuit processes the amplified signals from the footstep detector circuit and activates a microprocessor when the circuit detects footsteps.  At has an adjustable sensitivity. . . Circuit by David Johnson P.E.-July, 2006

Human Traffic Footstep Detector Preamp -  This circuit uses a surplus geophone to detect human footsteps from 100 feet away.  it was designed for monitoring the Mexico/USA border.  This preamp part of the system draws about 50 micro amps from a 12 volt supply. . . Circuit by Dave Johnson P.E.-July, 2006

LabVIEW real-time seismic alert system -  06/30/14  EDN Design Ideas:  This Design idea describes a real-time seismic alert system, which acquires seismic alert data from the European Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC) public web page using the “Data Socket connectivity” library in LabViEW as part of a virtual instrument.   The Real Time Earthquake information (RTEi) services operate with the support of the Laboratory for Detection and Geophysics seismic group (LDG) by compiling real time parametric data received by email and provided by 66 seismological networks.  EMSC provide as several services in the field of rapid information on the European-Mediterranean seismicity and significant earthquakes worldwide. Design by Janani Jayapandian & nandhini Jayapandian

Low-cost feedback boosts efficiency -  01/21/99 EDN Design Ideas:  NOTE:     Page includes several designs.  Scroll to find this one.   To implement a step-up converter with a current output, designers often simply connect the load in place of the top resistor in a resistive-divider feedback network.  The bottom resistor then serves as a current-sense resistor.  Though simple, this approach is inefficient.  Low efficiency Design by John Guy, Maxim Integrated Products, Sunnyvale, CA

Make a Geophone to Detect Foot Steps -  A home made geophone is made from a strong magnet, a coil of wire and a rubber band.  The circuit is sensitive enough to detect the vibrations of a nearby foot stomp.  it could be used as an earthquake detector.. . . Circuit by David Johnson P.E.-June, 2006

Mini efficient coil launcher from disposable camera flash -  This is a fun and non-dangeros project for those people who like to throw projectiles magnetically.  it simply works by placing a ferromagnetic projectile at one end of a coil and pulsing some power init.  The trick is to switch off power when the projectile is at the middle of the coil, there are some ways to do it but it isn't important now.  The second trick is to use.   __ Contact IQ Technologies

Seismic Alarm -  My original "Deer Repellent/ Seismic Sensor" recommended using a speaker with a weight glued to the cone as a vibration sensor (see bottom of page) but it recently occurred to me that the speaker could supply the mass itself.  By gluing  __  Contact:  Charles Wenzel of Wenzel Associates, Inc.

Seismic Detector -  The piezoelectric element of a kitchen gas lighter is used in this simple, yet effective seismic detector.  The piezo element must be placed vertically, one end solidly to ground.  A 2-3 pound weight of fine gravel in a loose package should be placed on top at the other end.  The high voltage lead goes to the IC , placed close to the piezo element. __ Contact IQ Technologies

Seismic Sensor -  My original "Deer Repellent/ Seismic Sensor" recommended using a speaker with a weight glued to the cone as a vibration sensor (see bottom of page) but it recently occurred to me that the speaker could supply the mass itself.  By gluing  __  Contact:  Charles Wenzel of Wenzel Associates, Inc.

Seismometer & structural vibration meter -  05/14/14  EDN Design Ideas:  Use a TI LDC1000 as a sub-micron displacement sensor for vibration measurement and logging in seismic and structural mechanics applications.   Design by Dmitrii Loukianov

Water Hammer Seismometer -  Use a tube of water to detect earthquakes __  Contact:  Charles Wenzel of Wenzel Associates, Inc.


Seismic Monitors, Geophones


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