Consumer Electronics

PEAK READING LED METERS

Totally electronic level indicators, Fig. 13.2 have found their way into the front panels of tape decks as well as audio amplifiers and other components in the last decade. The l.e.d. is a relatively inexpensive device, and even if a manufacturer uses several of them for a metering system on a cassette deck, the part's cost is not significantly greater than that which would have to be spent for a medium quality quasi-VU meter. A bank of l.e.d. ’s., Fig. 13.3, substituting for an electro-mechanical meter offers many obvious advantages. Although back-up electronics is needed for driving the individual l.e.d's and causing them to illuminate progressively at different signal levels, the physical spacing between l.e.d. ’s can ...