Lego Inputs & Outputs

Here are a few input and output devices I've made for use with lego mindstorms RCX (More Soon :)



Input: Light sensor

The problem with the light sensor that comes with RIS is that its created mostly for infared (invisible to the human eye) light. BUT, this new model detects visible light.



Required:
  • 2x2 lego block []
  • 2x2 flat block []
  • half a lego cable []
  • Photoresistor Small [] (avalible at www.maplin.co.uk or www.radioshack.com)
  • drill with 5mm bit
  • glue gun or plastic glue
  • soldering iron
  • plyers
  • snippers
 First, take the 2x2 lego block and drill a hole in the centre of one of the faces. Use the plyers to tease out the tube in the centre of the block. Strip of 3-5mm of rubber of each side of the cable and use the soldering iron to solder the two ends of the lego cable onto the two pins of the photoresistor (get as close to the head of the photoresistor as possible). Snip off the unneeded length of the legs of the photoresistor. Use the plyers OR your fingers to poke the front of the photoresistor through the hole in your lego brick, push it in through the inside so the wires remain on the inside. Glue the photoresistor in place with the glue gun or plastic glue, make sure that you leave enough space to put the flat block onto the bottom of the cube. Cut a hole in the block on the opposite side of the photoresistor for the wires to go through. Direct the wires through the slot and glue the flat block onto the bottom of the cube, your sensor should now be complete.


Output: Large LED

The RCX has movement, and sound, but no light, this'll fix it



Required:
  • 2x2 lego block []
  • 2x2 flat block []
  • half a lego cable []
  • LED 5mm [] (avalible at www.maplin.co.uk or www.radioshack.com)
  • Resistor (about 330k) [] (avalible at www.maplin.co.uk or www.radioshack.com)
  • drill with 5mm bit
  • glue gun or plastic glue
  • soldering iron
  • plyers
  • snippers
 First, take your large block and drill in a 5mm hole to one of the faces. Next, Strip of 3-5mm of rubber of each side of the cable and solder one the resistors legs onto one of the LEDs legs. Solder the two wires from the cable onto the LED leg that hasnt got the resistor on it, and the other onto the free side of the resistor. Cut the exess leg of the LED and the LED. Push the LED through the hole in the block from the inside. Place the cables and the resistor into the block, making sure that nothing is touching each other, glue the resistor and LED into place, but make sure you can click the flat block onto the base of the big block. Cut a slot in the back of the big block for the cable to go through, place the cable through the slot and glue the flat block onto the bottom of the big block. Your LED block is now ready to use. Please not the the block will only work one way around, so if the LED doesnt light, put the cable on the other way around.


Output: Small LED

Like above, but half the size



Required:
  • 2x1 lego block []
  • 2x1 flat block []
  • half a lego cable []
  • Small LED 3mm [] (avalible at www.maplin.co.uk or www.radioshack.com)
  • Resistor (about 330k) [] (avalible at www.maplin.co.uk or www.radioshack.com)
  • drill with 3mm bit
  • glue gun or plastic glue
  • soldering iron
  • plyers
  • snippers
 Not done yet ;)