Sumovore Manual

The Solarbotics Sumovore
Building the Edge / IR Transmitter Electronics - 7
Step 29 - IR LED Installation
The infrared LED is just like the other LEDs, which means it has to be installed the right-way
around, or it simply won’t work. SHORT lead goes into the SQUARE pad. Unlike the other LED
installations, we do not want to make these sit flat against the circuit board - we want them to be
spaced off just a bit so they can be bent around and aimed out the front of your Sumovore.
When installing the LEDs into the mounting pads, only insert them so far that the bump on the
lead disappears. You want about 1/8” (3mm) space. Solder the LEDs into place, then bend them
gently over to the outside edge of the circuit board.
Steps 29: Infrared LED installation
Step 29: Install IR LEDs (x 2)
to ‘LED4’ and ‘LED5’. Short
lead goes to square pad!
IR LED Installation
Step 30 - Edge Sensor Preparation
The QRD1114 edge sensor is a combination unit, containing both an IR emitting LED and an IR-sensitive phototransistor. The
active elements of both halves point downward, so that any object below will reflect the IR light back to the sensor for detection.
As long as you’re not in the immediate vicinity of a light-absorbing black-hole, these sensors do a good job of reading
reflections within a short distance. Unfortunately, these sensors don’t quite fit our application - they point the wrong way!
This is another of those important things that you simply cannot be messing up, so WAKE UP! READ THIS! It’s IMPORTANT!
We’re going to have to fold the sensor leads over in a careful way to make them fit onto the circuit board, so let’s start by
identifying which way is up. You’ll notice on the front face of the sensor that there is a dimple near one corner - that’s LEAD
1(and the collector of the phototransistor). Fold this lead and the one closest to it 90° up so they are flat to the sensor body.
Get one of the circuit board, and use it as a spacer for folding over the other two leads - this will set the proper spacing
distance for all the leads so they will fit well into the edge sensor PCB. Is this as clear as mud? Refer to the pictures below, and
all will make sense.
You’ll be doing this for all the edge sensors in your kit, which may be two, four, or five, depending on the complexity of kit you
received.
Step 30: Identify the
side with the dimple...
Dimple
...then fold the leads on the
dimple side down flat to the
sensor...
...and use the circuit
board as a spacer to
fold over the other two
lead over the first pair.