energy saving using LDR and LED

[Sunny_Sharma]

Hi GerdW,

I am pretty new to Labview and Arduino. I saw your comments on 'Controlling light intensity using LDR' which were really great.

I am making a similar project using Labview and Arduino. Aim of the project is - Smart City application : Controlling LED brightness depending on the ambient light levels and storing any extra energy going to the LED (in case the ambient light is above a certain threshold and LED doesn't have to be too bright / on)in a power bank which can be used to charge other devices.

As a first stage, I have managed to create a dark light sensor using LDR (Hardware) where the led is switched on in case there is no light ( A basic on / off switch). However, I now want to implement this in Labview.

Stage 2 - Implement Stage 1 + include NI USB 6211 DAQ and simulate in Labview to take data points (samples).

Stage 3 - Stage 2 + include Arduino to program the conditions for the LED depending on the lighting levels which will be turned into voltage levels (For eg. If light level is 1000 lux - it represents 2V - brightness should be at level 1. For lux 2000 - it's 4V - brightness level 2 etc.)

This is a very basic understanding and rough draft of what I want to do and planning.

I hope you can help me with your expertise on this project.

Hope to hear from you soon 

Will post a block diagram to make it look easier.

Sunny 

[antsundq]

Hi, 

To start with stage 1. As I understand it, you need to look for a change in the resistance of a LDR. To do this you would probably need to implement a voltage divider and measure the voltage drop over the LDR as an analog input signal. You could do this with either the arduino or the 6211. 

So basically what you need to to is have one analog input that you map over the light intensity range and use the mapped values to dynamically control the LED. 

The rest I can not make much out of; how do you need to include the 6211? what do you need to simulate? what are you going to sample? Why do you need both an Arduino and a 6211 for controlling an LED using a LDR?

/Anton