At 12:29 AM 5/24/2004 +0200, you wrote:
>Hello.
>
>Pardon me for such an easy question.  I have a pair of sonar transmitters
>and receivers (400ST160/400SR169) and I would like to play around with
>sonar.  The datasheet is of no help whatsoever and the schematics I've
>found on the web are quite complex.  Since I am new to the electronics
>parts and still learning, I like to start simply on a breadboard.
>
>I think I understand the transmitter fine.  It is the receiver I am having
>trouble with.  My question is this:  how do I simply wire this to a
>breadboard where I can read the output with a Pic chip?  I'm thinking I
>get a voltage output somehow, so I would guess that I can read it with the
>A/D converter fine.  I'm having trouble, frankly, understanding how it
>works (only two leads) and how to wire it up.

You need a lot of gain, depending on the distance to be covered and the
transmitter signal. You may even need a nonlinear time-variable gain
amplifier.
You may have trouble using a breadboard due to noise issues (signals in the
mV range). I'm trying not to be negative, but I think this is not a really
a beginner project, IMO. If you have an oscilloscope, look at the
transducer output and you'll see just what you are dealing with.

Best regards,

Spehro Pefhany --"it's the network..."            "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com             Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog  Info for designers:  http://www.speff.com

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