How to Send Sound using a Laser

We've all heard of it, but most of us didn't know what it was all about, sending sound using the light channel? ... well technically .... yes... but not really. All you really are doing is changing the intensity of the light. This light hits a solar cell which creates energy out of the intensity of the light. And IN TURN it creates sound.

This project has so many different applications, from the whole "cable is to short to reach", now you have no limitations on how far you can transmit the sound, or the Wires all over the room problem. Use your imagination and figure additonal ones out :)

Sound from a speaker is really just energy at different levels that makes a speaker turn into sounds that we can hear.... we'll explain everything in a few minutes. Watch this video if you don't feel like reading or go to our next step.

Step 1 Getting the Supplies

Alright unless you want to make this a permanent project we recommend you use alligator clips. They will help you out in the long run.

So you will need several alligator clips

A laser pointer

an Altoids Can (optional)

A solar cell

an Audio Output Transformer

An Audio phone jack

and a battery pack

Easy to get enough at Ebay or your local Radio Shack

Comments

[megamoonman]

So simple. I'm surprised a solar cell is sensitive enough to act as a reciever like that.

What's the sound quality like? Is there a lot of degradation?

[blenderking]

Just made it: sound quality's fine but it's really quiet so you can't use headphones to hear to the sound

[blenderking]

Wow! This is so cool. I just finished making this, it's so amazing that you can do that with a laser! Great Job! If any one doesn't want to rig the battery pack or have to buy a new one, find an old rock band guitar, and get a soldering iron and melt the plastic around it and you can get the on/off switch with it and it works (that's what I did)

[funyman1234potato]

:D O_o it works with a light bulb 2

[Biggimac]

Just wanted to know can you use a LDR insted of a solar panel

[Nawaz]

Yes you can..(and is also cheaper)..However, you need to connect it to a power source such as a battery.(+ve pole of battery connects to one leg of LDR while the other connects to you stereo plug..-ve pole of battery connects to stereo plug...) I did the same thing a while ago and it works just fine except this 1 is way easier than the 1 I did.
good luck... :)

[Biggimac]

Thanx very much.

[Nawaz]

my pleasure...

[Halo_Storm]

Instead of just telling us how to do it, you should teach people how it actually works. I get the basics but can you explain the purpose of the audio transformer.

[Halo_Storm]

Also, I'm having trouble finding info about sending data over FSO, if you know anything about that, I'd love to hear it.

[hipydude2001]

quick before i go to radio shack to start this project...Where is the how is the music being and for that matter how do you chose what music is going to be transformed in the first place?

[HM-Innovations]

Hook it up to a CD player or your phone or anything like that. (The laser part is hooked up to the CD player thats why you have to put on the head phone jack)

[hipydude2001]

could i just use the cell part from say something like a calculator?

[HM-Innovations]

Yup

[thewizard42]

Transformer. Transformer transformer transformer! Not transmitter. Its an audio transformer

[HM-Innovations]

we know it's an Audio Transformer, however when you add the laser, the transformer, battery, and headphone jack, it becomes a transmitter because now you are using the transformer and the additional tools to transmit the sound. Get it?

[CyberBill]

In the video, you constantly call (incorrectly) the audio transformer an audio transmitter. I think that is what he is talking about.

[thewizard42]

Yea. exactly

[HM-Innovations]

Ah i see it now :( bummer :'( I'm sorry