Introduction: Volume Units Meter

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INTRODUCTION AND DEFINITION
                         This project is about how display an audio signal from a computer/mp3 (or any other media player device's) audio jack by glowing the LED's. Normally voltage is measured and displayed on an LCD or a seven segment display but displaying a voltage in this form is very simple and attractive
                        A Volume Unit (VU) meter or Standard Volume Indicator (SVI) is a device displaying a representation of the signal level in audio equipment.

                        Now the aim was to make a vu meter that senses the volume and accordingly glow led's ... the more the amplitude the more number of led's glow. the IC i have picked for this purpose is lm3916 Dot/Bar Display Driver
ABOUT THE IC
                           General Description
The LM3916 is a monolithic integrated circuit that senses analog voltage levels and drives ten LEDs, LCDs or vacuum fluorescent displays, providing an electronic version of the popular VU meter. One pin changes the display from a bar graph to a moving dot display. LED current drive is regulated and programmable, eliminating the need for current limiting resistors. The whole display system can operate from a single supply as low as 3V or as high as 25V.

                            The IC contains an adjustable voltage reference and an accurate ten-step voltage divider. The high-impedance input buffer accepts signals down to ground and up to within 1.5V of the positive supply. Further, it needs no protection against
inputs of ±35V. The input buffer drives 10 individual comparators referenced to the precision divider. Accuracy is
typically better than 0.2 dB.

                             Audio applications include average or peak level indicators, and power meters. Replacing conventional meters with an LED bar graph results in a faster responding, more rugged display with high visibility that retains the ease of interpretation of an analog display.

                              The LM3916 is extremely easy to apply. A 1.2V full-scale meter requires only one resistor in addition to the ten LEDs. One more resistor programs the full-scale anywhere from 1.2V to 12V independent of supply voltage. LED brightness is easily controlled with a single pot.

Step 1: Things Required (temporary)

TEMPORARY

                         in-case u want to make a temporary project  u will need
*bread board
*ten LED's different color (your choice )
*a potentiometer 5k or at least greater than 2k
*an ic lm3916 dot/bar display driver
*connecting wires
* and a power supply (i use 12v power supply) or a 12V DC adapter


schematics of how to make connections  are uploaded in 3rd step


in case someone wants to make his/her own power supply here is the link
https://www.instructables.com/id/Power-supply-5vconst-0-12v-variable/

Step 2: Things Required (permanent)

PERMANENT

                         in-case u want to make a permanent project  u will need
*PCB of 10cm x 10 cm at least
*ten LED's different color (your choice )
*a potentiometer 5k or at least greater than 2k
*an ic lm3916 dot/bar display driver
*Etching equipment
*soldering equipment
*Mini drill for drilling the through holes
* and a power supply (i use 12v power supply) or a 12V DC adapter

PCB layout  is uploaded in 3rd step

i used HCl (Mutaric acid) and H2O2 as etchant its perfect

Step 3: Helping Files(sechmatics/datasheet/layout)

Here are some of the helping material u might need for the project

*datasheet for the ic (in .pdf format)
*schematics (opens with proteus software)
*PCB layout (opens with proteus software)

Attachments

Step 4: Video

Check this video i made it  just as a demonstration

in case of any problems u can mail me at dinitrogenoxide@ymail.com
Enjoy and if u like this instructable rate it and like the video



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